English Conditionals

There are several structures in English that are called conditionals. "Condition" means "situation or circumstance". If a particular condition is true, then a particular result happens.

If y = 10 then 2y = 20 If y = 3 then 2y = 6

First Conditional: real possibility

IF condition present simple If If If If I see Mary Tara is free tomorrow result WILL + base verb I will tell her. he will invite her.

they do not pass their exam their teacher will be sad. it rains tomorrow will you stay at home?

result WILL + base verb I will tell Mary He will invite Tara

IF condition present simple if if I see her. she is free tomorrow. they do not pass their exam. it rains tomorrow? it rains tomorrow?

Their teacher will be sad if Will you stay at home What will you do if if

Second Conditional: unreal possibility or dream

IF condition past simple If If If If I married Mary Ram became rich result WOULD + base verb I would be happy. she would marry him.

it snowed next July would you be surprised? it snowed next July what would you do?

result WOULD + base verb I would be happy She would marry Ram Would you be surprised What would you do

IF condition past simple if if if if I married Mary. he became rich. it snowed next July? it snowed next July?

Third Conditional: Regret

IF condition past perfect If If If If I had seen Mary Tara had been free yesterday they had not passed their exam it had rained yesterday result WOULD HAVE + past participle I would have told her. I would have invited her. their teacher would have been sad. would you have stayed at home?

If

it had rained yesterday

what would you have done?

result WOULD HAVE + past participle I would have told Mary I would have invited Tara Their teacher would have been sad Would you have stayed at home What would you have done

IF condition past perfect if if if if if I had seen her. she had been free yesterday. they had not passed their exam. it had rained yesterday? it had rained yesterday?

Zero Conditional: certainty

IF condition present simple If If If If I miss the 8 o'clock bus I am late for work people don't eat you heat ice result present simple I am late for work. my boss gets angry. they get hungry. does it melt?

result present simple I am late for work

IF condition present simple if I miss the 8 o'clock bus. I am late for work. they don't eat.

My boss gets angry if People get hungry if

Does ice melt

if

you heat it?

Exercise Choose the phrase which best completes the conditional statement. (1st, 2nd, 3rd or Zero Conditional)

If he comes,

we will go to lunch. we would go to lunch. we went to lunch.

I would buy a new house

if I have a lot of money. if I win the lottery. if I inherited a million dollars.

If she misses the bus,

I take her to school by car. I would take her to school by car. she have to walk.

If I had known you were in town,

I would buy you some flowers! I would have bought you some flowers. I will buy you some flowers.

If he studies a lot,

he might pass the exam. he would pass the exam. he is going to pass the exam.

I would get a new job

if I was you. if I am you. if I were you.

He will surely fail his exams

if he not work harder. unless he begins to study. if he weren't serious.

She would live in New York now

if she stays. if she had stayed. if she was to stay.

They would have bought that new car

if they had had the money. if they had the money. if they were having the money.

I leave on Saturdays

if she will come to visit. if she comes to visit. if she won't come to visit.

If he were President,

he would help the poor more. he will help the poor more. he would have helped the poor more.

If they had had enough good sense,

they would move to Santa Monica. they would have moved to Santa Monica. they would had moved to Santa Monica.

She will go crazy

if you leaves her. unless she leaves you.

If this storm gets worse,

we will have to go inland. we have to get inland. we must to go inland.

Watch out! If you touch that cable,

you will get a shock. you shocked. you had a shock.

I might have had time

if you needed my help. if you had asked me for help. if you ask me for help.

I'm afraid I can't understand you

if you speak unclear. unless you speak more clearly. if you don't speak clear.

She would have gone

if she had been in your position. if she were in your position. if she was in your position.

You would certainly have been angry

if you discovered what he knew. if you had discovered what he knew. if you had discovered what he had known.