Conditionals

1st Conditional
The first conditional (also called conditional type 1) is a structure used for talking about possibilities in the present or in the future.
This page will explain how the first conditional is formed, and when to use it.

1. The structure of a first conditional sentence

A first conditional sentence consists of two clauses, an "if" clause and a main clause:

if clause main clause

If you study hard, you will pass the test.

If the "if" clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the "if" clause comes second, there is no need for a comma:

main clause if clause

You will pass the test if you study hard.

We use different verb forms in each part of a first conditional:

if clause if + subject + simple present verb

main clause subject + will + verb

2. Using the first conditional

The first conditional is used to talk about things which are possible in the present or the future — things which may happen:

Example Explanation

Maybe it will be sunny — that's

If it's sunny, we'll go to the park.
possible.

Maybe Juan will leave — that's

Paula will be sad if Juan leaves.
possible.

If you cook the supper, I'll wash Maybe you will cook the supper —
the dishes. that's possible.
2nd Conditional
The second conditional (also called conditional type 2) is a structure used for talking about unreal situations in the present or in the
future. This page will explain how the second conditional is formed, and when to use it.

The structure of a second conditional sentence

Like a first conditional, a second conditional sentence consists of two clauses, an “if” clause and a main clause:

“If” clause Main clause

If I had a million dollars, I would buy a big house.

If the “if” clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the “if” clause comes second, there is no need for a comma:

Main clause “If” clause

I would buy a big house if I had a million dollars.

We use different verb forms in each part of a second conditional:

“If” clause if + subject + simple past verb*

Main clause subject + would + verb

*Note that this "simple past" form is slightly different from usual in the case of the verb BE. Whatever the subject, the verb form is
"were", not "was": If I were rich, I'd buy a big house.

Using the second conditional

The second conditional is used to talk about things which are unreal (not true or not possible) in the present or the future -- things
which don't or won't happen:

Example Explanation

If I were you, I would drive more

I am not you — this is unreal.
carefully in the rain.
 Example Explanation

Jan will not leave — that's not going

Paula would be sad if Jan left.
to happen.

If dogs had wings, they would be able to Dogs don't have wings — that's
fly. impossible.

3rd Conditional

The third conditional (also called conditional type 3) is a structure used for talking about unreal situations in the past. This page will
explain how the third conditional is formed, and when to use it.

The structure of a third conditional sentence

Like the other conditionals, a third conditional sentence consists of two clauses, an “if” clause and a main clause:

IF clause main clause

If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.

Explanation: I failed the exam, because I didn't study hard enough.

If the “if” clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the “if” clause comes second, there is no need for a comma:

main clause IF clause

I probably would have passed the exam if I had studied harder.

We use different verb forms in each part of a third conditional:

IF clause if + subject + past perfect verb*

main clause subject + would (OR could, OR might) have + past participle

*The past perfect is formed with the auxiliary verb “had”, and the past participle (or third form) of the verb.

Note also that third conditional forms can be contracted:

 If I had studied harder, I probably would have passed the
Full form
exam.

Contracted If I'd studied harder, I probably would've passed the

form exam.

Using the third conditional

The third conditional is used to talk about things which did not happen in the past. If your native language does not have a similar
construction, you may find this a little strange, but it can be very useful. It is often used to express criticism or regret:

Example Explanation

If you had driven more carefully, Criticism: You had an accident

you would not have had an because you didn't drive carefully
accident. enough.

If we had played a little better, we Regret: We didn't play well, so we

could have won the game. lost the game.

Criticism: You didn't save your

If you had saved your money, you
money, so now you can't afford a
could have bought a computer.
computer.

If it had snowed, we could have Regret: It didn't snow, so we couldn't

gone skiing. go skiing.
1st Conditional

1. You'll pay higher insurance if you ________ a sports car.

A. ? will buy

B. ? buy

2. You ________ better if you turn on the lamp.

A. ? are able to see

B. ? will be able to see

3. If we don't protect the elephant, it ________ extinct.

A. ? will become

B. ? becomes

4. If you ________ an apple every day, you'll be very healthy.

A. ? eat

B. ? will eat

5. You ________ heart disease if you eat too much meat.

A. ? get

B. ? will get

6. If a deer ________ into your garden, it ________ all your plants.

 A. ? will get / eats

B. ? gets / will eat

7. If you don't put so much sugar in your coffee, you ________ so much weight!
A. ? won't put on

B. ? don't put on

8. She ________ completely different if she cuts her hair.

A. ? will look

B. ? looks

9. If I ________ some eggs, how many ________?

A. ? will cook / do you eat

B. ? cook / will you eat

10. You won't pass the course if you ________.

A. ? won't study

B. ? don't study
2nd Conditional

1. If the weather ________ better, we ________ to the park.

A. ? were... will go

B. ? was... go

C. ? were... would go

D. ? is... would go

2. If her hair were black, she ________ completely different.

A. ? look

B. ? would look

C. ? looks

D. ? will look

3. We would learn a lot from dolphins if they ________.

A. ? could talk

B. ? will talk

C. ? can talk

D. ? talk

4. If smoking were allowed, I ________ a cigarette.

A. ? would have

B. ? had

C. ? will have
 D. ? have

5. If there ________ no mosquitos, there would be no malaria.

A. ? was

B. ? are

C. ? would be

D. ? is

E. ? were

6. He's so stupid! If he ________ an animal, he would be a sheep.

A. ? are

B. ? were

C. ? was

D. ? is

E. ? would be

7. If he were a young man, he ________ able to walk faster.

A. ? is

B. ? would be

C. ? will be

D. ? was

8. If I ________ a penny for every can of soda I've drunk in my life, I would be rich!
A. ? have

B. ? will have

C. ? would have

D. ? had
9. We'd be on the beach if we ________ in Mexico!
A. ? would be

B. ? were

C. ? are

D. ? will be

10. We don't mind camping, but if we ________ enough money, we ________ in a hotel.
A. ? would have...stayed

B. ? have... stayed

C. ? had... would stay

D. ? had... stayed
3rd Conditional

1. He crashed his car, because he fell asleep while driving.

If he asleep while driving, he his car.

2. We couldn't go to the concert, because we didn't have enough money.

If we enough money, we to the concert.

3. I lost my job because I was late for work.

I my job if I late for work.

4. The wind was so strong that the bridge collapsed.

If the wind so strong, the bridge .

5. I couldn't call Sally because I had lost her number.

I Sally if I her number.