CONDITIONALS

Conditional tenses are used to speculate about what could happen,

what might have happened, and what we wish would happen. In
English, most sentences using the conditional contain the word if.
Many conditional forms in English are used in sentences that
include verbs in one of the past tenses. This usage is referred to
as "the unreal past" because we use a past tense but we are not
actually referring to something that happened in the past. There are
five main ways of constructing conditional sentences in English. In
all cases, these sentences are made up of an if clause and a main
clause. In many negative conditional sentences, there is an
equivalent sentence construction using "unless" instead of "if".
 Conditional Usage If clause verb tense Main clause verb tense
sentence type

General truths Simple present Simple present Zero Present

contditional

Type 1 A possible condition and Simple present Simple future

its probable result

Type 2 A hypothetical condition Simple past Present conditional or

and its probable result Present continuous
conditional
Type 3 An unreal past condition Past perfect Perfect conditional
and its probable result
in the past
Mixed type An unreal past condition Past perfect
and its probable result
in the present
ZERO CONDITIONALS
For certainty
The zero conditional is used for when the time being
referred to is now or always and the situation is real
and possible. The zero conditional is often used to refer
to general truths. The tense in both parts of the sentence
is the simple present. In zero conditional sentences, the
word "if" can usually be replaced by the word "when"
without changing the meaning.
In zero conditional sentences, the tense in both parts of
the sentence is the simple present.
 Look at this examples:
If condition result result if condition

Present Simple Present Simple Present Simple Present Simple

I miss the 8 I am late for I am late for I miss the 8

If if
o'clock bus, work. work o'clock bus.

I am late for my boss gets My boss gets I am late for

If if
work, angry. angry work.

people don't they get People get

If if they don't eat.
eat, hungry. hungry

If you heat ice, if does it melt? Does ice melt if you heat it?
TYPE 1 CONDITIONALS
For real possibility
The type 1 conditional is used to refer to the present or
future where the situation is real. The type 1 conditional
refers to a possible condition and its probable result. In
these sentences the if clause is in the simple present, and
the main clause is in the simple future.

In a Type 1 conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if'

clause is the simple present, and the tense in the main
clause is the simple future.
 Look at this examples:​
if condition result result if condition

Present Simple will + base verb will + base verb Present Simple

If I see Mary, I will tell her. I will tell Mary if I see her.

Tara is free He will invite she is free

If he will invite her. if
tomorrow, Tara tomorrow.

they do not pass their teacher will Their teacher they do not pass
If if
their exam, be sad. will be sad their exam.

Will you stay at it rains

will you stay at if
If it rains tomorrow, home tomorrow?
home?

what will you it rains

If it rains tomorrow, What will you do if
do? tomorrow?
TYPE 2 CONDITIONALS
For unreal possibility
The type 2 conditional is used to refer to a time that is now or
any time, and a situation that is unreal. These sentences are not
based on fact. The type 2 conditional is used to refer to a
hypothetical condition and its probable result. In type 2
conditional sentences, the if clause uses the simple past, and the
main clause uses the present conditional.
In a Type 2 conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if' clause is the
simple past, and the tense in the main clause is the present
conditional or the present continuous conditional.
 Look at this examples:​
result if condition if condition result

would + base would + base

Past Simple Past Simple
verb verb

I would be If I married Mary, I would be happy.

if I married Mary.
happy
she would marry
She would If Ram became rich,
if he became rich. him.
marry Ram
it snowed next would you be
Would you be it snowed next If
if July, surprised?
surprised July?

What would it snowed next it snowed next what would you

if If
you do July? July, do?
TYPE 3 CONDITIONALS
For no possibility
The type 3 conditional is used to refer to a time that is in the past,
and a situation that is contrary to reality. The facts they are
based on are the opposite of what is expressed. The type 3
conditional is used to refer to an unreal past condition and its
probable past result. In type 3 conditional sentences, the if clause
uses the past perfect, and the main clause uses the perfect
conditional.

In a Type 3 conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if' clause is the

past perfect, and the tense in the main clause is the perfect
conditional or the perfect continuous conditional.
 Look at these example senteces:

if condition result result if condition

would have + past would have + past

Past Perfect Past Perfect
participle participle

If I had seen Mary, I would have told her. I would have told
if I had seen her.
Mary
Tara had been free I would have invited
If I would have invited she had been free
yesterday, her. if
Tara yesterday.
they had not passed their teacher would
If Their teacher would they had not passed
their exam, have been sad. if
have been sad their exam.

it had rained would you have Would you have

If if it had rained yesterday?
yesterday, stayed at home? stayed at home

it had rained what would you have What would you have
If if it had rained yesterday?
yesterday, done? done
MIXED TYPE CONDITIONALS
The mixed type conditional is used to refer to a time that is in the
past, and a situation that is ongoing into the present. The facts
they are based on are the opposite of what is expressed. The mixed
type conditional is used to refer to an unreal past condition and its
probable result in the present. In mixed type conditional
sentences, the if clause uses the past perfect, and the main clause
uses the present conditional.

In this type of mixed conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if'

clause is the past perfect, and the tense in the main clause is the
present conditional.
Look at these example senteces:​
If clause Main clause

If + past perfect or simple past present conditional or perfect conditional

that thing would happen. (but this thing didn't happen

If this thing had happened
so that thing isn't happening)

If I had worked harder at school I would have a better job now.

If we had looked at the map we wouldn't be lost.

If you weren't afraid of spiders you would have picked it up and put it outside.
1. What would you do if it ________ on your wedding day?
A. rained B. will rain C. would rain

2. If she comes, I _____ call you.

A.will B.would C.would have

3. If I eat peanut butter, I ________ sick.

A. would have gotten B.would get C. get

4. What will you do if you ________ the history exam?

A. would fail B. will fail C. fail
5. If they had not _____ the car, I would have driven you.
A. take B.taken C. would take

6. If it snows, ________ still drive to the coast?

A. will you B. would you C.would you have

7. "He would have gone with you if you had asked him." Which
conditional is this?
A.First B. second C. third

8. "If I won a million dollars, I would buy my own airplane." Which

conditional is this?
A. Zero B.first C. second
9. "If I forget her birthday, Andrea gets upset." Which
conditional is this?
A. zero B. first C. second

10. "What will she do if she misses the bus?" Which

conditional is this?
A. first B. Second C. third
1. A
2. A
3. C
4. C
5. B
6. A
7. C
8. C
9. A
10. A