Conditionals: zero, first and second
Look at these examples to see how zero, first and second conditionals are used.
If you freeze water, it becomes solid.
If it rains tomorrow, I'll take the car.
If I lived closer to the cinema, I would go more often.
Try this exercise to test your grammar.
- Grammar test 1
Read the explanation to learn more.
Grammar explanation
Conditionals describe the result of a certain condition. The if clause tells you the condition (If you study hard) and the main clause tells you the result (you will pass your exams). The order of the clauses does not change the meaning.
If you study hard, you will pass your exams.
You will pass your exams if you study hard.
Conditional sentences are often divided into different types.
Zero conditional
We use the zero conditional to talk about things that are generally true, especially for laws and rules.
If I drink too much coffee, I can't sleep at night.
Ice melts if you heat it.
When the sun goes down, it gets dark.
The structure is: if/when + present simple >> present simple.
First conditional
We use the first conditional when we talk about future situations we believe are real or possible.
If it doesn't rain tomorrow, we'll go to the beach.
Arsenal will be top of the league if they win.
When I finish work, I'll call you.
In first conditional sentences, the structure is usually: if/when + present simple >> will + infinitive.
It is also common to use this structure with unless, as long as, as soon as or in case instead of if.
I'll leave as soon as the babysitter arrives.
I don't want to stay in London unless I get a well-paid job.
I'll give you a key in case I'm not at home.
You can go to the party, as long as you're back by midnight.
Second conditional
The second conditional is used to imagine present or future situations that are impossible or unlikely in reality.
If we had a garden, we could have a cat.
If I won a lot of money, I'd buy a big house in the country.
I wouldn't worry if I were you.
The structure is usually: if + past simple >> + would + infinitive.
When if is followed by the verb be, it is grammatically correct to say if I were, if he were, if she were and if it were. However, it is also common to hear these structures with was, especially in the he/she form.
If I were you, I wouldn't mention it.
If she was prime minister, she would invest more money in schools.
He would travel more if he was younger.
Do this exercise to test your grammar again.
- Grammar test 2
Hello,
Source: "New reality matters", Tes Magazine, Leanne Bridgwood, 2021.
Why is the author using the second conditional in the second sentence. It looks like a past situation, I'd say that the third conditional is more appropriate here. Please explain the idea behind the use here.
Hello Tony_M,
I would also use 'would have got' here. You could say that the author is comparing a real situation (the amount of knowledge they started to get to a hypothetical alternative (what they would have got if they went to school) but really this is a question for the author, not for us to interpret.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Dear teacher, I have a sentence like this:
We can’t go to Julia’s party because we are going away that weekend.
Can we change into “If we weren’t going away that weekend, we could go to Julia’s party.”, teacher?
Many thanks.
Hello KatherineThu,
Yes, that's fine. Well done!
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello! I need some clarifications on Conditionals.
Regards,
Arghya Biswas
Hello Arghya Biswas,
This structure is sometimes called a first conditional, though I prefer not to use such terms myself. It describes a likely or real present or future condition with a likely or real future result.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Do we say "if I was" or "if I were"?
Why do we use "were"? Is this the subjunctive form? I often hear "was" in casual conversation. What is the difference between "was" or "were"? This is not talking about the past, but an imaginary situation. We usually say:
If I were you, I wouldn't eat too many sweets.
If he were rich, he would travel across the world.
If it weren't so cold, we'd go out.
Hello marcotoa,
Both forms are acceptable in modern English, though was is generally seen as less formal and less common in writing.
It's debatable whether or not If I were... is a subjunctive form or not. Some grammarians describe it as past subjunctive, while others feel this is a stretch in an attempt to apply terms better suited to other languages to English and prefer to describe it as irrealis. Linguists enjoy their terminology squabbles!
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello , sir
Could you please help me answer the following questions?
Which conditional should I use , first or second?
1- He won't succeed because he doesn't study . ( If)
2- She doesn't have money ,so she won't buy the dress . ( If )
Hello Rizk Hussein,
In terms of grammar and meaning, you can use any form which makes sense, so neither option is wrong in that sense. It depends upon your perspective: do you think the action in the if-clause is likely (present > will) or unlikely (past > would). It's a choice you make. Now, in your examples you have a starting point provided which you can use as a guide. The person in question in #1 does not study, so we can make these sentences:
Both sentences are correct and both fit the original meaning.
You can do a similar thing with the second sentence yourself.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team