Conditionals: zero, first and second

Do you know how to use the zero, first and second conditionals? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

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: Conditionals 1: 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: Conditionals 1: Grammar test 2

Try another grammar lesson

Language level

B1 Intermediate

For the structure use of unless, as long as, as soon as or in case instead of if. Does it also common to use in zero and second conditions?

Hello Nour Shekho,

Unless is very rare in conditionals expressing general truths. It is possible but if...not is much more common.

As long as, as soon as and in case can all be used. For example:

As long as you dress appropriately, you can visit religious buildings.
People get angry as soon as you look at them these days.
People carry cash with them in case their cards or phones don't work.

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Hello sir,

I wrote the conditional sentences below by using all my understanding in this lesson. Would you please correct me if I were wrong?

Our world is not fair in some ways. Even if you have a very good attitude, manners, and wisdom, if you are not famous, people don't believe what you say.
Modern technology is evolving rapidly. If you don't keep up with the modern technology every day, you definitely fall behind for sure.
Meeting a good teacher at a young age can completely change a student's future. If teachers train students to enjoy learning English from a young age, they will be good at English when they grow up.
Today is too hot to play football. If it did not rain yesterday, I would play football.

Regards,

Benny

Hello Nyan Htoo Pai,

Most of these are good. Only the last one needs changing. In this sentence you are describing a past situation which is not real (imaginary), so you should use the past perfect in the if-clause:

If it had not rained yesterday, I would play football.

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Hello,

As for the second conditional and the structure used to talk about hypothetical situations:

if + past simple >> + would + infinitive.

In some stories, I have found a similar construction:

Instead of "If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world", this sentence "If I were to win the lottery, I would travel around the world."

This makes me confused. Could you please explain it?

Thank you

Hello User_1,

Certain types of if-clauses in conditional structure can be inverted in this way to create a more formal version. Three are most common:

1. if + past for unreal present/future
If I won the lottery, ...
If I were to win the lottery, ...
2. if + past perfect for unreal past
If I had gone to university, ...
Had I gone to university, ...
3. if + should for unexpected or unplanned present/future
If I should die, ...
Should I die, ...

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Thanks Peter for your explanation.

Which sentence is correct?

If children play with fire, they will get burned.

If children play with fire, they get burned.

Thanks in advance.

Hello aknm2008,

Both sentences are correct.

The second sentence describes a general truth about children and fire - something that is always truea. The first sentence describes what the speaker believes to be the likely result of a given action. In this context these two meanings are essentially the same.

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Hello there.

A rather simple, basic question, most likely with an obvious answer, judging from the explanation: if I use ⟨will⟩ on a conditional sentence building, is it automatically and unequivocally not an instance of "zero conditional"?

Thanks beforehand. Have a nice day.