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

B2 Upper intermediate

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:

If he doesn't study (likely), he won't succeed.
If he studied (unlikely), he would succeed.

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

Do we say "If I were" or "If I was"? This topic is debatable whether or not to use "were" instead of "was".

Why we say "If I were you" in formal writing. In the past tense, we use "was" before "I", "he", "she" and "it". Compare with these examples, which is correct.

If I was rich, I would travel a lot. or If I were rich, I would travel a lot.

Is this rule called "imaginary past tense"?

Hello marcotoa,

Both forms are acceptable. In the past using 'was' in this construction was seen as incorrect but languages evolve and in modern English both are commonly used and are perfectly acceptable.

The second form of the verb in English has a number of uses which can be collectively thought of as distancing of various kinds. This can be distancing in time (past tense), social distancing (politeness such as the use of could or would instead of can or will in requests) or distancing in terms of something being unreal (the use of past forms to show hypothetical situations in conditional sentences, for example).

The best term for the verb in your example is past subjunctive. This is a fairly rare form in modern English which is used in certain constructions. You can read more about the subjunctive in English here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_subjunctive

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Hello guys, I'd ask you a question in this exercise; in the sixth question

" You don't need to print your ticket as long as _____ the email. " I choices are: (you have), (you had), (you'll have)

I chose (you'll have) because the phrase " as long as", but gthe answer is "you have). In the explanation "as long as"
goes with first condition !? So, I'm a bit confused.

Hello SaudCR7,

In conditional sentences we use a present form after if and either a future form for a predicted future result or a present form for a result which is generally or always true:

IF + PRESENT > WILL + VERB: If you work hard you'll pass your exam next week. [a predicted future result]

IF + PRESENT > PRESENT: If people work hard they get good results. [a general truth]

Your example is a general statement about how the ticketing system works so it uses present forms in both parts. As long as replaces if, so we use a present form after it. That is why 'you have' is correct.

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team