At a glance
| Type | If-part | Result part | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero: always true | present | present | If you heat ice, it melts. |
| First: real future | present | will + V1 | If it rains, I'll stay home. |
| Second: imaginary now | past | would + V1 | If I had wings, I'd fly. |
| Third: imaginary past | had + V3 | would have + V3 | If I had studied, I'd have passed. |
- Start
- Is it always true (a fact, science)?YesZeroIf you mix red and blue, you get purple.
- Is it possible in the future?YesFirstIf I see her, I'll tell her.
- Is it imaginary or very unlikely now?YesSecondIf I were rich, I'd travel.
- Is it about the past (it didn't happen)?YesThirdIf we had left earlier, we wouldn't have missed the train.
- A past cause with a present resultMixedIf I had slept, I wouldn't be tired now.
All five in pictures
If you heat ice, it melts. (zero)
If it rains, I'll take an umbrella. (first)
If I had wings, I'd fly to the moon. (second)
If I had studied, I'd have passed. (third)
If I had slept last night, I wouldn't be tired now. (mixed)
Rules for all conditionals
- If the if-part comes first, use a comma: If it rains, we'll stay in. / We'll stay in if it rains.
- No will in the if-part:
If it will rain→ If it rains. - In the second conditional, were is used for all persons in careful English: If I were you, I'd accept.
- would never goes in the if-part:
If I would have money→ If I had money.
Other words instead of if
unless (= if not), as long as / provided that (= only if), in case (to be ready), suppose (= imagine if). See Unless, In Case, As Long As.
Zero and first conditional Second conditional Third conditional Mixed conditionals
Practice
Answer the questions. Get 7 out of 10 to finish this lesson.