Conditionals in English

 

“One action depends on another”: this is the use of the conditional. Conditionals are used to talk about real or unreal situations . For some this part of English grammar is quite abstract and confusing, but if you learn it well, it can become easy. In addition, it has concrete rules that are very easy to apply.

There is an almost infinite variety of conditional sentences in English , but to learn how to tell them apart, the first thing to consider is whether or not the condition is likely to be met.

In this article we are going to see a summary of the use of conditionals and their different formulas . Later, we will see in a more developed way, the meaning of each one with several examples

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When are conditionals used?

conditional type	Use	Formula	Example
Zero (Zero Conditional)	general facts	If + Present Simple + Present Simple	If you eat a lot, you get fat. If you eat a lot, you get fat.
First (First Conditional)	Likely or very likely	If + Simple Present + 'Will' + Infinitive	If you come to Spain, we will go to Seville. If you come to Spain, we will go to Seville.
Second (Second Conditional)	Unlikely	If + Past Simple + + 'Would' + Infinitive	If I had a dog, I would be feeding it all the time. If I had a dog, I would be feeding it all the time.
Third (Third Conditional)	Impossible	If + Past Perfect + 'Would' + 'Have' + Past Participle	If I had woken up earlier, I would have studied more. If I had gotten up earlier, I would have studied more.

Conditional Types

Zero Conditional

The zero conditional is used to speak or explain general facts. That is, things that are universal truths. In these types of sentences, the consequences of the condition are known.

If + Present Simple + Present Simple

“If that thing happens…that happens”

• If you put wood in the chimney, it burns.
  If you put logs of wood in the fireplace, it will burn.
• If you boil water, it evaporates.
  If you boil water, it evaporates.
• If it rains, you get wet.
  If it rains, you get wet.

first conditional

The first conditional is used when we refer to situations in which something is quite likely to happen.

If + Simple Present + 'Will' + Infinitive

“If this thing happens…that will happen”

• If you arrive late, you will miss the birthday cake.
  If you're late, you'll miss the birthday cake.
• If I don't study enough, I will fail the exam.
  If I don't study enough, I will fail the exam.
• If they don't come to dinner, we will visit them next week.
  If they don't come to dinner, we'll visit them next week.

second conditional

We use the second conditional to refer to situations in which there is little probability that something will happen, although it is still possible.

If + Past Simple + 'Would' + Infinitive 

“If this thing happened…that thing would happen / that thing would be happening”

• If I spoke good French, I would be able to find a job in Paris.
  If I spoke good French, I could find a job in Paris. 

• f you ate less, you wouldn't be so fat. 
  If you ate less, you wouldn't be so fat. 
• If you came to Rome, you would see the Coliseum. 
  If you came to Rome, you would see the Colosseum. 

Third Conditional

We use the third conditional when we talk about situations that are already impossible to take place.

If + Past Perfect + 'Would' + 'Have' + Past Participle 

“If this thing had happened…that thing would have happened / that thing would have been happening”

• If the weather had been, you would have been able to sunbathe.
  If the weather had been good, you would have been able to sunbathe.
• If I had accepted that job, I would have been working in Canada.
  If I had accepted the job, I would have worked in Canada.
• If you had come to Rome, you would have seen the Coliseum.
  If you had come to Rome, you would have seen the Colosseum.