Conditionals Definition

Conditionals Definition
There are a number of structures in English that are called the conditionals which are used to
talk about possible or imaginary situations. A "Condition" is a "situation or circumstance".
For example:
 IF a certain condition is true, THEN a particular result happens.
Follow the links below for definitions of each type of conditional:
1. 1st Conditional
2. 3rd Conditional
3. Zero Conditional
4. Mixed Conditionals
5. Other Conditionals
Structure of Conditional Sentences

The structure of the conditionals is straightforward. There are two basic possibilities in terms of
order in the sentence:
IF Condition Result
If it rains, we will get wet
or like this:
Result IF Condition
We will get wet if it rains.
Notice that we only use a comma in the first example.

Conditionals: Time and Probability Table
Probability Conditional Example Time

Certain zero conditional If you heat water to 100 degrees celsius, it boils any time
Likely first conditional If it rains, I will stay in. future
Unlikely second conditional If I won the lottery, I would retire. future
Impossible second conditional If I had the money, I would lend it to you present
If I had seen him, I would have given him the
Impossible third conditional past
message.
Zero Conditional: Certainty

The Zero conditional is used for things that are always true as long as the condition is met.
IF Condition Result Situation

present simple present simple
you heat water to 100 degrees
If it boils. fact- universal
celsius,
present simple present simple
If I drink coffee, I get a headache. fact- personal
In these examples, the result will always occur if the condition is met, so the time is not
important.
First Conditional: A real possibility in the future

A First Conditional sentence is one connecting two future actions, where one must take place
before the second is possible. Take a student who wants to go to university but hasn't got the
results of their exams yet. They cannot go to university until they have received their results. In
the case of a good student who is expected to get good grades, then there is a good possibility of
achieving the marks required to get to university, so the following sentence could be used:
I
Condition Result
F
present simple WILL + base verb
If she gets good grades, she will go to university.
We are talking about the future, but we use a present tense for the condition and will for the
result. In this case, the person is sure about going to university. We can use other modal verbs in
the result part of the sentence:
IF Condition Result Possibility

she gets good
If she will go to university. If the condition is met, then she definitely will go
grades,
If he gets good grades, he may go to university. He is not sure about going to university.
she gets good she should go to The speaker is expressing his or her opinion,
If
grades, university. giving advice.
If he gets good grades, he can go to university. This means that it is possible.
she gets good
If she could go to university. This means that it is possible, but not that likely.
grades,
If he gets good grades, he might go to university. This means that it is possible, but not that likely.
We can also use different present forms in the condition part of the sentence:

I
Condition Reason for tense Result
F
present simple an action in the future
If I see her, I'll ask her about it.
present progressive an unfinished present action
If they are still working, I'll go home.
present progressive a future arrangement
If they are going, I'll stay at home.
present perfect a finished action related to now
If you have finished your meal, I'll clear away the plates.
WILL + base verb making an agreement WILL + base verb
If you will work late today, I will let you have Friday off.
expressing displeasure because someone
WILL + base verb WILL + base verb
insists on doing something
If you will drive too fast, the police will stop you.
Second Conditional: Imaginary Present or Unlikely Future
The Second Conditional can be used used to talk about imaginary present situations, where we
are imagining something different from what is really the case. We can also use it to talk about
things in the future that are unlikely to happen, as the condition is unlikely to be met. We use the
past tense in the condition part and would for the result.
I
Condition Time Result Possibility
F
past simple present WOULD + base verb impossible
I had the I don't have the time, so I'm not going to learn
If I would learn Italian.
time, Italian.
past simple future WOULD + base verb unlikely
I won the I would travel around the There's a very small chance of winning the lottery,
If
lottery world. so the trip is unlikely
We can use other modal verbs in the past tense in the result part of the sentence:
I
Condition Result Certainty
F
past simple WOULD + base verb
I had the Although unlikely to happen, the speaker is sure that they
If I would learn Italian.
time, would do it given the opportunity.
I had more
If I might learn Spanish. Although unlikely to happen, it is only a possibility anyway.
time,
I had more I should learn some more Although unlikely to happen, the speaker is saying that it
If
time, about IT. would be a good idea, but is not committed to it.
I had more
If I could learn Hindi. Although unlikely to happen, it is only a possibility anyway.
time
With the verb to be, there are two forms that can be used with I, he, she & it:
IF Condition Result
I, he, she,
Were
it
If I were you, I'd marry her.
I, he, she,
Was
it
If I was you, I'd marry her.
Third Conditional: Imaginary Past
The Third Conditional is used when we are talking about the past and imagining something
different from what actually happened:
Condition Result What actually happened
WOULD HAVE + Past

Past Perfect
Participle
If I had known, I would have helped. I didn't know and didn't help.
IF Condition Result Certainty

WOULD HAVE+ past
past perfect
participle
Although this didn't happen, the speaker is sure about
If I had known, I would have helped.
the result.
Although this didn't happen, the result is only
If I had known, I could have helped.
a possibility.
Although this didn't happen, the result is only
If I had known, I might have helped.
a possibility.
Although this didn't happen, it is only a
If you had known, you should have helped.
good suggestion or piece of advice.

Conditionals Definition

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Conditionals Definition

 IF a certain condition is true, THEN a particular result happens.

Follow the links below for definitions of each type of conditional:

Structure of Conditional Sentences

Notice that we only use a comma in the first example.

Probability Conditional Example Time

Zero Conditional: Certainty

IF Condition Result Situation

First Conditional: A real possibility in the future

IF Condition Result Possibility

We can also use different present forms in the condition part of the sentence:

Condition Result What actually happened

WOULD HAVE + Past

IF Condition Result Certainty

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