Conditional sentences

There are four types of conditional sentences:

0 – The zero conditional

1 – The first conditional

2 – The second conditional

3 – The third conditional

It is also possible to mix the second and third conditional. Let’s look at each conditional to see
how we use them.

The Zero Conditional

We use the zero conditional to talk about permanent truths, such as scientific facts, and general
habits. The structure is simple:

Here are some examples:

If you heat water to 100°, it boils.

If you eat a lot, you put on weight.

The First Conditional

We use the first conditional to talk about a realistic situation in the present or future. The
structure of the first conditional is as follows:

Here are some examples:

If you’re free later, we can go for a walk.

If they’re hungry, I’ll make some sandwiches.

If you’re not back by 5pm, give me a ring.

If he studies hard, he’ll do well in the exam.

If we arrive late, we must get a taxi.

He’ll call if he needs help.

Take a break if you’re tired.

The Second Conditional

We use the second conditional to talk about improbable or impossible situations in the present or
future. Here is the structure:

For example:

If I had more time, I’d exercise more. (But I don’t have more time so I don’t.)

If I were rich, I’d spend all my time travelling. (But I’m not rich so I can’t.)

If she saw a snake, she’d be terrified.

If he didn’t have to work late, he could go out with his girlfriend.

What would you do if you were offered a job in Canada?

You wouldn’t have to walk everywhere if you bought a bike.

A common expression used to give advice has the second conditional structure. The expression is ‘If
I were you, I’d..’, meaning ‘in your situation, this is what I would do’. For example:

A: I’ve got a headache.

B: If I were you, I’d take an aspirin.

A: I don’t understand this.

B: If I were you, I’d ask your teacher for help.

The Third Conditional

We use the third conditional to talk about impossible situations, as in the second conditional, in
the past. We often use the third conditional to describe regrets. The structure is:

Here are some examples:

If we had left earlier, we would have arrived on time.

If you hadn’t forgotten her birthday, she wouldn’t have been upset.

If they had booked earlier, they could have found better seats.

Mixed Conditionals

It’s possible to combine the second and third conditional in one sentence when we want to make a
hypothesis about the past that has a consequence in the present. In this case, the structure is:

Here are some examples:

If you’d studied harder, you’d be at a higher level now.

We’d be lying on a beach now if we hadn’t missed the plane.

They’d have much more confidence if they hadn’t lost so many matches.

What would you be doing now if you hadn’t decided to study?

Wish

We use the past tense after wish: i wish I knew, I wish you were here…We use wish to say that
something is not as we would like it to be:

I wish I didn´t have to work tomorrow.

I wish there weren´t so many people.

We use wish the past perfect tense after wish to say we are sorry something did not happen.

The weather was very cold, I wish it had been warmer.

I feel sick, I wish I hadn´t eaten so much.