2. The use of the conditional implies that one action in a sentence
depends on the other. The conditionals are used to speak about both
real and imaginary situations. Conditional sentences are also known as
“if clauses”. Keep in mind that there is no conditional verb tense in
English as there is in other languages. Instead, we use the auxiliary
verb "would" to form the conditional. There are four types of
conditional sentences and the use of one type over the other reflects
the probability of the dependent action happening.
WHAT YOU NEED
TO KNOW
3. ZERO
CONDITIONAL
If you heat ice, it melts.
Ice melts if you heat it.
When you heat ice, it melts.
Ice melts when you heat it.
If Bill phones, tell him to meet me at the cinema.
Ask Pete if you're not sure what to do.
If you want to come, call me before 5:00.
As in all conditional sentences, the order of the
clauses is not fixed. You may have to rearrange the
pronouns and adjust punctuation when you change the
order of the clauses, but the meaning is identical. In
zero conditional sentences, you can replace "if" with
"when", because both express general truths. The meaning
will be unchanged.
The zero conditional is used to make statements about
the real world, and often refers to general truths, such
as scientific facts. In these sentences, the time is now
or always and the situation is real and possible.
The zero conditional is also often used to give
instructions, using the imperative in the main clause.
01
(if + present simple, ... present simple)
4. FIRST
CONDITIONAL
If it rains, you will get wet. / You will get wet if
it rains.
If you don't hurry, you will miss the bus. / You will
miss the bus if you don't hurry.
If it doesn’t rain, we may go to the beach.(Meaning:
With the use of “may”, the meaning of this sentence
changes. The speaker here recognizes that they can go
to the beach, but they are not sure if they will.)
If it doesn’t rain, we should go to the beach.
(Meaning: In this case, the use of “should” expresses
the opinion of the speaker, like a recommendation.)
If it doesn’t rain, we can go to the beach.(Meaning:
“Can” here indicates that it is possible to go to the
beach, but says nothing of the probability.)
The first conditional refers to a possible condition and
its probable result in the future. Of course, we can't
know what will happen in the future, but this describes
possible things, which could easily come true. In first
conditional sentences, the time is the present or future
and the situation is real.
We can use certain modal verbs instead of “will” to
change the probability of the condition or to express an
opinion
02
(if + present simple, ... will + infinitive)
5. FIRST VS. ZERO
CONDITIONAL
The first conditional describes a
particular situation, whereas the zero
conditional describes what happens in
general.
For example (zero conditional): If you
sit in the sun, you get burned (here I'm
talking about every time a person sits in
the sun - the burning is a natural
consequence of the sitting).
But (first conditional): If you sit in
the sun, you'll get burned (here I'm
talking about what will happen today,
another day might be different).
6. SECOND
CONDITIONAL
If I had his number, I would call him. (I don't have
his number now, so it's impossible for me to call him).
If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house.(I
probably won't win the lottery)
She would pass the exam if she ever studied. (She never
studies, so this won't happen)
If I were taller, I would buy this dress.
If I were 20, I would travel the world.
If I were you, I would give up smoking.
We might buy a larger house if we had more money
He could go to the concert if you gave him your ticket.
If he called me, I couldn't hear.
The second conditional is used to express an unreal
possibility in the present, such as a wish or dream that
is impossible, or for an action in the future that is not
probable. In second conditional sentences, the time is now
or any time and the situation is hypothetical.
It is correct, and very common, to say "if I were" instead
of "if I was".
We can use other modal verbs instead of “would” to change
the meaning or possibility of the clause.
03
(if + past simple, ... would + infinitive)
7. FIRST VS. SECOND
CONDITIONAL
The first conditional describes things
that I think are likely to happen in the
future, whereas the second conditional
talks about things that I don't think
will really happen. It's subjective; it
depends on my point of view.
For example (first conditional): If she
studies harder, she'll pass the exam (I
think it's possible she will study harder
and so she'll pass).
But (second conditional): If she studied
harder, she would pass the exam (I think
that she won't study harder, or it's very
unlikely, and so she won't pass).
(Second conditional): If I had enough
money I would buy a house with twenty
bedrooms and a swimming pool (I'm
probably not going to have this much
money, it's just a dream, not very real)
But (first conditional): If I have enough
money, I'll buy some new shoes (It's much
more likely that I'll have enough money to
buy some shoes)
8. THIRD
CONDITIONAL
If I had worked harder, I would have passed the exam.
(But I didn't work hard, and I didn't pass the exam.)
If I had known you were coming, I would have baked a
cake. (But I didn't know and I didn't bake a cake.)
I would have been happy if you had called me on my
birthday. (But you didn't call me and I am not happy.)
If I had worked harder, I might have passed the exam.
You could have been on time if you had caught the
bus.
If you had bought my school supplies for me, I might
have been able to go to the park.
The third conditional refers to an impossible condition
in the past and its probable result in the past. These
sentences are truly hypothetical and unreal, because it
is now too late for the condition or its result to
exist. There is always some implication of regret with
third conditional sentences. The reality is the opposite
of, or contrary to, what the sentence expresses. In
third conditional sentences, the time is the past and
the situation is hypothetical.
In third conditional sentences, you can also use modals
in the main clause instead of "would" to express the
degree of certainty, permission, or a recommendation
about the outcome.
04
(if + past perfect, ... would + have + past
participle)
9. THIRD
CONDITIONAL
I didn’t tell my friend goodbye before she moved away
because we were fighting. If I had said goodbye, we
might have fixed our friendship.
I wish I had said goodbye to my friend.
I wish I had gone to Canada.
If you'd given me your e-mail, I'd have written to
you.
When we want to express a regret, something we wish
would have been or gone differently in the past – we can
use the third conditional.
We can also use a wish clause (wish + past perfect, in
this case) to express regret, and use the same form as
the third conditional.
Both would and had can be contracted to 'd, which can be
confusing. Remember 2 rules:
1. "Would" never appears in the if-clause so if 'd
appears in the if clause, it must be abbreviating had.
2. "Had" never appears before have so if 'd appears on a
pronoun just before have, it must be abbreviating would.
If you had given me your e-mail, I would have written to
you.
04
(if + past perfect, ... would + have + past
participle)
10. THIRD
CONDITIONAL
If I had taken an umbrella, I wouldn't have got wet.
(= But I did get wet because I didn't take an
umbrella).
If I hadn't taken an umbrella, I would have got wet.
(= But I did take an umbrella, so I didn't get wet).
They wouldn't have missed their plane if they hadn't
woken up late. (= But they did wake up late, and they
did miss their plane).
If I had not practiced, I would have failed the exam.
(= But I did practiced and I did not fail the exam).
If I had studied, I would not have failed the exam.
(= But I did not study so I failed the exam).
I would have bought the shoes if I hadn’t had to pay
for the jacket. (= But I did have to pay for the
jacket).
She would not have gone to the party if she had
needed to work. (= But she did not need to work).
Notice how we can make either clause negative, with
changes in the meaning:
Both clauses can be negative:
04
(if + past perfect, ... would + have + past
participle)
11. MIXED
CONDITIONALS If I had studied, I would have my driving license. (But I
didn't study and now I don't have my license.)
I would be a millionaire now if I had taken that job.
(But I didn't take the job and I'm not a millionaire.)
If you had spent all your money, you wouldn't buy this
jacket. (But you didn't spend all your money and now you
can buy this jacket.)
If you had crashed the car, you might be in trouble.
I could be a millionaire now if I had invested in ABC.
The mixed type conditional is used to refer to a time that
is in the past, and a situation that is ongoing into the
present. The facts they are based on are the opposite of
what is expressed. There are three types of mixed
conditional sentences.
Unreal present result of an unreal past condition
If + past perfect, would + infinitive
In this type of mixed conditional sentences, the tense in
the 'if' clause is in the past perfect, and the tense in the
main clause is in the present conditional. This type of
mixed conditional refers to an unreal past condition and its
probable result in the present.
Remember: we use would in future tense when we want to
express a possibility of activity.
In mixed conditional sentences, you can also use modals in
the main clause instead of would.
05
It is possible for the two parts of a
conditional sentence to refer to different
times, and the resulting sentence is a "mixed
conditional" sentence.
12. MIXED
CONDITIONALS
"If I wasn't afraid of spiders" is contrary to the
present reality, I am, in fact, afraid of spiders.
"I would have picked it up" is contrary to past
reality, I did not pick it up.
If she wasn't afraid of flying, she wouldn't have
travelled by boat. (She is afraid of flying so she
travelled by boat).
I'd have been able to translate the letter if my
Italian was better. (I did not translate the letter
because my Italian is not good enough).
If I was a good cook, I'd have invited them to lunch.
(I did not invite them over because I am not a good
cook).
If I were you, I would have bought that hat.
I would have ordered a cup if I drank coffee.
If Ben spoke Chinese, he would have translated the form
for you.
If I were rich, I would have bought that house.
Unreal past result of an unreal present condition
If + past simple, would + have + past participle
In this second type of mixed conditional sentence, the
tense in the 'if' clause is the simple past, and the tense
in the main clause is the perfect conditional. The if-
clause of this conditional typically uses stative verbs or
verbs that refer to a general ability, habit, or ongoing
situation. For example,
05
It is possible for the two parts of a
conditional sentence to refer to different
times, and the resulting sentence is a "mixed
conditional" sentence.
13. MIXED
CONDITIONALS
If I didn't have an important meeting tomorrow, I would
be out dancing.
If she wasn't going on holiday next month, she would
ask for a day off.
If you weren't going on a big hike tomorrow, would you
come on a bike ride today?
If I were going to that concert tomorrow, I would be
very excited.
If Ben were giving the presentation this evening, he
would be very confident.
If she were traveling with us to China, she would be
applying for her visa.
If Julia had a test next Monday, she would be studying
for it right now.
Unreal present result of an unreal future action
If + past simple, would + infinitive
You can use this form to talk about a future action and a
hypothetical present result. Just imagine that tomorrow
you have a really important meeting at work. A meeting
that you've planned and you've organised and set it up for
the future. So you can't go out dancing tonight, obviously
because you want to be well rested and alert for this
meeting and your boss is gonna be there.
05
It is possible for the two parts of a
conditional sentence to refer to different
times, and the resulting sentence is a "mixed
conditional" sentence.
14. REMEMBER
Conditional sentences begin
with phrases such as: unless,
even if, only if or in case.
I will be at your wedding
tomorrow unless my son is still
sick.
Even if we leave right now, we
will still be late to the
wedding.
Take your cell phone with you
in case you need to call me.
Use a comma after the
conditional-clause when it
comes first.
If Tommy eats his vegetables,
he will be allowed to eat
dessert.
Even if Mom picks me up by
4:30, I won't have time to come
to your house before practice.
If Sally is sick, she must stay
home.
Do not use a comma if the
conditional-clause comes
second.
Dan would be saving money if he
were traveling with us to
Boston on Sunday.
You will be allowed to listen
to music during class if you
promise to complete your work.
Turn off the computer when you
are finished.
01 02 03
16. WISHES ABOUT THE
PRESENT AND FUTURE
I wish I ate more vegetables. (I don’t eat more vegetables.)
He wishes he had a new house. (He does not have a new house.)
They wish it was August. (It isn’t August.)
I wish I had a bigger car. (Because my car is too small.)
I wish it was the summer holidays (But it isn’t – I’m still at school.)
Used to express that we want a situation in the present or future to be different.
Wish + Past Simple
Wish + Past Continuous
I wish I was playing badminton now. (I’m studying English.)
I wish it weren’t raining now. (It is raining now.)
I wish you were coming to my party next week. (You are not coming to my party next week.)
I wish it was the weekend.
I wish I was lying on a beach now.
I wish it wasn’t raining.
Used to express that we want to be doing a different action in the present or future.
Note: In Standard English we use “I wish I were…” and “I wish it were…”. However, “I wish I was…” and
“I wish it was” are in common usage. Using this form, the examples above would be:
17. WISHES ABOUT THE
PAST
They wish they hadn’t lost the photo. It was a really good one. (They lost the photo.)
I wish I hadn’t done it. (I did it.)
He wishes he had studied more for their exam. (They didn’t study more for their exam.)
He wishes he had studied harder when he was at school. (He didn’t study hard enough – perhaps if he
had studied harder he would have gone to university.)
They wish they had scored that goal! (They dind't scored a goal and as a result they probably won’t
win the match.)
I wish I hadn’t eaten so much. (I ate a lot.)
I wish they’d come on holiday with us. (They didn’t come on holiday.)
I wish I had studied harder at school. (I was lazy at school.)
Used to express a regret, or that we want a situation in the past to be different.
Wish + Past Perfect
18. WISH + WOULD +
INFINITIVE
I wish my car would start. (I can’t make it start and I want it to start).
I wish the lesson would end. (I want it to end).
I wish you’d listen to me!
I wish you would stop smoking. (You are smoking at the moment and it is annoying me.)
I wish you wouldn’t borrow my clothes!
I wish my mum wouldn’t phone me every five minutes!
Used to express that we want something to happen.
Used to express that we want someone to start doing something they do not do.
Used to express that we want someone to stop doing something which annoys us.
WISH + TO INFINITIVE
I wish to make a complaint and would like to see the manager.
At the current stage he did not wish to go into detail and say whether any given statistical
indicator was politically sensitive or not.
The Commission states that it does not wish to go into the form of the entities that manage
settlement systems and their central counterparties.
Used to express “want” in a formal situation.
19. SUBJECT + WISH +
SOMEONE
We wish you a Merry Christmas.
We wish you a Happy Birthday.
I wish her luck in her new career.
She wishes her sister the best of happiness.
I wish you the best.
I wish you peace and happiness for the rest of your life.
Used as a fixed expression to congratulate someone or desire them well. This is the only time you can
use “wish” for something real.
HOPE VS. WISH
I hope my team wins the game.
I hope we see each other again.
I hope I pass my test.
I hope you passed your test. (After the test, but before you know the outcome.)
I hope I got the job. (After the job interview, but before you know the outcome.)
“Hope” means to desire something good or positive in the future. “Hope” is often used to talk about
future events, situations, or actions. For a future meaning, it is paired with simple present tense:
“Hope” can also be used to talk about something that recently happened and will be decided in the
future. In this case, it is paired with the simple past tense.
20. HOPE VS. WISH
I hope it’s sunny tomorrow.
I hope she passes her exam next week.
I hope the plane doesn’t crash tomorrow.
I hope I can improve my English.
I wish I could improve my English.
We already know that wish is used to desire something that is impossible or not likely to happen. So,
to express that you want something to happen in the future (not wanting a situation to be different,
and not implying impatience or annoyance) hope is used instead of wish.
“I wish it was sunny tomorrow” is not correct.
“I wish she were passing her exam next week” is not correct.
“I wish the plane wouldn’t crash tomorrow” is not correct.
What is the difference between these two statements?
Remember that “hope” expresses something that the speaker believes is possible. The first sentence
above means that I want to improve my English, and I think it is possible. “Wish,” on the other hand,
expresses something that the speaker believes is not possible right now. The second sentence above
means that I want to improve my English, but I don’t think it is possible.
