This document summarizes the different types of conditional sentences in English: 1. Zero conditional - general truths using present tenses. 2. First conditional - likely present or future situations using present, present perfect, will/won't, going to, can. 3. Second conditional - unlikely or imaginary present/future using past tense and would/could/might. 4. Third conditional - impossible past situations using past perfect and would have/could have/might have. There are also mixed conditionals and variations using unless, as long as, provided, on condition that, but for, if so/not, supposing, assuming, if only, and inverting had/were/should

1. CONDITIONAL
SENTENCES

3. ZERO CONDITIONAL
GENERAL TRUTHS
If clause Main clause
PRESENT PRESENT
If the water is boiling/ has
boiled,
it means the food is nearly ready.
If my cat is nervous, she moves her tail a lot.

4. FIRST CONDITIONAL
REAL, LIKELY SITUATIONS. POSSIBLE
If clause Main clause
PRESENT SIMPLE
PRESENT PERFECT
GOING TO
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
CAN
WILL/ WON’T
BE ABLE TO
CAN
GOING TO
IMPERATIVE
COULD
MIGHT
If you eat all the cake, you will get sick.
If you have finished your homework, you can play on the WII.
If it rains this afternoon, we are going to stay and watch some DVDs.
If you are going to buy a car, make sure you get it checked by a garage.

5. SECOND CONDITIONAL
UNREAL, IMAGINARY SITUATIONS. IMPROBABLE
If clause Main clause
PAST SIMPLE
WERE TO (makes the event seem more
hypothetical)
WOULD
COULD
MIGHT
If you won the lottery, what would you do?
If we all worked together we could be successful.
If I were to ask you to come with me, what would you say?
The verb be usually takes the form were for all persons in these sentences.
Was is used in everyday speech:
If I were you, I would try it again.

6. THIRD CONDITIONALS
UNREAL, IMAGINARY PAST SITUATIONS. IMPOSSIBLE
If clause Main clause
PAST PERFECT WOULD HAVE (done)
COULD HAVE
MIGHT HAVE
If I had known you were coming, I would have waited for you at the
station.

7. MIXED CONDITIONALS
If clause Main clause
PAST PERFECT WOULD ( do)
If she had worn her seat- belt, she would still be alive.
(Past events which have a result continuing in the present )
PAST SIMPLE WOULD HAVE (done)
If you weren’t so lazy, you would have finished your work.
(Hypothetical situation in the present that could have affected a
different course of action in the past)

8. VARIATIONS
• UNLESS (If ..not) It shows an exception to the point made in the main clause;
Unless you study hard, you won’t pass the exam.
• AS LONG AS
• PROVIDED/ PROVIDING (THAT)
• ON CONDITION THAT
You can go to the party as long as you are home before 12:00.
You can go to the party provided you are home before 12:00.
You can go to the party on condition that you are home before 12:00.
More emphatic ways of saying ONLY
…IF

9. VARIATIONS
• BUT FOR (if it were not for). Used in formal language, it must be followed by a noun
form:
But for your help, we would have been in trouble.
• IF SO/ NOT ( They refer to a sentence understood but not stated)
There is a possibility that Jack will be late. If so, I will not wait for him.
• SUPPOSING, ASSUMING
Supposing you won the match, what would you do?
• IF ONLY ( It adds emphasis to hypothetical situations. With past events it adds a
sense of regret. The second part of the sentence may be left out)
If only I hadn’t drunk too much, this wouldn’t have happened!
• Colloquial omission of if. An IMPERATIVE can be used in everyday speech:
Sit down, and I’ll make a cup of tea (if you sit down…)

10. VARIATIONS
• HAD (I)… WERE (I)… SHOULD (I). It is possible to begin formal conditional sentences
by inverting had, were or should and the subject, leaving out if:
Had I seen Mary at the party, I would have told her that I love her.