English grammar
If clauses & conditional sentences
Grammar rules with examples
There are four basic types of conditional sentences in the English language. Each type has
two parts - the main clause and the if clause.
Zero conditional: I take my umbrella if it rains.
First conditional: I'll call you if I work late.
Second conditional: If the bus didn't arrive on time, I would drive you to the airport.
Third conditional: She wouldn't have come if I hadn't invited her.
Zero conditional
The zero conditional describes situations that are always true. If has the same meaning as
when or whenever.
If I go to school, I get up at seven. (Whenever I go to school I get up at the same time.)
If you park your car on double yellow lines, you pay a fine. (Whenever you park illegally, you
pay a fine.)
We use the present simple tense in both the main clause and the if clause.
First conditional
The first conditional refers to the present or future. First conditional sentences are used to
speculate about possible situations that can really happen.
If he studies hard, he'll pass the exams. If we catch the 10.15 train, we will arrive on time. If
you don't get the ticket, what will you do?
We use the present tense in the if clause and will + bare infinitive in the main clause.
Second conditional
The second conditional also refers to the present or future. In second conditional sentneces
we speculate about situations that will probably never happen.
If I had more time, I would help you. (But I am not free at the moment. I can't help you).
If I won a million dollars, I would start a business of my own. (But I know that it is not
realistic.)
We use the past tense in the if clause and would + bare infinitive in the main clause.
Note: the verb to be can have a specific form in the if clause.
If I were rich, I wouldn't work. If he were younger, he would marry her.
(But was is also possible: If I was rich, I wouldn't work. If he was younger, he would marry
her.)
Remember: If I were you, I wouldn't do it. (In this expression, were is much more usual.)
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