Conditional sentences
The Zero conditional.
The zero conditional expresses conditions that are always
true, with automatic or habitual results.
If sentence Main sentence
Present simple Present simple
Flowers die if you don’t water them.
If you heat ice, it melts.
The First Conditional (probable)
The first conditional is used to talk about a situation
that is true or may become true. It’s likely to happen.
If sentence Main sentence
Present simple Future
If it rains, we will not play tennis.
The Second conditional (improbable)
The second conditional is used to talk about a situation
that is unreal or unlikely to happen.
If sentence Main sentence
Past subjunctive Conditional
If he gave me enough money, I would go to the opera.
The third conditional (impossible)
The third conditional is used to describe an imaginary
event or situation in the past. It didn’t happen or exist.
If sentence Main sentence
Past perfect subjunctive Perfect conditional
If I had known that James was in Madrid, I would have
visited him
Mixed conditional.
It is a mixture of a third conditional sentence and a
second conditional sentence. Links a complete past action
with a present result.
If sentence Main sentence
Past perfect subjunct. Conditional
If I hadn’t broken my leg, I would go on holiday with you.
