zero, first, second and third conditional
how are zero, first, second and third conditional composed
when do we use the zero, first, second and third conditional
we use the zero conditional to talk about consequences of general habits or about scientific
fact.!
we use the first conditional to talk about a realistic situation in the present or in the future.!
we use the second conditional to talk about an imaginary or unlikely situation and it’s imagined
result, it can describe present or future situations.!
we use the third conditional to talk about unreal situations in the past. the condition is imaginary,
because we cannot change what happened, so, the result is also impossible.!
mixed conditional
when the time reference in the if clause is different from the time reference in the main clause, we
use a “mixed conditional” sentence. this is a mix of second and third conditionals in the same
sentence. mixed conditionals describe an unreal situation: either a past condition with a present
result, or a present condition with a past result.!
unreal situations in the present
•we use imagine/suppose/supposing + past simple/present simple to describe a possible
situation in the present/future. we can use either the past simple or the present simple to
convey the same meaning. (es. imagine/suppose/supposing i bought a coat. i'd be much
warmer).!
•we use i'd rather/sooner + infinitive to describe a preference in the present. (es. i could take
the train today, but i'd rather/sooner take the bus).!
conditional
main clause
if clause
example
zero
subject + present
simple
if + subject + present
simple
if it rains, plats grow
first
subject + will + infinitive
if + subject + present
simple
the teacher will be very
angry if you don’t hand
in your homework on
time.
second
subject + would +
infinitive
if + subject + past
simple
i would be very proud if
she were my sister (with
the verb “to be” we use
only were)
third
subject + would + have
+ past participle
if + subject + past
perfect
i would have come
earlier if i had known
about the dinner
third conditional (past condition)
second conditional (present
result)
explain
if i hadn’t switched off my alarm
clock,
i wouldn’t be late now.
i switched my alarm clock off in
the past and i am late now.
second conditional (present
condition)
third conditional (past result)
explain
if she believed in ghosts,
that story would have terrified
her.
she doesn’t believe in ghosts and
the story didn’t terrify her.
