What are Conditionals?

Conditionals are sentence structures that explain a particular situation or circumstance and its consequences. If this happens, then that happens. There are four main conditionals that are commonly used in the English language.

First Conditional

The first conditional deals with issues that have a real possibility of occurringlike when people make plans and suggest back up plans. This conditional uses the simple present tense in its if clause and the words will, shall, can or may in its then clause. For example:

  • If I get some time off from work, then I will come visit you in San Francisco.
  • If it rains tomorrow, I shall go to the movies.
  • If Fred gets a raise, then he can buy a new car.
  • If we burn the dinner, we may have to order pizza.

Second Conditional

The second conditional is a bit more tricky. It deals withevents that are unlikely to really happen anduses the simplepast tense in its if clause and the wordswould, could, or might in its then clause. We use this conditionalwhen we are dreaming or fantasizing about a particular scenario. For example:

  • If we lived in Spain, we would have great tans.
  • If I became president, I could do away with the penny.
  • If I had a million dollars, I might stop working.

Third Conditional

While the first two conditionals talk about possible future events, the third conditional deals with thepast. Specifically, ittalks about past events and ponders the effects of those events not happening. Since we can’t go back in time, this conditional deals with events that have no possibility of happening and uses the past perfect in its if clause and the word wouldand the present perfect in its then clause to indicate impossible events. For example:

  • If Bobby Kennedy hadn't been assassinated, he would have made a great president.
  • If I had bet on the long shot, I would have made a killing.
  • If I had married her when I had the chance, I would have been happy.

Zero Conditional

The zero conditional deals with issues that are always truelike scientific facts. It uses the simple present tense in both of its sentence parts. For example:

  • If you don't ever water your plants, they die.
  • If you jump in a lake, you get wet.
  • If it gets below freezing, water turns into ice.
  • If you stick your hand in a fire, it burns.