Conditionals

Conditionals describe the result of something that might happen {in present or future}or might have happened but did not {in the past } There are 4 different types of Conditionals in language.

They are:

• Zero conditional sentences express general truths--situations in which one thing always cause another.

• The structure for Zero conditional is (if+ present simple, ...present simple)

• For example: If you heat water to 100°, it boils

• First conditional is used to talk about actions/events in the future which are likely to happen.

• The structure is: (if + present simple, ... will + infinitive)

• For example: If it rains tomorrow, I'll stay at home.

• Second conditional sentences are useful for expressing outcomes that are unrealistic or will NOT likely happen in the future.

• The structure is: (if+ past simple, ... will + infinitive ).

• For example: If I had a lot of money, I would buy 10 cars

• Third conditional sentences are used to explain that present circumstances would be different if something different had happened in past.

• The structure is: (if + past perfect,... would + have + past participle

• For example: If I had done my Homework, I could have gone out to play.

{Zero, First, Second and Third conditionals}