Conditionals

There are different types of conditionals, namely zero conditionals, first conditionals, second conditionals and third conditionals. We use these structures depending on how probable the condition and its result are. 

They can go from 100% certain, if the condition is true the result always happens, to completely impossible (the result was maybe possible in the past but can’t happen at all now). See the table below for a rough guide.

[If + present] + [will]

50%-90%- will probably happen.

Next, let’s move onto the 1st conditional, here there is probability and chance at play, the result is no longer 100% certain. We use the 1st conditional when we believe the condition and result can (and probably will) happen in reality, but they are not 100% certain like the zero conditiona

It is formed by using the present tense in the condition part of the sentence and most often the future tense with “will” in the result part of the sentence:

We use the 2nd conditional, as mentioned, for unlikely situations that can but probably won’t happen, as well as hypothetical or imaginary situations both in the present and future.

It is formed by using “If”  and the simple past tense in the condition part of the sentence, followed by “would”  and the bare infinitive (the basic form of a verb without “to,” e.g. to walk). Remember that we can rearrange the two parts of the sentence, with either the condition first and the result after, or the result first and the condition after: 

Finally, we use the 3rd conditional to talk about things that were possible in the past, but that didn’t happen or can no longer happen now, which means they are actually impossible/ unreal events.

It is formed by using the past perfect tense in the condition part of the sentence, followed by “would” and then the present perfect tense in the result part. As before, these parts can be swapped around: