What are conditionals?

statements that discuss known factors or hypothetical situations and their consequences. They contain two clauses - the conditional clause (also referred to as the if-clause) and the consequence clause.

• If a certain condition is true, then a particular result happens.

• I would travel around the world if I won the lottery.

• When water reaches 100 degrees, it boils.

Subject | Subject

Try to recognize the clauses in the example sentences!

is used to express situations in which the outcome is likely (but not guaranteed) to happen in the future. (so, future possibilities)

• If you rest, you will feel better.​

The first conditional

expresses general truths—situations in which one thing always causes another. They always use the present simple.

• If/when you don’t brush your teeth, you get cavities.​

The zero conditional

​There are four kinds of conditional sentences.

In which clause of the First conditional do we use the future? Why do you think that is?

is used to explain that present circumstances would be different if something different had happened in the past. We use the past perfect in the if-clause.

• If I had cleaned the house, I could have gone  to the movies.​

The third conditional

is useful for expressing outcomes that are completely unrealistic or will not likely happen in the future. We use the simple past in the if-clause and a modal auxiliary verb in the consequence.

• If I inherited  a billion dollars, I would travel to the moon.​

The second conditional

​There are four kinds of conditional sentences.

In other words, we use the third conditional to talk about situations in the past that could have happened if only a condition had been met.