Conditional Structures in English

Conditional Structures in English

Zero Conditional

• Used to describe universal truths or scientific facts
• If-clause: present simple
• Main clause: present simple
• Example: If you heat ice, it melts.

First Conditional

• Used to talk about likely or possible future events
• If-clause: present simple
• Main clause: future simple
• Example: If it rains, I will take an umbrella.
• Used to express plans, intentions, or predictions about the future

Second Conditional

• Used to talk about unreal or hypothetical situations and their consequences
• If-clause: past simple
• Main clause: would + base form of the verb
• Example: If I won the lottery, I would buy a house.
• Used to express impossible or unlikely situations and their consequences

Third Conditional

• Used to talk about past hypothetical situations and their consequences
• If-clause: past perfect
• Main clause: would have + past participle
• Example: If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.
• Used to express regret or talk about past opportunities that were missed

Mixed Conditionals

• Used to talk about hypothetical past situations and their present consequences
• If-clause: past simple or past perfect
• Main clause: would + base form of the verb or would have + past participle
• Example: If I had studied harder (past), I would be a doctor now (present).
• Used to express regret or talk about past decisions and their present consequences