The conditionals are a topic that many students struggle with. The structure can seem counterintuitive (the past for the future? That can’t be right!) So, let’s break these down to hopefully give you a better understanding of the conditional forms
Level 1: Elementary
There are 2 forms of the conditional to focus on at this level: the zero and the first. These are also known as the “real conditionals” as they relate to real situations.
The Zero Conditional
This is formed using the present simple in both clauses. We use this for situations that are generally or always true. We also use it a lot for rules and laws. For example:
If I leave ice cream in the sun, it melts.
This situation is always true, when ice cream is in the sun it melts
The first conditional.
We make the first conditional with the present simple and will. The structure is If+ present simple, will + infinitive. We can swap the two clauses around with no change in meaning, so we can also form it as Will+ infinitive present simple. The first conditional is used for possible future conditionals. We believe that the result could happen if the condition happens. For example:
If it is sunny at the weekend, I will go to the park
I will go to the park at the weekend if it is sunny .
Here we believe that there is a possibility that it will be sunny so there is a chance that we will go to the park
Level 2: Intermediate
In this section we will talk about the unreal conditionals, but first we need to add a little to the first conditional.
The First Conditional
As mentioned in the previous section, the first conditional is formed from the present simple and “will” future. However, we can change this slightly at this higher level. It would be better to say If + any present, Any future. We can use the present simple, present continuous and even the present perfect in the condition clause. For example:
If you aren’t going to the party, I’m not going to go either
If you have visited London before, you will have used the underground.
These sentences are both first conditional, but they use the present continuous and present perfect in the condition clause and the be going to form and the future perfect in the result clause. This is why as we get to higher levels, it can be better to talk about real and unreal conditionals instead of 1st 2nd and 3rd as we add more rules to the bands of conditionals
The Second Conditional
We learn the second conditional as if +past simple, would + infinitive (remember that we can reverse the order, so we can also use would + infinitive if + past simple. Note how in this form we don’t use a comma between the clauses.) For example:
If I won the lottery, I would buy a house in Madrid
I would buy a house in Madrid if I won the lottery.
We can also use the past continuous in the second conditional.
If I were living in the UK, I would live in the countryside
The second conditional is used for unreal or hypothetical present and future. The chances of the conditions in the second conditional are low to impossible. Notice how even though we are referring to the present and future, we use the past.
There is something else we should note here. Look at the example sentence using the past continuous. It uses were even though the subject is I. Grammatically speaking, were is correct for each subject in the second conditional, I were, you were, she were, he were, it were, we were, they were. You will hear and see was used for first and third person singular, but it is more common in speech and is increasingly common in writing. Both forms are now considered correct, with were sometimes being viewed as more correct.
The Third Conditional
The third conditional is formed with the past perfect (simple or continuous) and would have and the past participle. (If +past perfect, would have+ past participle). It is used to talk about hypothetical or unreal past situations.
If I had studied German, I would have moved to Germany.
I didn’t study German, so I didn’t move to Germany. Because the conditions happened in the past, the situation coming true is impossible.
The Mixed Conditionals
This is an upper intermediate grammar point. With a mixed conditional, we mix the second and the third.
If I had gone to bed earlier last night I wouldn’t be tired now.
Here we have a past condition (if I had gone to bed earlier last night) with a present result (I wouldn’t be tired now)
If it wasn’t important, I wouldn’t have called you on your holiday. Here we have a present condition (If it wasn’t important) and a past result (I wouldn’t have called you)
Level 3: Advanced
Real Conditionals
It’s here where it is better to talk about real vs unreal conditionals. Take this example sentence:
When I was younger, If I finished school early I used to go to the park.
This sentence uses the past simple, but is it the second conditional? It is a real past condition. When something is always true, we use either 2 presents or 2 pasts in the clauses.
Inverted Conditionals
There is another structure taught at advanced level, called inversions. The normal clause structure is Subject + verb + complements. In an inverted sentence, we swap the verb and subject, so the structure is verb + subject + complements. In a second conditional sentence, It can look something like this:
Were we to consider your offer, we would need a lot more information.
Here, we get rid of the If and swap the subject we and the verb were. A third conditional inversion looks like this:
Had we been given all the necessary information, we would have made a different decision.
We have the same structure here. We ditch the if and flip the subject and verb.
But why are inversions used? They aren’t common and that’s by design. We use inverted sentences to draw attention to something, the fact that the order is different makes it stand out and emphasises the point being made. They can also be used to add a level of formality and can make it sound or dramatic or add a story-telling feel to what is being said.
Conditionals are something a lot of students struggle with, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Simplify the uses and try to put in some practice.
Found this interesting? Why not take a look at this one here about present simple.
