There are different types of conditions. Sometimes we call them ‘if clauses’. They describe the result of something that might happen (in the present or future) or might have happened but didn’t (in the past). They are made using different English verb tenses. The types of conditionals are zero, first, second, third, and mixed.

The Zero Conditional

We use the zero conditional to talk about permanent truths, such as scientific facts, and general habits.

The structure is: If + present simple, present simple

If you heat water to 100°, it boils.

If I’m tired, I go to bed early.

If we go out with friends, we normally go to a restaurant

The First Conditional

We use the first conditional to talk about the result of an imagined future situation when we believe the imagined situation is quite likely.

The structure is: If + present simple, modal verb with future meaning (shall/ should/ will/ would/ can/ could/ may/ might)

If he gets a job in London, he’ll have to get up early. It’s a long drive.

If Sheila rings, I might ask her to come over for dinner.

If we arrive late, we must get a taxi.

The Second Conditional

We use the second conditional to talk about the possible result of an imagined situation in the present or future. There are two uses: use it to talk about things in the future that are probably not going to be true; use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible, because it’s not true.

The structure is:  If + past simple, would/could + verb  

If I were rich, I’d spend all my time traveling.

If he didn’t have to work late, he could go out with his girlfriend.

If I were you, I wouldn’t take this job.

The Third Conditional

We use the third conditional when we imagine a different past, where something did or did not happen, and we imagine a different result. We often use the third conditional to describe regrets.

The structure is: If + past perfect, modal verb with future-in-the-past meaning (should/would/might/could) + have + -ed form

If they had left earlier, they would have arrived on time.

If I hadn’t learned English, I wouldn’t have got this job.

If they had canceled their holiday earlier, they could have got a refund.


Mixed Conditionals

It’s possible to combine the second and third conditional in one sentence when we want to make a hypothesis about the past that has a consequence in the present. We can also invert the two parts of a conditional sentence so that the ‘if’ part comes second, and this is especially common in questions.

The structure is: If + past perfect, would/could + verb

We’d be lying on a beach now if we hadn’t missed the plane.

They’d have much more confidence if they hadn’t lost so many matches.

If you’d studied harder, you’d be at a higher level now.

Keep in mind that when you use the conditionals, you will sound more fluent in English. So, what are you waiting for?