Look at these examples to see how zero, first and second conditionals are used.
If you freeze water, it becomes solid.
If it rains tomorrow, I'll take the car.
If I lived closer to the cinema, I would go more often.
Try this exercise to test your grammar.
- Grammar test 1
Read the explanation to learn more.
Grammar explanation
Conditionals describe the result of a certain condition. The if clause tells you the condition (If you study hard) and the main clause tells you the result (you will pass your exams). The order of the clauses does not change the meaning.
If you study hard, you will pass your exams.
You will pass your exams if you study hard.
Conditional sentences are often divided into different types.
Zero conditional
We use the zero conditional to talk about things that are generally true, especially for laws and rules.
If I drink too much coffee, I can't sleep at night.
Ice melts if you heat it.
When the sun goes down, it gets dark.
The structure is: if/when + present simple >> present simple.
First conditional
We use the first conditional when we talk about future situations we believe are real or possible.
If it doesn't rain tomorrow, we'll go to the beach.
Arsenal will be top of the league if they win.
When I finish work, I'll call you.
In first conditional sentences, the structure is usually: if/when + present simple >> will + infinitive.
It is also common to use this structure with unless, as long as, as soon as or in case instead of if.
I'll leave as soon as the babysitter arrives.
I don't want to stay in London unless I get a well-paid job.
I'll give you a key in case I'm not at home.
You can go to the party, as long as you're back by midnight.
Second conditional
The second conditional is used to imagine present or future situations that are impossible or unlikely in reality.
If we had a garden, we could have a cat.
If I won a lot of money, I'd buy a big house in the country.
I wouldn't worry if I were you.
The structure is usually: if + past simple >> + would + infinitive.
When if is followed by the verb be, it is grammatically correct to say if I were, if he were, if she were and if it were. However, it is also common to hear these structures with was, especially in the he/she form.
If I were you, I wouldn't mention it.
If she was prime minister, she would invest more money in schools.
He would travel more if he was younger.
Do this exercise to test your grammar again.
- Grammar test 2
The sentences you provided illustrate different conditional forms and express varying meanings. Here's a breakdown of their differences:
"I could have sat in the garden if it had not rained."
This sentence represents the third conditional. It suggests that the possibility of sitting in the garden was dependent on the condition of it not raining. However, it implies that it did rain, so the opportunity to sit in the garden did not occur.
"I would not have sat in the garden if it had rained."
This sentence also represents the third conditional. It conveys that the speaker did sit in the garden, implying that it did not rain. However, if it had rained, the speaker would not have chosen to sit in the garden.
"I would not have been sitting in the garden if it had rained."
This sentence is similar to the previous one in expressing the third conditional. It implies that the speaker was sitting in the garden, suggesting that it did not rain. However, if it had rained, the speaker would not have been in the garden, indicating that the sitting occurred under specific conditions.
"I would not sit in the garden when it rained."
This sentence represents a general statement and does not fall into a specific conditional form. It suggests that the speaker does not typically sit in the garden when it is raining, implying a habitual or general preference.
"I would not be sitting in the garden if it rained."
This sentence represents the second conditional. It implies that the speaker is currently sitting in the garden. However, it suggests that if it started raining, the speaker would not continue sitting in the garden.
In summary, the sentences differ in the conditional forms used, the timing of the actions, and the implied possibilities or preferences based on the given conditions.
Hi,
I have a question about 2nd conditional: in writing, in if clause, tobe -> were for all subjects? Included all pronouns and other subjects?
Ex: 1/ if the weather were good….
2/ if the weather was good …
Which one is correct in writing?
Thank you!
Hi linhho,
Neither is incorrect. I would say that 'were' is a little more traditional and so can be considered more 'correct' in formal contexts. In less formal contexts both are used. It's really more a question of formality and the attitudes of the people communicating than one of writing vs speaking.
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello support team
I hope you are doing well.
Which of the sentences below is grammatically correct?
She seems as if she had seen a ghost.
She seems as if she saw a ghost.
Thank you
Hi Amir__760__,
Thanks! Hope you are doing fine as well.
Sentence 1 uses the past perfect ("had seen"), which should be used when the action happened before another past event. Sentence 1 does not mention any other past event, so there is no reason to use the past perfect and it is incorrect. However, "She seemed as if she had seen a ghost" is correct.
Sentence 2 is fine. However, the speaker's use of the present simple ("seems") shows that the action ("saw a ghost") probably happened just moments ago, it would be good to use the present perfect ("She seems as if she's seen a ghost"). Using the past simple ("saw") refers to a defined past moment or time, but if the event has only just happened then the present perfect would be preferred.
I hope that helps.
Jonathan
Hello!
"Don't talk to me as if I were a child".
Please help me to understand is it "a mixture of the first and second type of conditional sentences" or "the verbal construction "as if" requires only the past tense after itself", or something else?
If a mixture of the first and second types of conditional sentences exists, then please send me a link to the material where this is clearly described
Hello OstapBen,
The structure here is an imperative followed by 'as if' plus a clause. 'as if' is being used to speak of an imaginary situation and so we use a past form to show that it is imaginary.
Hope that makes sense.
All the best,
Kirk
LearnEnglish team
Thank you very much!
Hello Team. Could you please tell me if the following sentence is correct or not? Why? I can't find anything wrong, although I met it in a "find the mistake exercise."
- When you arrive too late, you are not allowed to take the exam because they don’t accept late enrolment.
Thank you.
Hi Ahmed Imam,
I would prefer to use "If" instead of "When" here, since I assume it is talking about one particular occasion (i.e., a particular upcoming exam).
However, "When" is fine if you are talking about a repeated situation (i.e., exams in general), or every time that this occurs. It's possible that this sentence is about that, but to me it seems more likely to be about a particular exam.
Jonathan
LearnEnglish team