Conditionals
Conditionals have if-then structures. Their tenses and thus types depend on how possible a condition is.
Types
- Zero conditional (always happens)
- 1st conditional (likely to happen)
- 2nd conditional (imagining something for the present)
- 3rd conditional (imagining something for the past)
Zero conditional
- Probability: Always happens
- Used for: Stating facts or commands
- Structure: If + present tense + present tense OR present tense + if + present tense
Example sentences:
- If you leave water below zero degrees, it freezes.
- Water freezes if you leave it below zero degrees.
- If you go, take this with you.
- If I have chocolates in the house, I eat them immediately.
- When I go to the gym, I tend to buy a smoothie afterward.
1st conditional
- Probability: Likely to happen.
- Used for: Promises or warnings.
- Structure: If + present tense + will OR will + if + present tense
Example sentences:
- If you don't eat all your peas, you will not get any pudding.
- You will get pudding if you finish all your food.
2nd conditional
- Probability: Likely to happen.
- Used for: Promises or warnings.
- Structure: If + present tense + will OR will + if + present tense
3rd conditional
- Probability: Likely to happen.
- Used for: Promises or warnings.
- Structure: If + present tense + will OR will + if + present tense