English Grammar: Conditionals

English Grammar

Conditionals

Conditionals

• What are conditionals in English grammar? 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.

ZERO CONDITIONAL

• General truths and general habits

• If + present simple, present simple

• If you add two and two, you get four.

FIRST CONDITIONAL

• Possible or likely things in the future

• If + present simple, will + infinitive

• If it rains later, we'll stay at home

SECOND CONDITIONAL

• Impossible things in the present / unlikely things in the future

• If + past simple, would + infinitive

• If I won the lottery, I would sail round the world

THIRD CONDITIONAL

• Things that didn't happen in the past and their imaginary results

• If + past perfect, would + have + past participle

• If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.

Finish the sentences with a clause in the correct conditional:

• 1: If it is sunny tomorrow ______________
• 2: If you sit in the sun too long _________
• 3: If I were you _______________________
• 4: If I were the Prime Minister _________
• 5: If she had studied harder ___________