Conditional sentences in English

Conditional sentences

ZERO TYPE CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

MEANING& USE

The zero conditional is used to make statements about the real world, and often refers to general truths, such as scientific facts. In these sentences, the time is the present or always and the situation is real and possible.

• If you heat water, it boils.
• Water boils if you heat it.
• When you heat ice, it melts.
• Ice melts when you heat it.
• If it snows, the grass gets white.
• The grass gets white if it snows.
• When it rains, the grass gets wet.
• The grass gets wet when it rains.

FORM

We can make a zero conditional sentence with two present simple verbs (one in the 'if clause' and one in the 'main clause'):

If/when/unless + present simple, .... present simple.

EXERCISES

• Perfect English

1ST TYPE CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

MEANING & USE
The first conditional is also called the "real" conditional because it is used for real, or possible, situations. These situations take place if a certain condition is met.

In the first conditional we can salso use unless, which means "if... not". In other words, "... unless he hurries up" could also be written, "... if he doesn't hurry up."

1st type conditional sentence

• If it rains, we will stay at home.
• He will arrive late unless he hurries up.
• Sophie will buy a new car, if she gets her raise.

FORM
The first conditional is formed by the use of the present simple in the if clause followed by a comma and a future simple verb (will + infinitive) in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first without using a comma between the clauses.

• If he finishes on time, we will go to the movies.

OR

• We will go to the movies if he finishes on time.

EXERCISES

• exercise 1- Ego4you
• exercise 2- Ego4you
• exercise 3- Englisch Hilfen: statements
• exercise 4- Englisch Hilfen: negatives
• exercise 5- Englisch Hilfen: mixed
• exercise 6- Englisch Hilfen: mixed-two blanks
• exercise 7- ESL Partyland
• exercise 8- Isabel Pérez matching exercise
• exercise 9- English Exercises
• exercise 10- First English
• exercise 11- English Grammar
• exercise 12: Perfect English

This sheet contains a summary of first, second and third type conditional sentences.

2nd TYPE CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

MEANING

2nd type conditional sentence

The second conditional is used to talk about situations or actions in the present or future which are not likely to happen or are imaginary, hypothetical or impossible.

• If I were a rich woman, I would travel around the world. I think it is very unlikely that I will be rich. However, in this unlikely condition, I will travel around the world.
• If I weren't / wasn't watching TV now, I would be playing tennis. I am watching TV, but I am imagining an alternative activity I would be doing if I wasn't watching TV
• If you had a bigger dog, your house would be protected. You don't have a big dog, but I am imagining how protected you would be if you had one.
• If I were an alien, I would be able to travel around the universe. It is impossible for me to be an alien. However, I am imagining what I would do in this situation.
• We would go to Paris this summer if we passed all our subjects. That is our plan but, unfortunatelly,  we know we are not going to pass all our subjects.

FORM

If + past simple + conditional (would)

Conditional (would) + if + past simple

Verb be is usually were for all subjects; was (1st & 3rd person) is colloquial.

SONGS

If I were a rich man (Fiddler in the Roof-movie)

If today was your last day (Nickleback)

If I were a boy (Beyonce)

EXERCISES

- from Isabel Pérez

- Englisch-hilfen.de 1

- Englisch-hilfen.de 2

- Englisch-hilfen.de 3

- Englisch-hilfen.de 4

- Englisch-hilfen.de 5
- Perfect English Grammar

- Malted ESO-4 unit 7 (Gwineth and the Wizard)

FIRST AND SECOND TYPE CONDITIONALS

• Exercise 1: unit 5 in your text book
• Exercise 2: write the correct verb forms (1st & 2nd type conditionals)
• Exercise 3: Englisch Hilfen
• Exercise 4: Englisch Hilfen
• Exercise 5: Ego4you
• Exercise 6: Ego4you
• Exercise 7: Ego4you-with auxiliary verbs
• Exercise 8. First English
• Exercise 9: English for you
• Exercise 10: ESL lounge
• Exercise 11: Edu GE
• Exercise 12: Speak Speak
• Exercise 13: English exercises
• Exercise 14: English Area

3RD TYPE CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

MEANING

The first conditional and second conditionals tell us about the future. With the third conditional we refer to the past. We speak about a condition in the past that did not happen. That is why there is no possibility for this condition. The third conditional is also like a dream, but with no possibility of the dream coming true.

• If I had travelled to Italy I would have visited Luca. But I have not travelled to Italy and, therefore, I have not visited Luca.
• If you had got a good mark, would you have complained to the teacher? but your mark was bad, so we don't know for sure what you would have done.
• What would you have done if it had snowed last weekend? but it didn't snow.
• I wouldn't have called if I had known that she wasn't home. but I knew so I called

FORM

If + past perfect  // would have + past participle

Past participle // if + past perfect

EXERCISES

• Englisch Hilfen: statements 1
• Englisch Hilfen: negatives 1
• Englisch Hilfen: mixed
• Englisch Hilfen: mixed with negations
• Englisch Hilfen: easy conditionals
• Englisch Hilfen: medium conditionals

SONGS:

 

ALL TYPES OF CONDITIONALS

• All types- Englisch Hilfen
• All types 2 - Englisch Hilfen
• All types - Speak Speak
• All types - Speak Speak 2
• All types - First English
• All types - E-grammar

Eso 3 conditional sentences from Ana Arias Castro

Grammar revision exercise

Grammar revision for 4º ESO from Ana Arias Castro

Revision for ESO-4 exam

GRAMMAR:
Revision of tenses
Charts of tenses
More tenses and exercises:

• Revision of tenses
• present simple / present continuous
• past simple / past continuous
• future simple / going to / future continuous
• present perfect and past simple
• REVISION OF ALL TENSES EXERCISE

Comparatives and superlatives
Used to / didn't use to
Conditional sentences
Passive sentences

VOCABULARY:
Some- / any- compounds
Marketing

INTERACTION:
At the restaurant
Shopping for clothes
Asking for a refund

WRITING
How to write an essay
Describing a process
Connectors

Neiu4 0-summary of tenses from Ana Arias Castro

Charts comparing uses of tenses

Conditional sentences

Eso 3 conditional sentences from Ana Arias Castro

Conditional sentences

Conditional sentences

First and second type conditional sentences

1st and 2nd type conditional sentences

1st and 2nd type conditional sentences

ZERO TYPE CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

MEANING& USE

The zero conditional is used to make statements about the real world, and often refers to general truths, such as scientific facts. In these sentences, the time is the present or always and the situation is real and possible.

• If you heat water, it boils.
• Water boils if you heat it.
• When you heat ice, it melts.
• Ice melts when you heat it.
• If it snows, the grass gets white.
• The grass gets white if it snows.
• When it rains, the grass gets wet.
• The grass gets wet when it rains.

FORM

We can make a zero conditional sentence with two present simple verbs (one in the 'if clause' and one in the 'main clause'):

• If/when/unless + present simple, .... present simple.

EXERCISES

• Perfect English

1ST TYPE CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

MEANING & USE
The first conditional is also called the "real" conditional because it is used for real, or possible, situations. These situations take place if a certain condition is met.

In the first conditional we can salso use unless, which means "if... not". In other words, "... unless he hurries up" could also be written, "... if he doesn't hurry up."

1st type conditional sentence

• If it rains, we will stay at home.
• He will arrive late unless he hurries up.
• Sophie will buy a new car, if she gets her raise.

FORM
The first conditional is formed by the use of the present simple in the if clause followed by a comma and a future simple verb (will + infinitive) in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first without using a comma between the clauses.

• If he finishes on time, we will go to the movies.

OR

• We will go to the movies if he finishes on time.

EXERCISES

• exercise 1- Ego4you
• exercise 2- Ego4you
• exercise 3- Englisch Hilfen: statements
• exercise 4- Englisch Hilfen: negatives
• exercise 5- Englisch Hilfen: mixed
• exercise 6- Englisch Hilfen: mixed-two blanks
• exercise 7- ESL Partyland
• exercise 8- Isabel Pérez matching exercise
• exercise 9- English Exercises
• exercise 10- First English
• exercise 11- English Grammar
• exercise 12: Perfect English

This sheet contains a summary of first, second and third type conditional sentences.

2nd TYPE CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

MEANING

2nd type conditional sentence

The second conditional is used to talk about situations or actions in the present or future which are not likely to happen or are imaginary, hypothetical or impossible.

• If I were a rich woman, I would travel around the world. I think it is very unlikely that I will be rich. However, in this unlikely condition, I will travel around the world.
• If I weren't / wasn't watching TV now, I would be playing tennis. I am watching TV, but I am imagining an alternative activity I would be doing if I wasn't watching TV
• If you had a bigger dog, your house would be protected. You don't have a big dog, but I am imagining how protected you would be if you had one.
• If I were an alien, I would be able to travel around the universe. It is impossible for me to be an alien. However, I am imagining what I would do in this situation.
• We would go to Paris this summer if we passed all our subjects. That is our plan but, unfortunatelly,  we know we are not going to pass all our subjects.

FORM

If + past simple + conditional (would)

Conditional (would) + if + past simple

Verb be is usually were for all subjects; was (1st & 3rd person) is colloquial.

SONGS

If I were a rich man (Fiddler in the Roof-movie)

If today was your last day (Nickleback)

If I were a boy (Beyonce)

EXERCISES

- from Isabel Pérez

- Englisch-hilfen.de 1

- Englisch-hilfen.de 2

- Englisch-hilfen.de 3

- Englisch-hilfen.de 4

- Englisch-hilfen.de 5
- Perfect English Grammar

- Malted ESO-4 unit 7 (Gwineth and the Wizard)

FIRST AND SECOND TYPE CONDITIONALS

• Exercise 1: unit 5 in your text book
• Exercise 2: write the correct verb forms (1st & 2nd type conditionals)
• Exercise 3: Englisch Hilfen
• Exercise 4: Englisch Hilfen
• Exercise 5: Ego4you
• Exercise 6: Ego4you
• Exercise 7: Ego4you-with auxiliary verbs
• Exercise 8. First English
• Exercise 9: English for you
• Exercise 10: ESL lounge
• Exercise 11: Edu GE
• Exercise 12: Speak Speak
• Exercise 13: English exercises
• Exercise 14: English Area

Videos about conditional sentences

1st and 2nd type conditional sentences



All types (1st, 2nd and 3rd type)

Conditional sentences in English

ZERO TYPE CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

MEANING& USE

The zero conditional is used to make statements about the real world, and often refers to general truths, such as scientific facts. In these sentences, the time is the present or always and the situation is real and possible.

• If you heat water, it boils.
• Water boils if you heat it.
• When you heat ice, it melts.
• Ice melts when you heat it.
• If it snows, the grass gets white.
• The grass gets white if it snows.
• When it rains, the grass gets wet.
• The grass gets wet when it rains.

FORM

We can make a zero conditional sentence with two present simple verbs (one in the 'if clause' and one in the 'main clause'):

If/when/unless + present simple, .... present simple.

EXERCISES

• Perfect English

1ST TYPE CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

MEANING & USE
The first conditional is also called the "real" conditional because it is used for real, or possible, situations. These situations take place if a certain condition is met.

In the first conditional we can salso use unless, which means "if... not". In other words, "... unless he hurries up" could also be written, "... if he doesn't hurry up."

1st type conditional sentence

• If it rains, we will stay at home.
• He will arrive late unless he hurries up.
• Sophie will buy a new car, if she gets her raise.

FORM
The first conditional is formed by the use of the present simple in the if clause followed by a comma and a future simple verb (will + infinitive) in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first without using a comma between the clauses.

• If he finishes on time, we will go to the movies.

OR

• We will go to the movies if he finishes on time.

EXERCISES

• exercise 1- Ego4you
• exercise 2- Ego4you
• exercise 3- Englisch Hilfen: statements
• exercise 4- Englisch Hilfen: negatives
• exercise 5- Englisch Hilfen: mixed
• exercise 6- Englisch Hilfen: mixed-two blanks
• exercise 7- ESL Partyland
• exercise 8- Isabel Pérez matching exercise
• exercise 9- English Exercises
• exercise 10- First English
• exercise 11- English Grammar
• exercise 12: Perfect English

This sheet contains a summary of first, second and third type conditional sentences.

2nd TYPE CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

MEANING

2nd type conditional sentence

The second conditional is used to talk about situations or actions in the present or future which are not likely to happen or are imaginary, hypothetical or impossible.

• If I were a rich woman, I would travel around the world. I think it is very unlikely that I will be rich. However, in this unlikely condition, I will travel around the world.
• If I weren't / wasn't watching TV now, I would be playing tennis. I am watching TV, but I am imagining an alternative activity I would be doing if I wasn't watching TV
• If you had a bigger dog, your house would be protected. You don't have a big dog, but I am imagining how protected you would be if you had one.
• If I were an alien, I would be able to travel around the universe. It is impossible for me to be an alien. However, I am imagining what I would do in this situation.
• We would go to Paris this summer if we passed all our subjects. That is our plan but, unfortunatelly,  we know we are not going to pass all our subjects.

FORM

If + past simple + conditional (would)

Conditional (would) + if + past simple

Verb be is usually were for all subjects; was (1st & 3rd person) is colloquial.

SONGS

If I were a rich man (Fiddler in the Roof-movie)

If today was your last day (Nickleback)

If I were a boy (Beyonce)

EXERCISES

- from Isabel Pérez

- Englisch-hilfen.de 1

- Englisch-hilfen.de 2

- Englisch-hilfen.de 3

- Englisch-hilfen.de 4

- Englisch-hilfen.de 5
- Perfect English Grammar

- Malted ESO-4 unit 7 (Gwineth and the Wizard)

FIRST AND SECOND TYPE CONDITIONALS

• Exercise 1: unit 5 in your text book
• Exercise 2: write the correct verb forms (1st & 2nd type conditionals)
• Exercise 3: Englisch Hilfen
• Exercise 4: Englisch Hilfen
• Exercise 5: Ego4you
• Exercise 6: Ego4you
• Exercise 7: Ego4you-with auxiliary verbs
• Exercise 8. First English
• Exercise 9: English for you
• Exercise 10: ESL lounge
• Exercise 11: Edu GE
• Exercise 12: Speak Speak
• Exercise 13: English exercises
• Exercise 14: English Area

3RD TYPE CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

MEANING

The first conditional and second conditionals tell us about the future. With the third conditional we refer to the past. We speak about a condition in the past that did not happen. That is why there is no possibility for this condition. The third conditional is also like a dream, but with no possibility of the dream coming true.

• If I had travelled to Italy I would have visited Luca. But I have not travelled to Italy and, therefore, I have not visited Luca.
• If you had got a good mark, would you have complained to the teacher? but your mark was bad, so we don't know for sure what you would have done.
• What would you have done if it had snowed last weekend? but it didn't snow.
• I wouldn't have called if I had known that she wasn't home. but I knew so I called

FORM

If + past perfect  // would have + past participle

Past participle // if + past perfect

EXERCISES

• Englisch Hilfen: statements 1
• Englisch Hilfen: negatives 1
• Englisch Hilfen: mixed
• Englisch Hilfen: mixed with negations
• Englisch Hilfen: easy conditionals
• Englisch Hilfen: medium conditionals

SONGS:

 

ALL TYPES OF CONDITIONALS

• All types- Englisch Hilfen
• All types 2 - Englisch Hilfen
• All types - Speak Speak
• All types - Speak Speak 2
• All types - First English
• All types - E-grammar

Bac 1 conditional sentences from Ana Arias Castro

Conditional sentences

Second type conditional sentences

2nd TYPE CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

MEANING

2nd type conditional sentence

The second conditional is used to talk about situations or actions in the present or future which are not likely to happen or are imaginary, hypothetical or impossible.

• If I were a rich woman, I would travel around the world. I think it is very unlikely that I will be rich. However, in this unlikely condition, I will travel around the world.
• If I weren't / wasn't watching TV now, I would be playing tennis. I am watching TV, but I am imagining an alternative activity I would be doing if I wasn't watching TV
• If you had a bigger dog, your house would be protected. You don't have a big dog, but I am imagining how protected you would be if you had one.
• If I were an alien, I would be able to travel around the universe. It is impossible for me to be an alien. However, I am imagining what I would do in this situation.
• We would go to Paris this summer if we passed all our subjects. That is our plan but, unfortunatelly,  we know we are not going to pass all our subjects.

FORM

If + past simple + conditional (would)

Conditional (would) + if + past simple

Verb be is usually were for all subjects; was (1st & 3rd person) is colloquial.

SONGS

If I were a rich man (Fiddler in the Roof-movie)

If today was your last day (Nickleback)

If I were a boy (Beyonce)

EXERCISES

- from Isabel Pérez

- Englisch-hilfen.de 1

- Englisch-hilfen.de 2

- Englisch-hilfen.de 3

- Englisch-hilfen.de 4

- Englisch-hilfen.de 5
- Perfect English Grammar

- Malted ESO-4 unit 7 (Gwineth and the Wizard)

FIRST AND SECOND TYPE CONDITIONALS

• Exercise 1: unit 5 in your text book
• Exercise 2: write the correct verb forms (1st & 2nd type conditionals)
• Exercise 3: Englisch Hilfen
• Exercise 4: Englisch Hilfen
• Exercise 5: Ego4you
• Exercise 6: Ego4you
• Exercise 7: Ego4you-with auxiliary verbs
• Exercise 8. First English
• Exercise 9: English for you
• Exercise 10: ESL lounge
• Exercise 11: Edu GE
• Exercise 12: Speak Speak
• Exercise 13: English exercises
• Exercise 14: English Area

Second type conditional sentences

2nd TYPE CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

MEANING

2nd type conditional sentence

The second conditional is used to talk about situations or actions in the present or future which are not likely to happen or are imaginary, hypothetical or impossible.

• If I were a rich woman, I would travel around the world. I think it is very unlikely that I will be rich. However, in this unlikely condition, I will travel around the world.
• If I weren't / wasn't watching TV now, I would be playing tennis. I am watching TV, but I am imagining an alternative activity I would be doing if I wasn't watching TV
• If you had a bigger dog, your house would be protected. You don't have a big dog, but I am imagining how protected you would be if you had one.
• If I were an alien, I would be able to travel around the universe. It is impossible for me to be an alien. However, I am imagining what I would do in this situation.
• We would go to Paris this summer if we passed all our subjects. That is our plan but, unfortunatelly,  we know we are not going to pass all our subjects.

FORM

If + past simple + conditional (would)

Conditional (would) + if + past simple

Verb be is usually were for all subjects; was (1st & 3rd person) is colloquial.

SONGS

If I were a rich man (Fiddler in the Roof-movie)

If today was your last day (Nickleback)

If I were a boy (Beyonce)

EXERCISES

- from Isabel Pérez

- Englisch-hilfen.de 1

- Englisch-hilfen.de 2

- Englisch-hilfen.de 3

- Englisch-hilfen.de 4

- Englisch-hilfen.de 5
- Perfect English Grammar

- Malted ESO-4 unit 7 (Gwineth and the Wizard)

FIRST AND SECOND TYPE CONDITIONALS

• Exercise 1: unit 5 in your text book
• Exercise 2: write the correct verb forms (1st & 2nd type conditionals)
• Exercise 3: Englisch Hilfen
• Exercise 4: Englisch Hilfen
• Exercise 5: Ego4you
• Exercise 6: Ego4you
• Exercise 7: Ego4you-with auxiliary verbs
• Exercise 8. First English
• Exercise 9: English for you
• Exercise 10: ESL lounge
• Exercise 11: Edu GE
• Exercise 12: Speak Speak
• Exercise 13: English exercises
• Exercise 14: English Area