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Conditionals Theory and Chart

There are 4 types of conditionals: zero, first, second, and third. The zero conditional expresses certainty, the first conditional expresses real possibility about the future, the second conditional expresses unreal possibility about the future, and the third conditional expresses no possibility about the past. Each conditional uses different verb tenses and modal verbs depending on whether it refers to the past, present, or future.

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614 views2 pages

Conditionals Theory and Chart

There are 4 types of conditionals: zero, first, second, and third. The zero conditional expresses certainty, the first conditional expresses real possibility about the future, the second conditional expresses unreal possibility about the future, and the third conditional expresses no possibility about the past. Each conditional uses different verb tenses and modal verbs depending on whether it refers to the past, present, or future.

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MaRie
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Conditionals

4 types of conditionals: Zero conditionals, 1st conditionals, 2d conditionals, 3d


conditionals

1) Zero Conditional = certainty


The result of the condition is always true, like a scientific fact. We are not thinking about the
future, the past, or even the present. We are thinking about a simple fact.
IF

condition

result

If
If
If

you heat ice,


I get up late,
people dont eat,
=

it melts.
I miss my bus.
They get hungry.
= .

In this case, if can be replaced by when.

2) First Conditional = real possibility


We are talking about the future. We are thinking about a particular condition in the future, and
the result of this condition. There is a real possibility that this condition will happen.
IF

condition

result

If
If
If
If

it rains,
Tara is free tomorrow,
The pupils dont pass their exam,
It rains tomorrow,
=

I will stay at home.


He will invite her.
Their teacher will be sad.
What will you do?
= .

We can use shall/can/may instead of will (If you are good today, you can watch TV tonight).

3)Second Conditional = unreal possibility, a dream


The 2d conditional is like the 1st conditional. We are still thinking about the future, about a
particular condition in the future, and the result of this condition. But there is not a real
possibility that this condition will happen. It's not very real, but it's still possible.
IF

condition

result

If
If

I won the lottery


It snowed next July
= .

I would buy a car.


What would you do?
= ..

We can use should/could/might instead of would (If I won a million dollars, I could stop
working.

4) Third Conditional = no possibility (too late!)


With the third conditional we talk about the past, 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
If
If

condition

result

I had won the lottery


Tara had been free yesterday,
I had seen Mary,
= .

I would have bought a car.


I would have invited her.
I would have told her.
= ..

That particular condition can never be true because it is finished. We use the past perfect
tense to talk about the impossible past condition.
Sometimes, we use should have, could have, might have instead of would have (If you had
bought a lottery ticket, you might have won).

Conditionals : Summary chart


probability

conditional

example

time

100
%

zero conditional

If you heat ice, it melts.

any
time

50%

first conditional

If it rains, I will stay at home.

future

10%

second
conditional

If I won the lottery, I would buy a


car.

future

0%

third
conditional

If I had won the lottery, I would have


bought a car.

past

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