CONDITIONAL

Conditional tenses are used to speculate about what could happen, what might have happened,
and what we wish would happen. In English, most sentences using the conditional contain the
word if. Many conditional forms in English are used in sentences that include verbs in one of the
past tenses. This usage is referred to as "the unreal past" because we use a past tense but we are
not actually referring to something that happened in the past. There are five main ways of
constructing conditional sentences in English. In all cases, these sentences are made up of
an if clause and a main clause. In many negative conditional sentences, there is an equivalent
sentence construction using "unless" instead of "if".

Conditiona Usage If clause verb Main clause verb tense

l sentence tense
type

Zero General truths Simple present Simple present

Type 1 A possible condition and its probable result Simple present Simple future

Type 2 A hypothetical condition and its probable Simple past Present conditional or
result Present continuous
conditional

Type 3 An unreal past condition and its probable Past perfect Perfect conditional
result in the past

Mixed type An unreal past condition and its probable Past perfect Present contditional
result in the present

THE ZERO CONDITIONAL

The zero conditional is used for when the time being referred to is now or always and the situation
is real and possible. The zero conditional is often used to refer to general truths. The tense in both
parts of the sentence is the simple present. In zero conditional sentences, the word "if" can usually
be replaced by the word "when" without changing the meaning.
 If clause Main clause

If + simple present simple present

If this thing happens that thing happens.

If you heat ice it melts.

If it rains the grass gets wet.

Read more about how to use the zero conditional.

TYPE 1 CONDITIONAL
The type 1 conditional is used to refer to the present or future where the situation is real. The
type 1 conditional refers to a possible condition and its probable result. In these sentences the if
clause is in the simple present, and the main clause is in the simple future.

If clause Main clause

If + simple present simple future

If this thing happens that thing will happen.

If you don't hurry you will miss the train.

If it rains today you will get wet.

Read more about how to use the type 1 conditional.

TYPE 2 CONDITIONAL
The type 2 conditional is used to refer to a time that is now or any time, and a situation that
is unreal. These sentences are not based on fact. The type 2 conditional is used to refer to a
hypothetical condition and its probable result. In type 2 conditional sentences, the if clause uses the
simple past, and the main clause uses the present conditional.
If clause Main clause

If + present conditional or present continuous conditional

simple
past

If this that thing would happen. (but I'm not sure this thing will happen) OR
thing that thing would be happening.
happene
d

If you you would not be so tired.

went to
bed
earlier

If it you would get wet.

rained

If I I would be working in Italy.

spoke
Italian

Read more about how to use the type 2 conditional with the present conditional and how to use the
present continuous conditional in type 2 conditional sentence.

TYPE 3 CONDITIONAL
The type 3 conditional is used to refer to a time that is in the past, and a situation that is contrary
to reality. The facts they are based on are the opposite of what is expressed. The type 3
conditional is used to refer to an unreal past condition and its probable past result. In type 3
conditional sentences, the if clause uses the past perfect, and the main clause uses the perfect
conditional.
 If clause Main clause

If + past perfect conditional or perfect continuous conditional

perfect

If this that thing would have happened. (but neither of those things really happened) OR
thing had that thing would have been happening.
happened

If you had you would have passed the exam.

studied
harder

If it had you would have gotten wet.

rained

If I had I would have been working in Milan.

accepted
that
promotio
n

Read more about how to use the type 3 conditional with the perfect conditional tense, and how to
use the perfect continuous conditional in type 3 conditional sentences.

MIXED TYPE CONDITIONAL

The mixed type conditional is used to refer to a time that is in the past, and a situation that
is ongoing into the present. The facts they are based on are the opposite of what is expressed.
The mixed type conditional is used to refer to an unreal past condition and its probable result in the
present. In mixed type conditional sentences, the if clause uses the past perfect, and the main
clause uses the present conditional.
If clause Main clause

If + past perfect or present conditional or perfect conditional

simple past

If this thing had that thing would happen. (but this thing didn't happen so that thing isn't
happened happening)

If I had worked harder I would have a better job now.

at school

If we had looked at we wouldn't be lost.

the map

If you weren't afraid you would have picked it up and put it outside.
of spiders