CONDITIONAL PHRASES

Definition:
The conditional phrases are used to speculate about what might happen, what might have happened, and what we would
like to see happening. In English, the sentences using conditional verb tense contain the term "if". Many of the conditional
constructions of English are used in sentences that include verbs in the past tense.
A conditional phrase determinates as `an unreal past´ because it uses a past tense, but they are not referring to something
that happened. There are five main ways to build conditional sentences in English. In all cases, they consist of a statement
or clause with "if" and a main statement. In many negative conditional sentences, there is an equivalent alternative
construction that uses "unless" instead of "if".

Types of conditional phrases:

Type of conditional Use of conditional Verb tense of the Verb tense of the main
phrases phrases proposition "if" proposition
Zero conditional General facts Simple present Simple present
A possible condition and its
First conditional Simple present Simple future
probable result
Present conditional o
A hypothetical condition
*Second conditional* Simple past Present continuous
and its probable result
conditional
An unreal condition from
*Third conditional* the past and its probable Past perfect Perfect conditional
result in the past
An unreal condition from
Mixed conditional the past and its probable Past perfect Present conditional
result in the present

WARNING: In the case of conditional phrases, they will use second and third conditional

1. Zero conditional
The zero conditional uses when the time we refer to is now or always and the situation is real and possible. The verb
tense of both propositions is the "simple present". In type 0 conditional sentences, the term "if" can usually be
replaced by "when" without changing the meaning.
FORMULA: if + simple present … simple present
Examples:
• If you heat ice, it melts.
• Ice melts if you heat it.
• If it heats ice, it melts.
• If you freeze water, it becomes a solid.
• Plants die if they don't get enough water.
• If my husband has a cold, I usually catch it.
• If Bill phones, tell him to meet me at the cinema.
• Ask Pete if you're not sure what to do.

IMPORTANT: The zero conditional also often used to give instructions, and in this case, the verb in the main clause is
imperative.
2. First conditional
The first conditional uses to refer to the present or future when the situation is real. The conditional type 1 refers to a
possible condition and its probable result. In these sentences, the "if" clause adopts the "simple present" and the main
proposition the "simple future".
FORMULA: if + simple present … will + infinitive (simple future)

Examples:
• If you come for the weekend, we will (or we’ll) go to the cinema.
• If I save enough money this month, I will (or I’ll) buy a new computer.
• If it rains today, you will (or you’ll) get wet.
• If you don’t hurry, you will (or you’ll) miss the train.

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3. Second conditional
The second conditional uses to refer to a time that can be now or at any time and to a situation that is not real. These
sentences do not refer to facts. The conditional type 2 is used to refer to a hypothetical condition and its probable result.
In these sentences, the proposition "if" adopts "simple past" and the main clause the "conditional present".
FORMULA: if + simple past … present continuous conditional (present conditional)
or
FORMULA: if + simple past … would + infinitive (present continuous conditonal)

Examples:
• If it rained, you would get wet.
• You would get wet if it rained.
• If you went to bed earlier, you wouldn't (or would not) be so tired.

Function: It contains a hypothetical condition and its probable result

• If I was the Queen of England, I would give everyone a chicken. (Pero no soy la Reina.)
• If you really loved me, you would buy me a diamond ring.

Fun fact: It can use ‘to be’ and it is very common to say "if I were" instead of "if I was".

• If I were taller, I would buy this dress.

• If I were 20, I would travel the world.

Specific fact: Manners can also be used in the main proposition to express the degree of certainty, permission, or
a recommendation about the outcome.

• We might buy a larger house if we had more money

• He could go to the concert if you gave him your ticket.

This could be useful with the modal verb (WOULD) – subject + would + infinitive/verb + …. (*it can use would not)

Negative interrogative
Affirmative Negative Interrogative form
form
I would go I wouldn’t* go Would I go? Wouldn't I go?
You would go You wouldn't go Would you go? Wouldn't you go?
We would go We wouldn't go Would we go? Wouldn't we go?
They would go They wouldn't go Would they go? Wouldn't they go?
He would go He wouldn't go Would he go? Wouldn't he go?
She would go She wouldn't go Would she go? Wouldn't she go?
It would go It wouldn't go Would it go? Wouldn't it go?
4. Third conditional
The third conditional uses to refer to a time in the past and a situation contrary to reality. It is based on facts that are
opposite to what is being expressed. The conditional type 3 is used to refer to a condition of the past that is not real, as
well as its probable result in the past. In these sentences, the "if" clause adopts the "past perfect" and the main proposition
the "perfect conditional".
FORMULA: if + simple past … perfect continuous conditional (perfect conditional)
or
FORMULA: if + simple past … would + have + past participle (perfect continuous conditonal)

Examples:
• If it had rained, you would have gotten wet.
• You would have gotten wet if it had rained.
• You would have passed your exam if you had worked harder.

Function: It contains an unreal condition from the past and its probable result in the past
• If I had worked harder, I would have passed the exam. (But I didn't work hard, and I didn't pass the exam.)
• If I had known you were coming, I would have baked a cake. (But I didn't know, and I didn't bake a cake.)

Fun fact: Manners in the main clause can be used, instead of "would", to express the degree of certainty,
permission or a recommendation on the result.

• If I had worked harder, I might have passed the exam.

• You could have been on time if you had caught the bus.

Specific fact: It can use contradictions when both "would" and "had" can be contracted in the same way, -'d,
something that can cause confusion if we don't master conditional sentences of type 3. Remember these 2 rules:

1. "would" never appears in the "if" statement, so if "-'d" appears in the "if" statement, it will be the contraction of
"had".

2. "had" is never put before "have", therefore, if "-'d" appears after a pronoun and is followed by "have", it will be
the contraction of "would".

Examples:

• If I'd known you were in hospital, I'd have visited you.

• If I had known you were in hospital, I would have visited you.
• I'd have bought you a present if I'd known it was your birthday.

This could be useful with the modal verb (WOULD) – Subject + would + have + past participle + ….

Negative interrogative
Affirmative Negative Interrogative form
form
I would have gone I wouldn’t* have gone Would I have gone? Wouldn't I gone?
You would have gone You wouldn't have gone Would you have gone? Wouldn't you gone?
We would have gone We wouldn't have gone Would we have gone? Wouldn't we gone?
They would have gone They wouldn't have gone Would they have gone? Wouldn't they gone?
He would have gone He wouldn't have gone Would he have gone? Wouldn't he gone?
She would have gone She wouldn't have gone Would she have gone? Wouldn't she gone?
It would have gone It wouldn't have gone Would it have gone? Wouldn't it gone?

Fun fact: It can replace ‘would have’ with ‘’woud’ve’’, for example, Alejandra and Maura would’ve (would have}
forgiven Nailea -> (less specific)
5. Mixed conditional
This mixed conditional uses to refer to a time set in the past and to a situation that has not yet concluded at present. It
is based on facts that are opposite to what is being expressed. The mixed conditional is used to refer to a condition of the
past that is not real and its probable result in the present. In these sentences, the proposition "if" adopts the "past perfect"
and the main clause the "present conditional".
- It mixes the second conditional with the third conditional
if + simple past … would + have + past participle (third
if + simple past … would + infinitive (second conditional)
conditional)

FORMULA: if + past perfect or simple past … present conditional or perfect conditional

Examples:
- If I had worked harder at school, I would have a better job now.
- I would have a better job now if I had worked harder at school.
- If we had looked at the map we wouldn't be lost.
- If I had studied, I would have my driving license. (pero no estudié y ahora no tengo la licencia)
- I would be a millionaire now if I had taken that job. (pero no acepté el empleo y no soy millonario)

IMPORTANT: In the case of mixed conditional, it is also possible to use manners in the main proposition instead of
using "would", to express the degree of certainty, permission or a recommendation about the result.

Examples:
- If you had crashed the car, you might be in trouble.
- I could be a millionaire now if I had invested in ABC Plumbing.

When the mixed conditions are fixed, like:

- If I wasn't afraid of spiders, I would have picked it up.

- I would have picked it up if I wasn't afraid of spiders.
- If we didn't trust him, we would have sacked him months ago.

These kinds of mixed conditional sentences refer to an unreal situation in the present and its probable (although
unreal) result in the past. The time frame in the "if" statement is now or always, while the main one refers to the past.
For example, "If I wasn't afraid of spiders" expresses an idea that is contrary to current reality, since I am afraid of
spiders. "I would have picked it up" is contrary to the reality set in the past, since I did not pick it up., for example:
- If she wasn't afraid of flying, she wouldn't have travelled by boat.
- I'd have been able to translate the letter if my Italian was better.