Complete Guide to English Conditionals

Master if clauses and conditional sentences with interactive quizzes and hidden answers!

5 Conditional Types
60+ Examples
100% Interactive
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📋 Reference Chart 0️⃣ Zero Conditional 1️⃣ First Conditional 2️⃣ Second Conditional 3️⃣ Third Conditional 🔀 Mixed Conditionals 🎯 Practice

🎯 How to use this guide: Each conditional type is hidden behind a "Reveal Answer" button. Try to predict the structure first, then click to see explanations and examples!

Conditionals are sentences with an "if" clause that describe possibilities, hypothetical situations, and consequences. They're essential for expressing conditions and their outcomes in English!

0️⃣ ZERO CONDITIONAL

Facts and Universal Truths

Zero Conditional

Facts
🤔 What structure is used to express general facts?
Structure: If + present simple, present simple
Examples:
Scientific fact: "If you heat water to 100°C, it boils."
Habit/routine: "If I eat too much sugar, I feel sick."
General truth: "If the sun rises, it gets light."
Regular consequence: "If you don't water plants, they die."
When to use: General facts, scientific truths, habits, things that always happen
💡 Key point: Both clauses use present simple because the outcome is certain and always happens!

1️⃣ FIRST CONDITIONAL

Likely Future Possibilities

First Conditional

Likely Future
🤔 What structure shows likely future events?
Structure: If + present simple, will/shall + base verb
Examples:
Real possibility: "If it rains tomorrow, I'll stay home."
Realistic future: "If you study hard, you'll pass the exam."
Promise/warning: "If you break it, I'll be angry."
Offer/suggestion: "If you need help, I'll assist you."
When to use: Real possible futures, likely situations, promises, threats
💡 Key difference: This is the most common conditional for future plans. The condition is realistic and could actually happen!

2️⃣ SECOND CONDITIONAL

Hypothetical or Unlikely Situations

Second Conditional

Hypothetical
🤔 How do we express unlikely or imaginary situations?
Structure: If + past simple, would + base verb
Note: Use "were" for "I" and "he/she/it" instead of "was"
Examples:
Unlikely/imaginary: "If I were a bird, I could fly."
Dreams/wishes: "If I won the lottery, I'd travel the world."
Giving advice: "If I were you, I'd apologize."
Fantasy: "If dinosaurs still existed, the world would be dangerous."
When to use: Unlikely situations, fantasy, advice, imaginary scenarios
💡 Important: Use "were" with all subjects in formal English, even though "was" is common in speech. "If I were rich..." not "If I was rich..."

3️⃣ THIRD CONDITIONAL

Impossible Past Situations

Third Conditional

Impossible Past
🤔 How do we express regret about something that didn't happen?
Structure: If + past perfect, would have + past participle
Examples:
Regret about past: "If I had studied, I would have passed the exam."
Expressing consequences: "If she had called ahead, we would have prepared."
Reflecting on decisions: "If I hadn't moved away, I would still see my friends."
Imagining alternatives: "If they had arrived earlier, they would have seen the show."
When to use: Impossible past situations, regrets, what could have happened
💡 Key point: Used for situations that cannot change because they're in the past. Often expresses regret or criticism!

🔀 MIXED CONDITIONALS

Combinations of Different Types

Mixed Conditionals

Complex Scenarios
🤔 What happens when you mix different conditional types?
Structure: Combinations of any conditional types
Usually: past condition + present result OR past action + present consequence
Examples:
Past condition, present result: "If I had studied languages, I would speak French now."
(Past perfect + would + present)
Present condition, past result: "If she were intelligent, she would have understood that."
(Past simple + would have + past participle)
Complex scenario: "If I hadn't missed my flight, I would be in Paris right now."
Real to hypothetical: "If they had taken the safer route, they wouldn't be injured now."