Conditionals

Name Example Verb Form Time / Usage

0 Condit ional If/ when it r ains, t he st reet s get wet . Pr esent + Pr esent Pr esent (always)
Pr esent Real If/ when I’m t ired, I go t o bed.

1 s t Condit ional If/ when it r ains t omor row, I’

ll br ing my umbr ella. Pr esent + Fut ur e Fut ur e (r eal possibilit y)
Fut ur e Real

2 n d Condit ional
Fut ur e Unr eal & Pr esent
Unr eal
3 r d Condit ional
Past Unr eal
If I won a million dollars, I would buy a boat . Past + would/ could/ might + Fut ur e (unlikely)
If I wer e t he pr esident , I would lower t axes. base for m Pr esent unr eal situat ions
If I had gone t o t he par ty yest er day, I would have Past Perfect + Perfect Modal Past unr eal situat ions
met many people.

Mixed Condit ional If I had gone t o t he par ty, I would be t ired now. Past Perfect + Past condit ion giving a
would/ could/ might + base for m pr esent r esult

0 Conditional
o Used to state general tr uths, facts, or habits.
1 s t Conditional
o Used to pr edict futur e pr obabilities. The speaker believes the event is likely and a r eal possibility.
2 nd Conditional
o Used for unlikely or impossible events in the futur e: If I met an alien, I would ask many questions.
o Used for situations that ar e not tr ue now (Counter factual): If I weren’ t here, I would be at home sleeping.
3 rd Conditional
o Used for Past Counter factuals. If W W II had not happened, ….
o Often used to express r egret or mistakes: If you had told me to bring an umbrella, I would have brought one.
Mixe d Conditional
o IF clause uses 3rd conditional; r esult clause uses the 2nd conditional. If I hadn’ t eaten it, my stomach wouldn’
t be upset.

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o Less common: IF clause uses 2 nd conditional; r esult clause uses 3 rd conditional: If he were smart, he would have
applied.