Conditionals · Intermediate (B1)
Conditionals: zero, first, second and third
If-sentences for facts, real future possibilities, imaginary situations and past regrets.
The rules
Zero — general truths: if + present, present: If you heat ice, it melts.
First — real future possibility: if + present, will + verb: If it rains tomorrow, we’ll stay home. (Not if it will rain.) Also unless = if not: We’ll be late unless we hurry.
Second — imaginary or unlikely present/future: if + past, would + verb: If I had more money, I’d travel. If I were you, I’d apologise. (were is preferred for all persons in formal English.)
Third — imaginary past (regrets): if + past perfect, would have + participle: If I had studied, I would have passed. Mixed: past condition, present result: If I had taken the job, I would be rich now.
| Type | If-clause | Main clause | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero | present | present | If you press this, it starts. |
| First | present | will | If you call, I’ll answer. |
| Second | past | would | If I knew, I’d tell you. |
| Third | past perfect | would have | If we’d left earlier, we’d have caught it. |
Examples
- If you mix blue and yellow, you get green.
- I’ll lend you my car if you need it.
- What would you do if you won a million?
- If she hadn’t missed the bus, she wouldn’t have been late.
Common mistakes
✗ If it will rain, I’ll take a taxi.
✓ If it rains, I’ll take a taxi.
No will in the if-clause.
✗ If I would have time, I would help.
✓ If I had time, I would help.
Second conditional: if + past.
✗ If I would have known, I would have come.
✓ If I had known, I would have come.
Third conditional: if + past perfect.
Practice
If you ___ water to 100 °C, it boils.
Quiz
1.If I had wings, I ___ fly.
2.If they had asked me, I ___ helped.
3.Match the conditional to its use.
4.We use “will” in the if-clause of the first conditional.