EN
Resources for learning English
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 !ve 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".
Test your knowledge
Conditional Usage If Main
sentence clause clause
type verb verb tense
tense
Zero General Simple Simple
truths present present
Type 1 A possible Simple Simple
condition present future
and its
probable
result
Type 2 A Simple Present
hypothetical past conditional
condition or Present
and its continuous
probable conditional
result
Type 3 An unreal Past Perfect
past perfect conditional
condition
and its
probable
result in the
past
Mixed type An unreal Past Present
past perfect contditional
condition
and its
probable
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 + simple present conditional or present
past continuous conditional
If this thing that thing would happen. (but
happened I'm not sure this thing will
happen) OR
that thing would be happening.
If you went you would not be so tired.
to bed
earlier
If it rained you would get wet.
If I spoke I would be working in Italy.
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
perfect continuous conditional
If this thing that thing would have
had happened. (but neither of those
happened things really happened) OR
that thing would have been
happening.
If you had you would have passed the
studied exam.
harder
If it had you would have gotten wet.
rained
If I had I would have been working in
accepted Milan.
that
promotion
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 present conditional or perfect
perfect or conditional
simple
past
If this thing that thing would happen. (but
had this thing didn't happen so that
happened thing isn't happening)
If I had I would have a better job now.
worked
harder at
school
If we had we wouldn't be lost.
looked at
the map
If you you would have picked it up and
weren't put it outside.
afraid of
spiders
Read more about how to use the mixed
conditional.
Test your knowledge
Learn English with EF
Learn English abroad
Explore a wide range of destinations,
duration options and course types to learn
English on a language course abroad.
View All Programs
Learn English online
Take group or private English lessons from
the comfort of your own home and get
access to our online English school.
EF English Live
Learn English with our app
Powered by AI technology our English
learning app is not only innovative, intuitive,
comprehensive, but also full of fun.
EF Hello
English learning resources
English grammar guide Conditional
Programs by age
Popular programmes
Discover
About EF Education First
Worldwide O!ces
Global Site / English English
Privacy policy
Terms and Conditions
Cookies
© Signum International AG 2023. All rights reserved.
Test your English
