To determine which conditional form to use, ask yourself these three key
questions:
1. Is the situation about a general fact, a possible future, an unreal
present, or a past event that didn’t happen?
2. Is the event real or hypothetical?
3. Is the situation in the present, past, or future?
Comparison Summary Table
Conditional
Structure Example
Type
If + present simple, present
Zero If you heat ice, it melts.
simple
If + present simple, will + base
First If it rains, we will stay inside.
verb
If + past simple, would + base If I were rich, I would buy a
Second
verb mansion.
If + past perfect, would have + If she had studied, she would
Third
past participle have passed.
If + past perfect, would + base If I had studied, I would be a
Mixed
verb doctor now.
1. Zero Conditional – General Facts and Truths
Use this when: The situation is always true, like scientific facts, general truths, or
habits.
🔹 Structure: If + present simple, present simple
🔹 Examples:
✅ If you heat water to 100°C, it boils. (Scientific fact)
✅ If you touch fire, you get burned. (General truth)
✅ If you don’t water plants, they die. (Habitual truth)
💡 How to identify?
If the sentence talks about something that always happens when a
condition is met, use zero conditional.
Both the "if" clause and main clause are in the present simple tense.
2. First Conditional – Real and Possible Future Situations
Use this when: The situation is possible and may happen in the future.
🔹 Structure: If + present simple, will + base verb
🔹 Examples:
✅ If it rains tomorrow, we will stay home. (A possible future event)
✅ If you study hard, you will pass the exam. (Real possibility in the future)
✅ If she calls me, I will answer. (Future possibility)
💡 How to identify?
If the sentence talks about a real future event that could happen, use the
first conditional.
The "if" clause is in the present simple, and the main clause uses "will" +
base verb.
3. Second Conditional – Hypothetical or Unreal Present/Future Situations
Use this when: The situation is unlikely, imaginary, or hypothetical.
🔹 Structure: If + past simple, would + base verb
🔹 Examples:
✅ If I were a millionaire, I would travel the world. (Hypothetical; I’m not a millionaire
now.)
✅ If she studied harder, she would get better grades. (She doesn’t study hard, so
she won’t get better grades.)
✅ If he had a car, he would drive to work. (But he doesn’t have a car.)
💡 How to identify?
If the sentence describes a hypothetical or imaginary situation, use the
second conditional.
The "if" clause uses the past simple, but the meaning is not about the
past—it’s an unreal present or future.
The main clause uses "would" + base verb.
Tip: Always use "were" instead of "was" in formal English:
✅ If I were you, I would apologize.
4. Third Conditional – Hypothetical Past Situations
Use this when: The situation is about a past event that did not happen and its
possible consequence.
🔹 Structure: If + past perfect, would have + past participle
🔹 Examples:
✅ If you had studied, you would have passed the exam. (But you didn’t study, so
you failed.)
✅ If they had left earlier, they wouldn’t have missed the flight. (But they left late and
missed the flight.)
✅ If she had called me, I would have answered. (But she didn’t call me.)
💡 How to identify?
If the sentence talks about a past event that didn’t happen, use the third
conditional.
The "if" clause is in the past perfect (had + past participle), and the main
clause uses "would have" + past participle.
Tip: Third conditionals express regret or alternative past possibilities.
5. Mixed Conditionals – Mixing Different Time Frames
Use this when: The condition refers to one time (past or present) and the result
refers to another time (past, present, or future).
(a) Past condition → Present result
👉 If + past perfect, would + base verb
✅ If I had studied harder, I would be a doctor now. (But I didn’t study, so I am not a
doctor.)
✅ If she had taken the job, she would be earning more money. (But she didn’t take
the job.)
(b) Present condition → Past result
👉 If + past simple, would have + past participle
✅ If I were taller, I would have joined the basketball team. (But I’m not tall, so I
didn’t join.)
✅ If he were more careful, he wouldn’t have had the accident. (But he wasn’t
careful, so he had an accident.)
💡 How to identify?
If the sentence mixes past and present situations, use a mixed
conditional.
Identify which part refers to the past and which part refers to the
present/future to determine the structure.
How to Choose the Right Conditional – Quick Guide
Conditional
Use When? Structure Example
Type
General facts and
If you heat ice, it melts.
truths
If we talk to the baby, it
Things can happen any If + present simple,
Zero smiles.
time present simple
If the lift breaks down,
Giving instructions for
press the alarm button.
a situation
If it rains, we will stay
Real and possible
future situations If + present simple, inside.
First
will + base verb If you don’t stop fighting,
Offers & warnings
I’ll stop you myself.
If I were rich, I would buy
Hypothetical or unlikely
If + past simple, a mansion.
Second present/future
would + base verb I would get more
Giving advice
exercise if I were you.
If she had studied, she
Hypothetical or If + past perfect, would have passed.
Third imaginary past would have + past I could have get a better
regrets participle job if I’d studied
seriously.
If I had studied, I would
A mix of different times be a doctor now.
Present resolution of an If you hadn’t had the
If + past perfect,
Mixed imaginary past action operation, you could re
would + base verb
really ill now.
Imaginary past result
of a present action If I didn’t believe you, I
would have left you.
