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
If you heat ice
If it rains

that thing happens.

it melts.

the grass gets wet.

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.

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 past

present conditional or present continuous conditional

If this thing happened

thing will happen) OR

that thing would happen. (but I'm not sure this

that thing would be happening.

If you went to bed earlier you would not be so tired.
If it rained

you would get wet.

If I spoke Italian

I would be working in Italy.

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

perfect conditional or perfect continuous conditional

If this thing had happened

that thing would have happened. (but
neither of those things really happened) OR
that thing would have been happening.
If you had studied harder you would have passed the exam.
If it had rained

you would have gotten wet.

If I had accepted that promotion I would have been working in Milan.

An exercise on the First Conditional
1) If the seminar ___________ at 9:00 we will be on time. (begin)
2) If the customer ___________
I'll tell her you'll contact her first thing
tomorrow. (call)
3) If you inform us of any problems by 10:00 a.m. we ___________
them the
same day. (fix)
4) If you adopt this marketing strategy your profits ___________
dramatically. (increase)
5) Your employees ___________
all they need to know about the program if
you send them to this training session. (learn)
6) If I ___________
with the customer tomorrow ___________
I her your
card. (meet, give)
7) Your company ___________
better financially if you ___________
for
the international market. (do, produce)
8) If you ___________
positively you ___________
. (think, succeed)
9) If you ___________
biodegradable products it ___________
better for
the environment. (use, to be)

10)We ___________
visit)

Mr. Johnson when we ___________

the factory. (see,

Present Unreal Conditional

Did you hear about that guy who won 180 million dollars in the lottery? If I
(win)

(travel)

that much money, I (quit)

around the world

luxurious hotels. If I (want)

(see)

my job the next day. I

and (stay)

in the most

anything, I (buy)

it. If I

a beautiful Mercedes that I wanted, I (buy)

it. If I

wanted to stay in a beautiful hotel and the hotel (be)

full, I

(buy)

the hotel and make them give me a room. I (can)

do anything in the world if I had 180 million dollars ... Oh, I am starting to
sound a little materialistic... Well... I (do)

money as well. If anybody (need)

some money to help them out. I (donate)

(give)

good things with the

help, I (give)

them

money to charities. I

money to help support the arts. If I (win)

that

much money, I wouldn't keep it all for myself. I (help)

as many

people as possible.

Past Unreal Conditional

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate
conditional form.
After I graduated from university, I applied for a marketing position with a
prominent bank with branches all over the world. I didn't get the job because
they
wanted
someone
who
spoke
Spanish
fluently.
I
(could,
take)

Spanish in high school, but I didn't. I took an acting class

instead. If I (take)

Spanish, I (get)

imagine, if I had actually gotten the job, I (move)

entire life (could, go)

the job. Just

to Spain. My

in a totally different direction. If I had

accepted the job and moved to Spain, I (might, meet)

a Spanish

woman and (get)

married. If that had actually happened, I

probably (stay)

in Spain. We (might, have)

children. Unfortunately, I didn't get the job and I didn't go to Spain. I got a
boring job and I live alone. If I had just taken Spanish, my life
(be)

much more interesting.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT ANSWERS.

1. If I had had enough money, I _________ that radio.

a. bought b. would buy c. would have bought d. had bought
2. If it rains, you_________

wet.

a. will get b. would get c. get d. had got

3. She would go to the Job Centre if she _________

a job.

a. had wanted b. will want c. wanted d. wants

4. The dog _________

you if it hadnt been tied up.

a. would bite b. will bite c. would have bitten d. bites

5. It_________

easy to paint pictures if you knew how to.

a. would be b. had been c. would have been d. be

6. If I come, I _________

you.

a. saw b. would see c. will see d. sees

7. She _________

pleased if you came.

a. would be b. would have been c. would has been d. was

8. If it _________

I would stay at home.

a. rains b. rained c. has rained d.had rained

9. You will catch the train if you _________

earlier

a. left b. leaves c. leave d. would leave

10. If he _________

thirsty, he would have drunk some water.

a. was b. had been c. is d. would drink