Basic facts

 Conditional sentences are complex sentences used to

talk about possible or imaginary situations and their
consequences o r results. One of the clauses s tarts
with IF (or a similar word), and this is the conditional
clause. The other clause talks about the result of the
conditional clause and this is the main clause.
Basic facts
 The two clauses can come in any order. If the
conditional clause comes first, a comma is used
between it and the main clause. However, we don’t use
a comma if the main clause comes first.
Zero Conditional
 We use the Zero Conditional to talk about something
that will always happen if a particular condition is met
(scientific facts, universal truths, general validity).
If people travel abroad, they take their passports with
them.

 The meaning remains the same if we replace IF with

WHEN(EVER).
Zero Conditional
Conditional clause Main clause

present tense present tense

If you heat ice, it melts.

When she is not in, her machine takes a message.
Whenever you don’t water plants, they die.
First Conditional

 We use the First Conditional to talk about something

that will happen if a particular condition (which is
likely to happen) is met.
I will telephone you if I find your passport.
First Conditional
Conditional clause Main clause

present tense future tense / imperative /

modals

If I see Ann, I’ll tell her to call you.

she is not in, leave her a message.
you are late for dinner, your mum might get angry.
Second Conditional
 Conditional 2 is used to talk about an imaginary
situation, i.e. something that is unlikely or impossible
in the present or future.
Second Conditional
 If Tim was here, he’d know what to say. (However, he
is not here at the moment, so he cannot help.)
 If the hotel went bankrupt tomorrow, I’d find another
job in hospitality. (I don’t believe that this would
happen. However, I am aware of possible
circumstances.)
Second Conditional
 In formal language and when giving advice using the
expression If I were you, were can be used instead of
was.
If I were you, I’d think twice before investing into that
project.
Second Conditional
Conditional clause Main Clause

‘Past Simple’ Would infinitive

If I had the opportunity, I’d talk to him in person.

Second Conditional
 In formal language and when giving advice using the
expression If I were you, were can be used instead of
was.
 If I were you, I’d think twice before investing into that
project.
Special Cases
 In some special situations, e.g. when making offers, it
is possible to make the combinations of Conditional 1
and 2:
If the weather is nice, you could go trekking in the
mountains.
And…
 In conditional sentences you don’t always use ‘if’ and
‘if not’. You can use ‘provided that’ or ‘so long as’
instead of ‘if’. You can use ‘unless’ instead of ‘if not’.
Unless the travel agency confirmed the booking, we
would look for something else.
I’ll reserve the room from 3.00 to 5.00 so that the
meeting doesn’t go on for a long time.
Third Conditional
 Third Conditional refers to past. It is unrealistic, as
there is no possibility for the action to happen.
If he had not gone to the casino, he would not have lost all
his money.
Third Conditional
Conditional clause
past perfect
If I had followed his advice,
Main clause
would/could/should/might have
infinitive
we could have lost a great deal of
money. (but we didn’t)
Special Cases
 It is possible to make combinations of Conditional 3
condition and Conditional 2 consequence.

Conditional clause Main clause

(consequence)
Past Perfect Would infinitive
If I had followed his advice, we wouldn’t be able to make
(I didn’t) that investment now. (luckily
we didn’t loose a great deal
of money)