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Conditional Forms: First, Second, Third, and Mixed Conditionals

Conditionals are sentences with two parts. One part of the sentence describes a condition, and the other part of the sentence describes the result of that condition.

Example:

If you work all day, you will be tired at night.
(condition)               (result)
or:
You will be tired at night if you work all day.
(result)                              (condition)

Notice that either the condition clause or the result clause can go first in the sentence. However, if we put the condition first, we must place a comma after the condition clause.

Below is a guide which shows the different conditional forms in English.

 

Zero Conditional

Used to express real facts, general truths, and certainty. Condition clause – simple present
Result clause – simple present
If the market goes up, people are happy
Additional Examples
If a country has high tax rates, it is less attractive to foreign investors.

He can’t concentrate at work if he doesn’t eat breakfast.

1st Conditional

 

Used to express real or very possible FUTURE situations and their results. Condition clause  – simple present
Result clause – will, going to, might, may (plus the base form of a verb)
If you work hard, you will succeed.
Additional Examples:
If I have time today, I will go running after work.
If I don’t have time later, I won’t go running.
I might arrive late if I don’t leave right now.

2nd Conditional

 

 

Used to express improbable or impossible PRESENT situations and their results. Condition clause – simple past
Result clause – would, might, could (plus the base form of a verb)
If I were** you, I would talk to her about it.
**Note that hen we use the verb “to be” in the second conditional, we prefer to use “were” for all subjects.
Additional Examples:
If I had millions of dollars, I wouldn’t have to work.
I might miss my country if I traveled a lot for work.

3rd Conditional

Used to express hypothetical or alternative PAST situations and their probable results. Condition clause – past perfect
Result clause – would have, might have, could have (plus a past participle)
If I hadn’t studied business, I might have become a doctor.
Additional Examples:
If Don had been at the meeting, he wouldn’t have missed the announcement.

They might not have come to the party even if we had invited them.

 

In addition to the conditional forms above, we also have mixed conditionals in English.

 

Mixed Conditional 

(Past Condition, Present Result)

Used to express hypothetical or alternative past situations and their probable effects on the present. Condition clause – past perfect
Result clause – would, might  (plus the base form of the verb)
If I had gotten a master’s degree, I might have a better job right  now.
Additional Examples:
If Karen hadn’t taken time off to raise her kids, she might be the general manager now.

(Karen took time off to raise her kids and she isn’t the general manager now.)
Carl wouldn’t be in trouble if he had listened to his friends’ advice.
(Carl is in trouble and he didn’t listen to his friends’ advice.)

Mixed Conditional

(Present Condition, Past Result)

Used to express hypothetical present situations and their probable effects on the past. Condition clause – simple past
Result clause – would have, might have, could have (plus a past participle)
If I were you, I would have taken the job offer.
Additional Examples:
If Kevin spoke good English, he might have gotten the job.

(Kevin doesn’t speak good English, and he didn’t get the job.)
We would have been able to go on vacation to Europe this year if the economy weren’t so bad.
(The economy is bad and the speaker of the sentence did not go on vacation to Europe)