Grammar
Conditionals📖 Conditionals Review
| Type | Use | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero | General truths | If + present, present | "If you study, you learn." |
| First | Real possibility | If + present, will + V1 | "If they invest, the economy will grow." |
| Second | Unreal present | If + past, would + V1 | "If I had money, I would invest." |
| Third | Unreal past | If + past perfect, would have + V3 | "If they had invested, they would have succeeded." |
Complete the conditionals
Conditionals: meaning before formula
Original practice material · explained answers · no official-exam attribution
Understand the rule
Zero conditionals express general relationships: if + present, present. First conditionals describe a possible future situation: if + present, will + base verb. Second conditionals imagine an unlikely or unreal present/future situation: if + past, would + base verb. Third conditionals imagine an alternative past: if + past perfect, would have + past participle. The past form in a second conditional does not necessarily describe past time. Unless means if not and should not be combined with an unnecessary second negation.
Follow a method
Decide whether the situation is general, possible, imaginary now or contrary to past facts. Then choose the form. Keep will out of the ordinary first-conditional if-clause. Use a comma when the if-clause comes first. Check that the consequence matches the same time viewpoint.