Conditional tenses are employed for speculating about potential outcomes, events that might have transpired, and our desires for future events. In the English language, most conditional sentences feature the term “if.”
Many conditional structures in English involve verbs in one of the past tenses. This usage is known as “the unreal past” since we utilize a past tense even though we are not actually describing an event that occurred in the past. There are five primary methods for forming conditional sentences in English.
In all instances, these sentences consist of an “if” clause and a main clause. In numerous negative conditional sentences, a parallel construction can be found using “unless” instead of “if.”
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| Conditional sentence type | Usage | If clause verb tense | Main clause verb tense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero | General truths | Simple present | Simple present |
| Type 1 | A possible condition and its probable result | Simple present | Simple future |
| Type 2 | A hypothetical condition and its probable result | Simple past | Present conditional or Present continuous conditional |
| Type 3 | An unreal past condition and its probable result in the past | Past perfect | Perfect conditional |
| Mixed type | An unreal past condition and its probable result in the present | Past perfect | Present contditional |
The zero conditional
The zero conditional is employed when the timeframe in question is the present or perpetual, and the circumstance is both realistic and feasible. It is frequently utilized to describe universally accepted facts. The verb tense used in both segments of the sentence is the simple present. In zero conditional sentences, “if” can typically be substituted with “when” without altering the meaning.
| If clause | Main clause |
|---|---|
| If + simple present | simple present |
| If this thing happens | that thing happens. |
| If you heat ice | it melts. |
| If it rains | the grass gets wet. |
Read more about how to use the zero conditional.
Type 1 conditional
The type 1 conditional is employed to discuss the current or forthcoming situations that are actual. It pertains to a potential condition and its expected outcome. In these statements, the “if” clause is in the simple present, while the main clause is in the simple future tense.
| 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. |
Read more about how to use the type 1 conditional.
Type 2 conditional
The type 2 conditional is employed to discuss situations that are unreal, occurring in the present or at any time. These statements are not grounded in reality.
Type 2 conditional is utilized for discussing a hypothetical condition and its likely outcome. In type 2 conditional sentences, the “if” clause employs the simple past tense, while the main clause utilizes the present conditional tense.
| If clause | Main clause |
|---|---|
| If + simple past | present conditional or present continuous conditional |
| If this thing happened | that thing would happen. (but I’m not sure this thing will happen) OR 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. |
Read more about how to use the type 2 conditional.
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Type 3 conditional
The type 3 conditional is employed to discuss situations that occurred in the past but were contrary to reality. These statements are based on facts that are the opposite of what is stated.
Type 3 conditional is used for describing an unreal condition in the past and its likely outcome in the past. In type 3 conditional sentences, the “if” clause employs the past perfect tense, while the main clause uses the perfect conditional tense.
| 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. |
Read more about how to use the type 3 conditional
Mixed type conditional
The mixed type conditional is employed to discuss situations that occurred in the past but are continuing into the present. These statements are based on facts that are the opposite of what is stated.
The mixed type conditional is used for describing an unreal condition in the past and its likely outcome in the present. In mixed type conditional sentences, the “if” clause employs the past perfect tense, while the main clause uses the present conditional tense.
| If clause | Main clause |
|---|---|
| If + past perfect or simple past | present conditional or perfect conditional |
| If this thing had happened | that thing would happen. (but this thing didn’t happen so that thing isn’t happening) |
| If I had worked harder at school | I would have a better job now. |
| If we had looked at the map | we wouldn’t be lost. |
| If you weren’t afraid of spiders | you would have picked it up and put it outside. |
Read more about how to use the mixed conditional.
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I am Nilay, an experienced English Language Assessment Director at the International English Test, where I have been working full-time since February 2020. I specialize in helping people worldwide validate their English proficiency through comprehensive assessments and certifications.
Before joining the International English Test, I worked as a self-employed English Language Assessment Consultant from January 2015 to December 2019. During this time, I assisted companies and individuals in improving their language skills, helping them achieve their academic and professional goals.
I hold a degree in Engineering and have also studied at Shafston International College in Australia. My educational background has equipped me with the tools to make a meaningful impact in the field of English language learning. Additionally, I enjoy sharing my expertise through articles that explore effective teaching methods and language assessment strategies, contributing to the International English Test and the broader assessment community.
