Conditional Tenses
Conditional tenses are verb structures used to talk about the possible or hypothetical results of a condition, usually built with an 'if' clause, and English has several types depending on how likely the condition is. The zero conditional states general truths, the first describes realistic future possibilities, and the second and third describe unreal or impossible situations.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Decide how likely or real the condition is: a general fact, a realistic future possibility, an unlikely/imaginary present situation, or an impossible past situation.
- For general truths (zero conditional), use present simple in both clauses, e.g. If you heat ice, it melts.
- For realistic future possibilities (first conditional), use present simple in the if-clause and 'will' plus base verb in the main clause, e.g. If it rains, I will take an umbrella.
- For unlikely or imaginary present/future situations (second conditional), use past simple in the if-clause and 'would' plus base verb in the main clause, e.g. If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.
- For impossible past situations (third conditional), use past perfect in the if-clause and 'would have' plus past participle in the main clause, e.g. If she had studied, she would have passed.
- Check the if-clause and main clause can swap order; when the if-clause comes first, add a comma after it.
Worked example
Complete the sentence using the correct conditional form: 'If I (know) his number, I would call him.'
- Identify the clue: 'would call' in the main clause signals the second conditional (unlikely/imaginary present situation).
- The second conditional needs past simple in the if-clause.
- Change 'know' to its past simple form 'knew'.
- Final answer: 'If I knew his number, I would call him.'
Practice questions
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Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a English exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Identify which type of conditional is used in 'If we leave now, we will catch the bus' and explain why.
Explain the difference in meaning between the second conditional sentence 'If I had more time, I would learn the piano' and the third conditional sentence 'If I had had more time, I would have learned the piano.'
A student writes: 'If I will pass my exams, I am going to celebrate, and if I would have failed, I will be upset.' Identify the two conditional errors, explain the correct rule for each, and rewrite the sentence correctly.
Free printable worksheet
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