Zero, First and Second Conditionals

Zero Conditional

• Form

• The ‘If' in this conditional can be replaced by 'when' without changing the meaning

If + present simple, .... present simple

When do we use Zero Conditional???

•We use this conditional when the result will always happen•we use it with facts and general statements•When we talk in general (not about one particular situation)

Examples of Zero Conditional

• If water reaches 100 degrees, it boils. • If people eat too much, they get fat.• If you touch a fire, you get burned. • If babies are hungry, they cry.

facts

First Conditional

Form

• The first conditional has the present simple after 'if', then the future simple in the other clause

if + present simple, … will + infinitive.

When do we use First Conditional???

•We use the first conditional to talk about a likely situation or a possible condition• To talk about things which might happen in the future• To describe possible things which could easily come true •when we talk about one particular situation

Examples of First Conditional

• If it rains, I won't go to the park.• If I study today, I'll go to the party tonight.• She will miss the bus if she doesn't leave soon.• If I see her, I will tell her.

possible situations

Note:• Use a comma if the if clause is at the beginning of the sentence. Example: If I go to London, I will visit the Tower.

• Don’t use a comma if the if clause is at the end of the sentence. Example: I will visit the Tower if I go to London.

Zero Conditional vs. First Conditional

Second Conditional

• If + past simple, … would + infinitive Form

• The second conditional has the past simple after 'if', then would plus infinitive in the other clause

When do we use Second Conditional???

•We use the second conditional to talk about an unlikely or imaginary situation or a hypothetical condition• to talk about things in the future that are probably not going

to be true• to talk about something in the present which is impossible

because it's not true

Examples of Second Conditional• If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house.• If I met the Queen of England, I would say hello.• She would travel all over the world if she were rich.• She would pass the exam if she ever studied.

These are probably not going to happen