Today is Friday, september 18th,2026
CONDITIONAlS: ZERO, FIRST
AND SECOND CONDITIONAL
1. WHAT ARE CONDITIONALS?
Conditional sentences are used to talk about a condition and its result.
A conditional sentence usually has two parts:
IF + CONDITION, RESULT
Example:
If I study, I pass the exam.
- Condition: If I study
- Result: I pass the exam
The word IF introduces the condition.
2.
ZERO CONDITIONAL
USE
We use the Zero Conditional to talk about:
- General truths
- Facts
- Scientific facts
- Things that always or usually happen
- Rules and instructions
The result is considered certain or generally true.
STRUCTURE
IF + PRESENT SIMPLE, PRESENT SIMPLE
OR
PRESENT SIMPLE + IF + PRESENT SIMPLE
EXAMPLES
If you heat water, it boils.
If people don't sleep, they feel tired.
If you mix blue and yellow, you get green.
Plants die if they don't get water.
IMPORTANT
Both parts use the Present Simple.
❌ If you
heat water, it will boil.
✅ If you
heat water, it boils.
The Zero Conditional is about things that are generally true, not a
specific future possibility.
3.
FIRST CONDITIONAL
USE
We use the First Conditional to talk about:
- Real or possible situations in the future
- Things that may happen
- Consequences of future
actions
The
situation is possible.
STRUCTURE
IF + PRESENT SIMPLE, WILL + BASE VERB
OR
WILL + BASE VERB + IF + PRESENT SIMPLE
EXAMPLES
If I study, I will pass the exam.
If it rains tomorrow, we will stay at home.
If you work hard, you will achieve your
goals.
She will call you if she has time.
IMPORTANT
After IF, we do NOT normally use WILL.
❌ If I
will study, I will pass.
✅ If I
study, I will pass.
The if-clause uses Present Simple, while the result usually uses will
+ verb.
4.
SECOND CONDITIONAL
USE
We use the Second Conditional to talk about:
- Imaginary situations
- Unreal or unlikely
situations
- Hypothetical situations
- Dreams and possibilities
- Situations that are not true or are unlikely
at the moment
STRUCTURE
IF + PAST SIMPLE, WOULD + BASE VERB
OR
WOULD + BASE VERB + IF + PAST SIMPLE
EXAMPLES
If I had a million dollars, I would travel
around the world.
If I were rich, I would buy a big house.
If she studied more, she would get better
grades.
If I lived in another country, I would learn
another language.
IMPORTANT: "WERE"
With the verb BE, we commonly use WERE for hypothetical
situations:
If I were you, I would study more.
If he were here, he would help us.
If she were older, she would travel alone.
The expression "If I were you..." is especially common
when giving advice.
Example:
If I were you, I would talk to the teacher.
5.
ZERO vs. FIRST vs. SECOND CONDITIONAL
ZERO CONDITIONAL
General truth / fact
If + Present Simple → Present Simple
Example:
If you don't eat, you get hungry.
Meaning: This is generally true.
FIRST CONDITIONAL
Real future possibility
If + Present Simple → Will + Verb
Example:
If I study tonight, I will pass the test.
Meaning: Studying tonight is possible, and passing the test is a
possible result.
SECOND CONDITIONAL
Imaginary or unlikely situation
If + Past Simple → Would + Verb
Example:
If I studied every day, I would get better
grades.
Meaning: This is hypothetical or unlikely in the present situation.
6.
QUICK COMPARISON
ZERO:
If I don't sleep, I feel tired.
FIRST:
If I don't sleep tonight, I will feel tired tomorrow.
SECOND:
If I didn't have to work tomorrow, I would sleep all day.
Notice the difference:
ZERO = what generally happens
FIRST = what may happen
SECOND = what I imagine or consider unlikely
ACTIVITY
1 – IDENTIFY THE CONDITIONAL
Read each sentence and write:
ZERO –
FIRST – SECOND
1. If you
put ice in the sun, it melts.
2. If I
finish my homework early, I will watch a movie.
3. If I had
more free time, I would learn another language.
4. If people
don't drink water, they become thirsty.
5. If she
studies for the exam, she will get a good grade.
6. If I were
famous, I would travel around the world.
7. If you
heat chocolate, it melts.
8. If we
don't leave now, we will be late.
ACTIVITY 2 – COMPLETE THE
SENTENCES
Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb.
ZERO CONDITIONAL
1. If you
________ (heat) ice, it ________ (melt).
2. If people
________ (not eat), they ________ (get) hungry.
3. If you
________ (mix) red and blue, you ________ (get) purple.
FIRST CONDITIONAL
4. If I
________ (study) tonight, I ________ (pass) the exam.
5. If it
________ (rain) tomorrow, we ________ (stay) home.
6. If she
________ (finish) her homework, she ________ (go) out.
SECOND CONDITIONAL
7. If I
________ (have) more money, I ________ (travel) more.
8. If he
________ (be) more organized, he ________ (have) fewer problems.
9. If you
________ (live) anywhere in the world, where ______
