Conditionals
Zero, first and second conditionals.
The rules
- General truths use the zero conditional: "If you heat ice, it melts."
- Real future possibilities use the first conditional: "If it rains, we will cancel."
- The if-clause never takes "will": "If I see him…", not "If I will see him…".
- Second conditional (imaginary): "If I were rich…", "were" is preferred for all persons.
- Second conditional question: "If you won, what would you do?"
- Past form + "would" = imaginary/unlikely: "If I had time" implies you don't have time.
Examples
- If you heat ice, it melts.
- If it rains tomorrow, we will cancel the picnic.
- If I see him, I will tell him.
- If I were rich, I would travel the world.
- If you won what would you do.
- If I had time, I would help you.
Quick check
Pick an answer to see the rule behind it.
1.If you heat ice, it _____.
2.If it rains tomorrow, we _____ the picnic.
3.Which sentence is correct?
4.If I _____ rich, I would travel the world.
5.Which sentence describes an imaginary present situation?