Title: CONDITIONALS

Conditionals: an introduction

We use conditional to describe the result of a certain condition. Most conditional sentences contain if.

The probability of the result is expressed in the verb tense used.

Zero conditional - General truths - probability 100%

If you freeze water, it becomes solid.

if + present simple, ...present simple.

First conditional - Possible condition and its probable result - probability 75%

If we go to the beach tomorrow, I will go swimming.

If + present simple, ...future simple.

Second conditional - Hypothetical condition and its probable result - probability 25%

If we had a garden, we could get a dog.

If + simple past, ...present conditional/ present conditional continuous.

Third conditional - Unreal past condition and its probable result in the past - probability 0%

If he had left at nine, he would have arrived on time.

If + past perfect, ...perfect conditional.

Zero conditional

First conditional

Second conditional

Third conditional