1^st and 2^nd Conditionals

Conditionals are sentences made up of two clauses that are closely related – an ‘if’ clause and a main clause. We use these structures to describe what will happen if we do a certain thing, or a certain event occurs. In other words, if a certain condition is true, a certain result will follow.

The ‘if’ clause tells you the condition and the main clause tells you what will happen as a result.

When to use the 1^st Conditional?

We use the 1^st conditional when we want to talk about real and possible situations in the future that are likely to happen, or have a real possibility of happening. For example:

I will go shopping on my way home if I have time.

If it’s a nice day tomorrow I will go to the beach.

If Manchester United win they’ll be top of the league

Note the structure: if + present simple and will + infinitive. It’s not important which clause comes first.

When to use the 2^nd Conditional?

We use the 2^nd conditional when we talk about unreal or impossible situations. We use this structure when talking about events in the future that are probably not going to happen, or that are probably not true. For example.

If I won the lottery, I would buy a Ferrari. (I’m probably not going to win the lottery.)

Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world?

What would you do, if a Hollywood producer offered you the leading role in a film?

We also use the 2^nd conditional to talk about something in the present which is impossible because it’s not true. For example:

If I had his number, I would phone him. (I don’t have his number, so I can’t phone him.)

Note the structure: if + past simple and would + infinitive. It’s not important which clause comes first.

(Next week - the 3rd Conditional.)