Third conditional - Level II

The third conditional is one of the four main forms of conditionals in English. Conditionals are verb tenses that allow us to speculate, hypothesize or imagine what the situation would be like with other conditions. 

In this post we will learn the third conditional at level II, so the explanations are in English and the examples shown have an intermediate difficulty.

Uses of the third conditional

We use the third conditional for:

1. Talking about a past situation that didn't happen and hypothesizing its possible outcomes.

• If Matthew had studied hard enough, he would have passed the exam.
• If I hadn't eaten so much ice cream, I wouldn't be sick now.
• If you had come home last night, you would have seen my brothers.
• If Carol had had the car fixed, she would have driven us to the airport.

Structure of the third conditional

Affirmative sentences

If + past perfect + , + would + have + past participle

• If I had arrived at the station on time, I would have caught the train.
• If we had planned this trip seriously, we would have visited many more places.
• If he hadn't gotten the vaccine, he would have caught the disease.
• If they had trained every day for a month, they would have won the match.

It’s also possible to use the same structure but inverting both clauses and eliminating the comma:

Would + have + participle + if + past perfect

• I would have caught the train if I had arrived at the station on time.
• We would have visited many more places if we had planned this trip seriously.
• He would have caught the disease if he hadn't gotten the vaccine.
• They would have won the match if they had trained every day for a month.

Note: We usually use the contraction ‘d instead of would when using an informal register.

• If Anna had come to the meeting, we’d have seen her. = If Anna had come to the meeting, we would have seen her.
• If Justin had participated, he’d have won the contest. = If Justin had participated, he would have won the contest.

Negative sentences

If + past perfect + , + would not + have + past participle

• If Jerry had had a healthy diet, he would not have had cardiovascular disease.
• If Carolyn hadn't caught the scorpion, it wouldn't have stung her hand.
• If I had received my letter from Hogwarts, I would not have studied at this institute.
• If you hadn't thrown stones at the police, they wouldn't have arrested you.

As in affirmative sentences, you can use the same structure but inverting both clauses:

Would not + have + past participle + if + past perfect

• Jerry would not have had cardiovascular disease if he had had a healthy diet.
• The scorpion wouldn't have stung Caroline’s hand if she hadn't caught it.
• I would not have studied at this institute if I had received my letter from Hogwarts.
• They wouldn't have arrested you if you hadn't thrown stones at the police.

Note: We usually use the contraction wouldn’t instead of would not when using an informal register.

• If we had hurried, we wouldn't have been so late. = If we had hurried, we would not have been so late.
• If you had eaten breakfast, you wouldn't be hungry now. = If you had eaten breakfast, you would not be hungry now.

Interrogative sentences

If + past participle + , + would + subject + have + participle + ?

• If you had gone to college, what career would you have chosen?
• If we had gone on vacation this summer, would you have come with us?
• If you had practiced a little more, would you have passed the driving test?
• If Nathan had asked you out on a date, would you have accepted?

You can also invert both clauses in interrogative sentences without changing the meaning.

Would + subject + have + participle + if + past perfect + ?

• What career would you have chosen if you had gone to college?
• Would you have come with us if we had gone on vacation this summer?
• Would you have passed the driving test if you had practiced a little more?
• Would you have accepted if Nathan had asked you out on a date?

Second conditional - Level II

The second conditional is one of the four main forms of conditionals in English. Conditionals are verb tenses that allow us to speculate, hypothesize or imagine what the situation would be like with other conditions. 

In this post we will learn the second conditional at level II, so the explanations are in English and the examples shown have an intermediate difficulty.

Uses of the second conditional

We use the second conditional for:

1. Expressing hypothetical, imaginary or unreal situations in the future.

• If I won the lottery tomorrow, I'd buy a castle in England.
• If we didn't have to work today, we would go to the beach to swim.
• If Oliver had more free time, he would learn to paint with watercolors.
• If William had many cats at home, he would be very happy.

2. Giving advice.

• If I were you, I'd finish my homework this afternoon.
• If you wanted to learn to swim, you would go to swimming lessons.
• If you paid attention to me, you'd know what to do.
• If I was in your situation, I would have called my mother.

Structure of the second conditional

Affirmative sentences

If + past simple + , + would + infinitive

• If Sam had a million euros, he would donate it to an NGO.
• If I lived in Greece, every summer I would visit a Greek island.
• If my boyfriend studied at Hogwarts, he would be in Ravenclaw.
• If I were an intelligent alien, I wouldn't visit Earth.

It’s also possible to use the same structure but inverting both clauses and eliminating the comma:

Would + infinitive + if + past simple

• Sam would donate a million euros to an NGO if he had them.
• Every summer I would visit a Greek island if I lived in Greece.
• My boyfriend would be in Ravenclaw if he studied at Hogwarts.
• I wouldn't visit Earth if I were an intelligent alien.

Note: We usually use the contraction ’d instead of would when using an informal register.

• If you studied, you’d pass the exam. = If you studied, you would pass the exam.
• I’d ask for an autograph if I met a famous person. = I would ask for an autograph if I met a famous person.

Negative sentences

If + past simple + , + would not + infinitive

• If I were a millionaire, I would not live in this city.
• If you practiced enough, you would have no problem playing the trumpet.
• If we invited Jane to the party, she wouldn't come with her sister.
• If the temperature wasn't so high, we wouldn't be so hot.

As in affirmative sentences, you can use the same structure but inverting both clauses:

Would not + infinitive + if + past simple

• I would not live in this city if I were a millionaire.
• You would have no problem playing the trumpet if you practiced enough.
• Jane wouldn't come with her sister if we invited her to the party.
• We wouldn't be so hot if the temperature wasn't so high.

Note: We usually use the contraction wouldn’t instead of would not when using an informal register.

• If you had listened to me, we wouldn't be here. = If you had listened to me, we would not be here.
• It wouldn't be winter if we were in the other hemisphere. = It would not be winter if we were in the other hemisphere.

Interrogative sentences

If + past simple + , + would + subject + infinitive + ?

• If the world ended tomorrow, would you do something special today?
• If you met a magical genie, would you ask him for a wish?
• If we could travel for free, would we go to a distant country?
• If you were to marry your current partner, would you be excited?

You can also invert both clauses in interrogative sentences without changing the meaning.

Would + subject + infinitive + if + past simple + ?

• Would you do something special today if the world ended tomorrow?
• Would you ask him for a wish if you met a magical genie?
• Would we go to a distant country if we could travel for free?
• Would you be excited if you were to marry your current partner?

First conditional - Level II

The first conditional is one of the four main forms of conditionals in English. Conditionals are verb tenses that allow us to speculate, hypothesize or imagine what the situation would be like with other conditions.

In this post we will learn the first conditional at level II, so the explanations are in English and the examples shown have an intermediate difficulty.

Uses of the first conditional

We use the first conditional for:

1. Talking about future situations we believe are real or possible.

• If I study enough these weeks, I will pass the English test.
• If you fertilize your cacti in spring, they will bloom during summer.
• If we leave now, we will make it to the airport on time.
• If the weather forecast is correct, it will rain this week.

2. Making plans.

• If it's sunny this weekend, we will go hiking in the mountains.
• If Clara arrives on time, you will go to the cinema before dinner.
• If I finish my homework early, I will go for a walk in the park.
• If we enjoy our visit to Disneyland Paris, we will go next year again.

3. Give advice, warning or talking about superstitions.

• If you call Michael and apologize, you will be friends again.
• If you take psychotropic substances, you will have health problems.
• If you break a mirror, you will have several years of bad luck.
• If you see a shooting star, your wishes will come true.

Structure of the first conditional

Affirmative sentences

If + present simple + , + will + infinitive

• If you pet my cat gently, it will fall asleep on your lap.
• If you go to bed early, tomorrow you will be rested.
• If Nick and Anna get married next year, we will go to their wedding.
• If you don't listen to him carefully, it will be difficult for you to understand him.

It’s also possible to use the same structure but inverting both clauses and eliminating the comma:

Will + infinitive + if + present simple

• My cat will fall asleep on your lap if you pet it gently.
• Tomorrow you will be rested if you go to bed early.
• We will go to Nick and Anna wedding if they get married next year.
• It will be difficult for you to understand him If you don't listen to him carefully.

Note: We usually use the contraction ’ll instead of will when using an informal register.

• If I’m not at home, I’ll give you a key. = If I am not at home, I will give you a key.
• You’ll win the race if you train hard = You will win the race if you train hard.

Negative sentences

If + present simple + , + will not + infinitive

• If you continue without studying, you will not pass the exam.
• If you don't put the pot on the fire, the soup won't get hot.
• If you betray a good friend, he will not trust you anymore.
• If I don't sweep the floor, the house won't be clean.

As in affirmative sentences, you can use the same structure but inverting both clauses:

Will not + infinitive + if + present simple

• You will not pass the exam if you continue without studying.
• The soup won't get hot if you don't put the pot on the fire.
• A good friend will not trust you anymore if you betray him.
• The house won't be clean if I don't sweep the floor.

Note: We usually use the contraction won’t instead of will not when using an informal register.

• If you don't buy the tickets, we won't be able to see the movie. = If you do not buy the tickets, we will not be able to see the movie.
• If Anthony goes to another school, he’ll no longer be with us. = If Anthony goes to another school, he will no longer be with us.

Interrogative sentences

If + present simple + , + will + subject + infinitive + ?

• If there is a storm tomorrow, will we go to the beach?
• If the plane is delayed, will we arrive at our destination on time?
• If this paint gets on my clothes, will the stain come off easily?
• If I buy this present for Mark, will he like it?

You can also invert both clauses in interrogative sentences without changing the meaning.

Will + subject + infinitive + infinitive + if + present simple + ?

• Will we go to the beach if there is a storm tomorrow?
• Will we arrive at our destination on time if the plane is delayed?
• Will the stain come off easily if this paint gets on my clothes?
• Will Mark like this present if I buy it for him?

Zero conditional - Level II

The zero conditional is one of the four main forms of conditionals in English and it is the most basic type of ‘if’ sentence in this language, so we use it mainly to talk about things that we know always happen in the same way.

In this post we will learn the third conditional at level II, so the explanations are in English and the examples shown have an intermediate difficulty.

Uses of the zero conditional

We use the zero conditional for:

1. Talking about scientific facts.

• If you heat pure water, it boils when it reaches 100ºC.
• If you travel to space, you cannot breathe because there is no oxygen.
• If you mix water and sodium, an explosive reaction occurs.
• If you throw something into the air, gravity pulls it toward the ground.

2. Talking about things that always happen in the same way or to explain general facts that we take for granted.

• If you mix two primary colours, you get a secondary colour.
• If you don't water the plants frequently, they end up drying out.
• If you sleep well at night, you don't wake up tired the next day.
• If people eat a lot of junk food, they get fat and have health problems.

3. Giving direct instructions.

• If you have any symptoms of the disease, go to the doctor.
• If a fire breaks out in the lab, use the fire extinguisher.
• If you are going to swim in the pool, take a shower first.
• If the phone rings this morning, don't answer the call.

Structure of the zero conditional

Affirmative sentences

If + present simple + , + present simple

• If you wake up Mary early on the weekend, she wakes up angry.
• If you touch the hot ceramic hob, you get your hand burned.
• If a porcelain vase falls to the ground, it breaks into many pieces.
• If you add alcohol to a fire, the flames get bigger.

It’s also possible to use the same structure but inverting both clauses and eliminating the comma:

Present simple + if + present simple

• Mary wakes up angry if you wake her up early on the weekend.
• You get your hand burned if you touch the hot ceramic hob.
• A porcelain vase will break into many pieces if it falls on the ground.
• Flames get bigger if you add alcohol to a fire.

In zero conditional you can replace if with when without changing the meaning of the sentence:

• Teachers get angry if students don’t do their homework.
• Teachers get angry when students don’t do their homework.

Negative sentences

There are different possibilities to create negative sentences with the zero conditional depending on whether one or both clauses are in their negative form.

If + present simple (negative) + , + present simple (positive)

If + present simple (positive) + , + present simple (negative)

If + present simple (negative) + , + present simple (negative)

• If you don't take the ice out of the freezer, it stays frozen.
• If you take the ice out of the freezer, it doesn't stay frozen.
• If you don't take the ice out of the freezer, it doesn't melt.
• The ice does not melt if when is not taken out of the freezer.

As in affirmative sentences, you can use the same structure but inverting both clauses:

• Ice stays frozen if you don't take it out of the freezer.
• Ice doesn't stay frozen if you take it out of the freezer.
• Ice doesn’t melt if you don't take it out of the freezer.
• When ice is not taken out of the freezer it doesn’t melt.

Interrogative sentences

Auxiliary verb (do) + subject + present simple + if + present simple + ?

• Does water vapour condense if its temperature drops below 100ºC?
• Do you get purple if you mix red and blue paint?
• Do you burn your skin when you don't put sun cream on summer?
• Do you cross the road if the traffic light is red?

You can also invert both clauses in interrogative sentences without changing the meaning.

If + present simple + , + auxiliary verb (do) + subject + verb + ?

• If water vapour temperature drops below 100ºC, does it condense?
• If you mix red and blue paint, do you get purple?
• When you don't put sun cream on summer, do you burn your skin?
• If the traffic light is red, do you cross the road?