Conditional Review Table (Zero, First, Second, Third, & Mixed Conditional)
| Name | Example | Verb Form | Time / Usage |
| 0 Conditional / Present Real | If/when it rains, the streets get wet.If/when I'm tired, I go to bed. | Present + Present | Present (always) |
| 1st Conditional / Future Real | If/when it rains tomorrow, I'll bring my umbrella. | Present + Future | Future (real possibility) |
| 2nd Conditional / Future & Present Unreal | If I won a million dollars, I would buy a boat.If I were the president, I would lower taxes. | Past + would/could/might + base form | Future (unlikely)Present unreal situations |
| 3rd Conditional / Past Unreal | If I had gone to the party yesterday, I would have met many people. | Past Perfect + Perfect Modal | Past unreal situations |
| Mixed Conditional | If I had gone to the party, I would be tired now. | Past Perfect + would/could/might + base form | Past condition giving a present result |
0 Conditional
- Used to state general truths, facts, or habits.
1st Conditional
- Used to predict future probabilities. The speaker believes the event is likely and a real possibility.
2nd Conditional
- Used for unlikely or impossible events in the future: If I met an alien, I would ask many questions.
- Used for situations that are not true now (Counterfactual): If I weren't here, I would be at home sleeping.
3rd Conditional
- Used for Past Counterfactuals. If WWII had not happened, … .
- Often used to express regret or mistakes: If you had told me to bring an umbrella, I would have brought one.
Mixed Conditional
- IF clause uses 3rd conditional; result clause uses the 2nd If I hadn't eaten it, my stomach wouldn't be upset.
- Less common: IF clause uses 2nd conditional; result clause uses 3rd conditional: If he were smart, he would have applied.
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- Conditionals review adapted for www.Englishcurrent.com
Thanks for this. Very helpful.
Thumb up!
I wish SUBJUNCTIVE STRUCTURE were there as well.
nice
thanks
That was helpful
no. the second conditional is PRESENT UNREAL —NOT FUTURE
Hello. Yes, it is also used for the present. The image and table weren’t updated to indicate that. I have made the changes. Thanks for the feedback.
thank u so much for this website omg this was so helpful!! good grace i came over ur website!! ur language is so simple and easy to understand. btw, this is real from my saying, i’m not a bot.
Thank you very much!!! Well explained!
great