First, second, and third conditionals—how to express real, imaginary, and past hypothetical situations in English using “if” clauses.
English has three main conditional structures for talking about possible or impossible situations: the first, second, and third conditionals. Each one has a specific verb pattern and purpose:
- First conditional: real or possible future situations
- Second conditional: imaginary or unlikely present/future situations
- Third conditional: unreal past situations (something that didn’t happen)
Conjugations
Here are the basic verb forms for each conditional type:
| Conditional | If Clause Verb | Main Clause Verb | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | present simple | will + base verb | Possible future or real situation |
| Second | past simple | would + base verb | Imaginary or unlikely present/future |
| Third | past perfect | would have + past participle | Unreal past (something didn’t happen) |
In the second conditional, what tense is used in the 'if' clause and what auxiliary verb is used in the main clause?
Past simple in 'if' clause; would + base verb in main clause
The second conditional uses the past simple in the 'if' clause and 'would' plus the base verb in the main clause for imaginary present or future situations.
How to Use
First Conditional
Structure: If + present simple, will + base verb
Use this to talk about real or possible situations in the future. The “if” part is something that can happen, and the main clause tells the result.
Examples:
- If it rains, we’ll stay indoors.
- If I finish my work, I’ll call you.
- If they invite me, I’ll go to the party.
Second Conditional
Structure: If + past simple, would + base verb
Use this for imaginary, unlikely, or impossible situations in the present or future. It’s often used to talk about dreams, wishes, or things that probably won’t happen.
Examples:
- If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.
- If she were taller, she would play basketball.
- If you studied more, you would get better grades.
Third Conditional
Structure: If + past perfect, would have + past participle
Use this to talk about things that didn’t happen in the past and imagine different outcomes. It’s often used to express regret or criticism.
Examples:
- If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.
- If they had left earlier, they wouldn’t have missed the train.
- If you had told me, I would have helped you.
Summary
| Conditional | If Clause | Main Clause | When to Use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | present simple | will + base verb | Real or possible future | If it rains, we’ll stay inside. |
| Second | past simple | would + base verb | Imaginary/unlikely present or future | If I won the lottery, I would travel. |
| Third | past perfect | would have + past participle | Unreal past (regret or “what if”) | If I had studied, I would have passed. |
Tips
- In formal writing, use “should” (First), “were” (Second), and avoid contractions for clarity.
- The word order can be reversed: “I’ll call you if I finish my work.”
- Other modals (“could,” “might”) can be used instead of “would” for different meanings.
Now you know how to talk about real possibilities, imagined scenarios, and past regrets using English conditionals!
Can the order of clauses in a conditional sentence be reversed without changing the meaning?
Yes, 'I’ll call you if I finish my work' has the same meaning as 'If I finish my work, I’ll call you.'
Conditional clauses can appear first or second — changing the order does not change the meaning, though punctuation may vary.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
