Conditional
[B1] English Conditional: learn conditional sentences (zero, first, second, and third conditionals). This module explains form, usage, tense, and meaning with clear examples and practice for English learners.
Conditional
Conditionals explain what happens if a condition is true or happens. They are built from two parts: the if-clause, which states the condition, and the main clause, which states the result. English uses different conditional patterns to show whether the condition is general, likely, unlikely, or impossible. Choosing the right pattern depends on time reference and how real the situation is.
Los condicionales explican qué sucede si una condición es verdadera o sucede. Se componen de dos partes: la cláusula if, que establece la condición, y la cláusula principal, que expresa el resultado. El inglés utiliza diferentes patrones de condicionales para mostrar si la condición es general, probable, improbable o imposible. Elegir el patrón correcto depende de la referencia temporal y de cuán real sea la situación.
Clause order
A conditional sentence can start with the if-clause or the main clause. If the if-clause comes first, it is usually followed by a comma. If the main clause comes first, a comma is usually not used. The meaning stays the same; the order mainly affects emphasis and style.
Una oración condicional puede empezar con la cláusula if o con la cláusula principal. Si la cláusula if va primero, normalmente va seguida de una coma. Si la cláusula principal va primero, normalmente no se usa una coma. El significado permanece igual; el orden afecta principalmente al énfasis y al estilo.
Rule | 🇪🇸 Español Regla | Example | 🇪🇸 Español Ejemplo |
|---|---|---|---|
 If-clause first uses a comma | 🧩 Si la cláusula if va primero, se usa una coma | If it rains, we will stay inside. | 🧩 Si llueve, nos quedaremos dentro. |
| Main clause first usually has no comma | 🧩 La cláusula principal, cuando va primero, normalmente no lleva coma | We will stay inside if it rains. | 🧩 Nos quedaremos dentro si llueve. |
| Either order is acceptable | 🧩 Cualquiera de los dos órdenes es aceptable | If you call, I can help. | 🧩 Si llamas, puedo ayudar. |
Opción múltiple
Which sentence correctly follows the comma rule when the if-clause comes first?
Zero conditional
Use the zero conditional for general truths, scientific facts, and habits where the result always follows the condition. Both clauses use the present simple because the sentence describes a timeless relationship, not a specific future event. This conditional often sounds like a rule or instruction.
Utiliza el condicional cero para verdades generales, hechos científicos y hábitos en los que el resultado siempre sigue a la condición. Ambas cláusulas usan el presente simple porque la oración describe una relación atemporal, no un evento futuro específico. Este condicional a menudo suena como una regla o instrucción.
Rule | 🇪🇸 Español Regla | Example | 🇪🇸 Español Ejemplo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form: If + present simple, present simple | 🧩 Forma: If + present simple, present simple | If you heat ice, it melts. | 🧩 If you heat ice, it melts. |
| Use for facts and routines | 🧩 Se usa para hechos y rutinas | If I drink coffee late, I sleep badly. | 🧩 If I drink coffee late, I sleep badly. |
| Also common for rules and instructions | 🧩 También es común para reglas e instrucciones | If the light is red, you stop. | 🧩 If the light is red, you stop. |
Rellenar el espacio
First conditional
Use the first conditional for real and possible situations in the future and their likely results. The if-clause uses the present simple, and the main clause usually uses will plus the base verb. This pattern talks about a future consequence that depends on a condition that may happen.
Utiliza el primer condicional para situaciones reales y posibles en el futuro y sus resultados probables. La cláusula if usa el presente simple, y la cláusula principal suele usar will seguido del verbo base. Este patrón habla de una consecuencia futura que depende de una condición que puede ocurrir.
Rule | 🇪🇸 Español Regla | Example | 🇪🇸 Español Ejemplo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form: If + present simple, will + base verb | 🧩 Forma: If + present simple, will + base verb | If it rains, we will cancel the picnic. | 🧩 If it rains, we will cancel the picnic. |
| Use for likely future outcomes | 🧩 Úsalo para resultados futuros probables | If you study, you will pass. | 🧩 If you study, you will pass. |
| Main clause can use may or might for weaker certainty | 🧩 La cláusula principal puede usar may o podría para menor certeza | If she calls, I might answer. | 🧩 If she calls, I might answer. |
Rellenar el espacio
Second conditional
Use the second conditional for unreal or unlikely situations in the present or future. The if-clause uses the past simple, but it refers to the present or future, not the past. The main clause uses would plus the base verb to show the result is hypothetical. This conditional is common for imagining different realities and giving advice politely.
Utiliza el segundo condicional para situaciones irreales o improbables en el presente o el futuro. La cláusula if usa el pasado simple, pero se refiere al presente o al futuro, no al pasado. La cláusula principal usa would más el verbo base para indicar que el resultado es hipotético. Este condicional es común para imaginar realidades diferentes y dar consejos de forma cortés.
Rule | 🇪🇸 Español Regla | Example | 🇪🇸 Español Ejemplo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form: If + past simple, would + base verb | 🧩 Forma: If + past simple, would + base verb | If I won the lottery, I would travel. | 🧩 If I won the lottery, I would travel. |
| Past simple here signals unreality, not past time | 🧩 El pasado simple aquí señala irrealidad, no tiempo pasado | If he had more time, he would exercise. | 🧩 If he had more time, he would exercise. |
| Use were for all subjects in formal style | 🧩 Use were para todos los sujetos en un estilo formal | If I were you, I would apologize. | 🧩 If I were you, I would apologize. |
Rellenar el espacio
Third conditional
Use the third conditional for unreal past situations: conditions that did not happen and results that did not happen. The if-clause uses past perfect, and the main clause uses would have plus the past participle. This conditional is common for regret, criticism, and imagining alternative past outcomes.
Utiliza el tercer condicional para situaciones pasadas irreales: condiciones que no sucedieron y resultados que no sucedieron. La cláusula if usa el pasado perfecto, y la cláusula principal utiliza would have más el participio pasado. Este condicional es común para expresar arrepentimiento, crítica e imaginar resultados pasados alternativos.
Rule | 🇪🇸 Español Regla | Example | 🇪🇸 Español Ejemplo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form: If + past perfect, would have + past participle | 🧩 Forma: If + past perfect, would have + past participle | If we had left earlier, we would have arrived on time. | 🧩 If we had left earlier, we would have arrived on time. |
| Use to express regret or missed opportunities | 🧩 Se usa para expresar arrepentimiento u oportunidades perdidas | If I had studied, I would have passed. | 🧩 If I had studied, I would have passed. |
| Use for past criticism and evaluation | 🧩 Se usa para críticas y evaluaciones pasadas | If you had listened, you would have understood. | 🧩 If you had listened, you would have understood. |
Rellenar el espacio
Mixed conditional
Mixed conditionals combine different time references in the condition and the result. A common pattern is a past condition with a present result, showing that something in the past still affects the present. Another pattern is a present condition with a past result, showing an ongoing state causing a past outcome. The tense choice reflects the time of each clause, not a fixed conditional type.
Los condicionales mixtos combinan diferentes referencias de tiempo en la condición y en el resultado. Un patrón común es una condición pasada con un resultado presente, mostrando que algo en el pasado aún afecta al presente. Otro patrón es una condición presente con un resultado pasado, mostrando un estado continuo que causa un resultado pasado. La elección de tiempos refleja el tiempo de cada cláusula, no un tipo de condicional fijo.
Rule | 🇪🇸 Español Regla | Example | 🇪🇸 Español Ejemplo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Past condition, present result: If + past perfect, would + base verb | 🧩 Condición pasada, resultado presente: If + past perfect, would + base verb | If I had taken the job, I would live in London now. | 🧩 If I had taken the job, I would live in London now. |
| Present condition, past result: If + past simple, would have + past participle | 🧩 Condición presente, resultado pasado: If + past simple, would have + past participle | If she were more careful, she would have avoided the mistake. | 🧩 If she were more careful, she would have avoided the mistake. |
Modal results
The result clause does not always use will or would. Modals change meaning: can for ability, may or might for possibility, should for advice, and must for strong necessity. You can also use an imperative in the main clause to give instructions. The if-clause tense still follows the conditional type, while the modal shows attitude and strength.
La cláusula de resultado no siempre usa will o would. Los modales cambian el significado: can para habilidad o permiso, may o might para posibilidad, should para consejo, y must para una necesidad fuerte. También se puede usar un imperativo en la cláusula principal para dar instrucciones. El tiempo de la cláusula if sigue el tipo condicional, mientras que el modal muestra actitud y fortaleza.
Rule | 🇪🇸 Español Regla | Example | 🇪🇸 Español Ejemplo |
|---|---|---|---|
| can for ability or permission | 🧩 can para habilidad o permiso | If you finish early, you can leave. | 🧩 If you finish early, you can leave. |
| may or might for possibility | 🧩 may o might para posibilidad | If he calls, I might be busy. | 🧩 If he calls, I might be busy. |
| should for advice | 🧩 should para consejo | If you feel sick, you should rest. | 🧩 If you feel sick, you should rest. |
| Imperative for instructions | 🧩 Imperativo para instrucciones | If you see Anna, tell her to call me. | 🧩 If you see Anna, tell her to call me. |
Rellenar el espacio
Unless
Unless means if not and introduces the only condition that prevents the result. It is used in place of an if-clause with a negative meaning, but you usually keep the verb positive after unless. It commonly appears in rules, warnings, and agreements. The tense in the unless-clause follows the same logic as an if-clause.
A menos que significa si no y introduce la única condición que impide el resultado. Se usa en lugar de una cláusula if con un significado negativo, pero por lo general se mantiene el verbo en positivo después de a menos que. Comúnmente aparece en reglas, avisos y acuerdos. El tiempo verbal en la cláusula a menos que sigue la misma lógica que una cláusula if.
Rule | 🇪🇸 Español Regla | Example | 🇪🇸 Español Ejemplo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unless = if not | 🧩 A menos que = if not | You will fail unless you study. | 🧩 Fracasarás si no estudias. |
| Usually avoid double negatives with unless | 🧩 Por lo general, evita dobles negaciones con 'unless' | I will go unless it rains. | 🧩 Iré a menos que llueva. |
| Common in warnings and conditions | 🧩 Común en avisos y condiciones | Unless you pay today, we will cancel the order. | 🧩 A menos que pagues hoy, cancelaremos el pedido. |
If variations
English often uses alternatives to if to express conditions with different meanings and levels of formality. Provided that and as long as emphasize a strict requirement. In case means as preparation for a possible problem. Even if means the result is true despite the condition. These forms help you express precise conditional relationships beyond basic if.
El inglés suele usar alternativas a 'if' para expresar condiciones con significados y niveles de formalidad diferentes. Provided that y as long as enfatizan un requisito estricto. In case significa como precaución para un problema posible. Even if significa que el resultado es verdadero a pesar de la condición. Estas formas te ayudan a expresar relaciones condicionales precisas más allá de un simple 'if'.
Rule | 🇪🇸 Español Regla | Example | 🇪🇸 Español Ejemplo |
|---|---|---|---|
| provided that or providing that for strict conditions | 🧩 provided that or providing that for strict conditions | You can borrow my car provided that you drive carefully. | 🧩 You can borrow my car provided that you drive carefully. |
| as long as for requirements or limits | 🧩 as long as for requirements or limits | I will help as long as you are honest. | 🧩 I will help as long as you are honest. |
| in case for precaution | 🧩 in case for precaution | Take a jacket in case it gets cold. | 🧩 Take a jacket in case it gets cold. |
| even if for contrast | 🧩 even if for contrast | Even if it rains, we will go. | 🧩 Even if it rains, we will go. |
Conditional meaning
Choosing a conditional is mainly about reality and time. Zero conditional states general cause and effect. First conditional predicts a likely future result. Second conditional imagines an unreal or unlikely present or future. Third conditional imagines a different past. Mixed conditionals link different times to show lasting consequences or background causes.
Elegir un condicional se trata principalmente de la realidad y del tiempo. El condicional cero expresa una relación de causa y efecto generales. El primer condicional predice un resultado futuro probable. El segundo condicional imagina un presente o futuro irreal o improbable. El tercer condicional imagina un pasado diferente. Los condicionales mixtos conectan diferentes tiempos para mostrar consecuencias duraderas o causas subyacentes.
