To determine which conditional form to use, ask yourself these three key

questions:
1. Is the situation about a general fact, a possible future, an unreal
present, or a past event that didn’t happen?
2. Is the event real or hypothetical?
3. Is the situation in the present, past, or future?

Comparison Summary Table

Conditional
Structure Example
Type

If + present simple, present

Zero If you heat ice, it melts.
simple

If + present simple, will + base

First If it rains, we will stay inside.
verb

If + past simple, would + base If I were rich, I would buy a

Second
verb mansion.

If + past perfect, would have + If she had studied, she would

Third
past participle have passed.

If + past perfect, would + base If I had studied, I would be a

Mixed
verb doctor now.

1. Zero Conditional – General Facts and Truths

Use this when: The situation is always true, like scientific facts, general truths, or
habits.
🔹 Structure: If + present simple, present simple
🔹 Examples:
✅ If you heat water to 100°C, it boils. (Scientific fact)
✅ If you touch fire, you get burned. (General truth)
✅ If you don’t water plants, they die. (Habitual truth)
💡 How to identify?
 If the sentence talks about something that always happens when a
condition is met, use zero conditional.
 Both the "if" clause and main clause are in the present simple tense.
2. First Conditional – Real and Possible Future Situations
Use this when: The situation is possible and may happen in the future.
🔹 Structure: If + present simple, will + base verb
🔹 Examples:
✅ If it rains tomorrow, we will stay home. (A possible future event)
✅ If you study hard, you will pass the exam. (Real possibility in the future)
✅ If she calls me, I will answer. (Future possibility)
💡 How to identify?
 If the sentence talks about a real future event that could happen, use the
first conditional.
 The "if" clause is in the present simple, and the main clause uses "will" +
base verb.

3. Second Conditional – Hypothetical or Unreal Present/Future Situations

Use this when: The situation is unlikely, imaginary, or hypothetical.
🔹 Structure: If + past simple, would + base verb
🔹 Examples:
✅ If I were a millionaire, I would travel the world. (Hypothetical; I’m not a millionaire
now.)
✅ If she studied harder, she would get better grades. (She doesn’t study hard, so
she won’t get better grades.)
✅ If he had a car, he would drive to work. (But he doesn’t have a car.)
💡 How to identify?
 If the sentence describes a hypothetical or imaginary situation, use the
second conditional.
 The "if" clause uses the past simple, but the meaning is not about the
past—it’s an unreal present or future.
 The main clause uses "would" + base verb.
 Tip: Always use "were" instead of "was" in formal English:
✅ If I were you, I would apologize.

4. Third Conditional – Hypothetical Past Situations

Use this when: The situation is about a past event that did not happen and its
possible consequence.
🔹 Structure: If + past perfect, would have + past participle
🔹 Examples:
✅ If you had studied, you would have passed the exam. (But you didn’t study, so
you failed.)
✅ If they had left earlier, they wouldn’t have missed the flight. (But they left late and
missed the flight.)
✅ If she had called me, I would have answered. (But she didn’t call me.)
💡 How to identify?
 If the sentence talks about a past event that didn’t happen, use the third
conditional.
 The "if" clause is in the past perfect (had + past participle), and the main
clause uses "would have" + past participle.
 Tip: Third conditionals express regret or alternative past possibilities.

5. Mixed Conditionals – Mixing Different Time Frames

Use this when: The condition refers to one time (past or present) and the result
refers to another time (past, present, or future).
(a) Past condition → Present result
👉 If + past perfect, would + base verb
✅ If I had studied harder, I would be a doctor now. (But I didn’t study, so I am not a
doctor.)
✅ If she had taken the job, she would be earning more money. (But she didn’t take
the job.)
(b) Present condition → Past result
👉 If + past simple, would have + past participle
✅ If I were taller, I would have joined the basketball team. (But I’m not tall, so I
didn’t join.)
✅ If he were more careful, he wouldn’t have had the accident. (But he wasn’t
careful, so he had an accident.)
💡 How to identify?
 If the sentence mixes past and present situations, use a mixed
conditional.
 Identify which part refers to the past and which part refers to the
present/future to determine the structure.
How to Choose the Right Conditional – Quick Guide

Conditional
Use When? Structure Example
Type

General facts and

If you heat ice, it melts.
truths
If we talk to the baby, it
Things can happen any If + present simple,
Zero smiles.
time present simple
If the lift breaks down,
Giving instructions for
press the alarm button.
a situation

If it rains, we will stay

Real and possible
future situations If + present simple, inside.
First
will + base verb If you don’t stop fighting,
Offers & warnings
I’ll stop you myself.

If I were rich, I would buy

Hypothetical or unlikely
If + past simple, a mansion.
Second present/future
would + base verb I would get more
Giving advice
exercise if I were you.

If she had studied, she

Hypothetical or If + past perfect, would have passed.
Third imaginary past would have + past I could have get a better
regrets participle job if I’d studied
seriously.

If I had studied, I would

A mix of different times be a doctor now.
Present resolution of an If you hadn’t had the
If + past perfect,
Mixed imaginary past action operation, you could re
would + base verb
really ill now.
Imaginary past result
of a present action If I didn’t believe you, I
would have left you.