Conditionals 0, 1st & 2nd

Look at this sample situation:

Three friends chat after class:

Anna: I always take an umbrella if it rains. You never know when the weather will change in London!

Ben: Good idea. If it rains tomorrow, I’ll probably stay at home and watch a film.

Clara: If I were rich, I’d buy a small island and live there all year round.

Look carefully:

Anna is talking about something that is always true; whenever it rains, she takes her umbrella. This is the zero conditional.

Ben is talking about a real possibility in the future: rain tomorrow. This is the first conditional.

Clara is imagining a different or imaginary present/future reality; being rich is not true or possible now, but she’s thinking about a dream. This is the second conditional.

Meaning

Zero Conditional is for facts, habits and scientific truths.

Use this form when the result of a situation is always the same:

is a scientific fact.

means whenever the condition stress happens, the result listen to music always follows.

You can often replace if with when without changing the meaning:

First Conditional is for real possibilities in the present/future.

Use this form to talk about things that are likely or possible to happen:

is a prediction.

is a possibility.

Second Conditional is for imaginary or unreal present/future situations.

Use this form for hypotheticals, unlikely events or to give advice:

is hypothetical; we don't live near the beach.

is a common way to give advice. It's hypothetical because I am not you.

is very unlikely if you live in a hot country!

The (unreal) past simple shows that the situation is not real now and we are imagining it.

Note: In formal English, we often use were for all subjects: If I were rich… (not was).

Structure

Zero Conditional

If/When + present simple + present simple

First Conditional

If + present simple + will + base verb

Second Conditional

If + (unreal) past simple + would + base verb

Note: In all conditional types if can go at the start of the sentence as in the examples above but it could also be used in the middle of the sentence:

When if is used at the start of the sentence, a comma is used:

Possible variations in structure

Even though conditionals often follow the basic patterns, English speakers use different words and structures to add variety or nuance. These are very common in both speaking and writing so you may see them in the FCE exam.

Imperatives in the result clause

Instead of using will the result can be an order, instruction or suggestion.

is an instruction.

is a suggestion.

is an order.

Note: Imperatives make the sentence sound practical or direct. They are common in notices, recipes and informal advice.

Modal verbs in the result (main) clause

Instead of will you can use can, could, may, might, should, must, etc. to express ability, possibility, permission, obligation or advice.

is ability.

is advice.

is a possibility.

is an obligation.

Note: Modals give you flexibility. They are very useful in essays (advice/solutions) and speaking when you want to sound polite or less direct.

Unless (= if not) can be used instead of If

Unless introduces a condition that means except if.

means if we don't leave now.

means except if I finish my homework.

means if you don't practise.

Important: After unless use a positive verb form but the meaning is negative.

is wrong as we have a double negative.

is correct as we have unless + positive verb form.

When instead of If (Zero Conditional)

In zero conditionals when can replace if when the result is certain every time.

means this always happens.

means I do this every time I'm tired.

is always true.

Note: Use if when you’re not sure something will happen; use when when it’s guaranteed.

As long as / Provided (that) / Providing (that)

These words mean only if/on condition that and sound slightly more formal than if.

Note: As long as and provided that are excellent for essays and reports because they add variety and make your writing more formal.

In case + present simple

Use this to show that you do something as a precaution, not because you are sure.

means maybe it will rain.

means maybe I'll forget.

Note: Compare these two sentences:

means the rain is the condition for staying inside.

means the rain may happen but the action is just a precaution.

Key Differences

is the zero conditional; the actions (raining and staying at home) are always true whenever it rains.

is the first conditional; the actions (raining and staying at home) are real and possible to happen.

is the second conditional; the actions (raining and staying at home) are imaginary and not likely to happen.

In the FCE exam

Reading and Use of English

You may have to transform between or use conditionals in part 4, key word transformations.

If she doesn't follow a stricter diet, she won't lose any weight.

UNLESS 

She won't lose any weight _____________________________ a stricter diet.

Answer: unless she follows

Jenny can get a puppy only if she promises to take care of it.

LONG 

Jenny can get a puppy _____________________________ to take care of it.

Answer: as/so long as she promises

Writing

In an essay, you might write:

Or if you are writing a restaurant review, you could give a recommendation by saying:

Speaking

In parts 3 & 4 for instance, you could use conditionals to speculate: