Conditionals: 0, 1st & 2nd
Use conditional sentences to talk about facts, real possibilities and imaginary situations. This lesson moves from clear rules to controlled practice, writing analysis and speaking games.
What you will practise
- Choosing the right conditional for the meaning.
- Building accurate clauses and punctuation.
- Improving sentences and explaining why.
- Writing a connected paragraph.
- Speaking spontaneously in class.
One key question
Before choosing a tense, ask:
Am I describing a fact, a possible future, or an imaginary situation?
The meaning usually tells you which conditional to use.
If you heat ice, it melts.
If I finish early, I’ll call you.
If I lived here, I’d go hiking every day.
The three conditionals
A conditional has two parts: the if-clause (condition) and the main clause (result). The order can change.
Zero conditional — facts, routines and general truths
Use it for things that are generally or consistently true, including habits and instructions.
First conditional — a real or possible future result
The condition is possible; the result is a future consequence. The main clause can also use may, might, can, should or an imperative.
Second conditional — imaginary, unlikely or hypothetical situations
The past form does not necessarily refer to the past. It creates distance from reality: the situation is imagined, unlikely or not true now.
Was / were: “If I were you…” is the traditional form for advice and is widely used; “If I was…” is also heard in informal speech.
Common traps
- Don't usually put will in the if-clause: If it rains, we’ll stay in. (Not: If it will rain…)
- Don't use would in the if-clause: If I had time, I’d help. (Not: If I would have time…)
- Second conditional uses past simple, not past perfect: If I knew, I’d tell you.
- Use a comma when the if-clause comes first. If the main clause comes first, a comma is usually unnecessary.
| Meaning | Condition | Result | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| General fact / habit | Present simple | Present simple | If I skip breakfast, I get hungry. |
| Possible future | Present simple | will + base verb | If I have time, I’ll cook dinner. |
| Imaginary / unlikely | Past simple | would + base verb | If I won the lottery, I’d travel. |
Structure workshop
Choose the correct form
Select an option for each sentence, then check your answers.
1. If water reaches 100°C, it ____.
2. If I see Mark tomorrow, I ____ him your message.
3. If I ____ closer to the sea, I would swim every day.
4. If she doesn’t leave now, she ____ the train.
5. If I ____ you, I’d talk to the teacher.
Complete the sentence
Write the missing verb forms. Use the meaning as your clue.
Controlled practice
A. Identify the conditional
Choose the best label for each sentence.
1. If people don’t eat, they get hungry.
2. If I pass the exam, I’ll celebrate with my friends.
3. If I could choose any job, I’d be a wildlife photographer.
B. Finish it in your own words
Complete each sentence with a logical ending. Then say which conditional you used and why.
- If I don’t get enough sleep, …
- If the weather is nice this weekend, …
- If I could live anywhere in the world, …
- If people spend too much time online, …
- If I found a wallet in the street, …
- If I were more confident, …
1. …I feel tired the next day. (zero)
2. …we’ll go for a walk. (first)
3. …I’d choose New Zealand. (second)
4. …they find it difficult to concentrate. (zero)
5. …I’d try to find its owner. (second, hypothetical situation)
6. …I’d speak up more often. (second)
C. Combine the ideas
Join each pair using the conditional type in brackets. Make any necessary changes.
Writing lab
Strong writing is more than choosing the right tense. Check meaning, grammar, punctuation and whether each result follows logically from its condition.
Task 1 · A paragraph about your life
Write 120–160 words responding to this prompt. Include at least two zero, two first and two second conditionals. Underline or mark each conditional type after writing.
- Does each conditional match the intended meaning?
- Zero: present simple + present simple?
- First: present simple in the if-clause + will/base verb in the result?
- Second: past simple in the if-clause + would/base verb in the result?
- Did I avoid will after if and would after if?
- Did I use commas correctly when the if-clause comes first?
- Are my examples specific, logical and varied?
Task 2 · Analyse and upgrade a paragraph
Read the learner paragraph. Identify the errors, explain the reason, and rewrite it more naturally.
“If I will have free time tomorrow, I would visit my cousin. I usually feel better if I will go for a walk. If I would live near the beach, I will swim every morning. And if it rains, I stay at home tomorrow.”
- “If I will have” → “If I have”: use present simple in a first conditional if-clause.
- “I would visit” suggests a hypothetical result, but “tomorrow” makes a real future possibility more likely: “I’ll visit”.
- “if I will go” → “if I go”: zero conditional for a general effect/habit.
- “If I would live” → “If I lived”: second conditional uses past simple in the if-clause.
- “I will swim” should be “I would swim” if the situation is imaginary.
- “If it rains, I stay at home tomorrow” mixes a future condition with a present habit. For a specific future plan: “If it rains, I’ll stay at home.”
Task 3 · Continue the story
Write 6–8 sentences. Use each conditional at least once, and make the story coherent.
- Have you used all three types?
- Does each conditional fit the story’s timeline and meaning?
- Are your verbs formed correctly?
- Have you linked ideas with because, although, so, however or as a result?
Error detective
Each sentence contains one main conditional error. Rewrite it correctly, then explain the rule in your own words.
Stretch question
Sentence 4 can be corrected in two different ways. How does the meaning change between the first and second conditional?
Mixed challenge
Choose the best completion
1. If you leave milk in the sun, it ____.
2. We’ll miss the start if we ____ now.
3. If he spoke more slowly, I ____ him better.
4. If I’m tired after work, I usually ____ a short nap.
Translate the idea into English
Don't translate word for word. Choose the conditional that matches the meaning.
- Si no bebo agua, me duele la cabeza. (general habit / effect)
- Si mañana hace buen tiempo, iremos a la playa. (real future possibility)
- Si tuviera más confianza, hablaría más en clase. (hypothetical)
- Si pulsas este botón, la pantalla se apaga. (general result)
- Si consiguiera ese trabajo, me mudaría a Londres. (hypothetical)
2. If the weather is nice tomorrow, we’ll go to the beach.
3. If I were more confident, I’d speak more in class.
4. If you press this button, the screen turns off.
5. If I got that job, I’d move to London.
Speaking class
Answer in five seconds
Teacher reads a prompt. Student must complete it immediately with a full sentence. Ask “Why?” or “Can you give me an example?” after every answer.
Keep the chain alive
Start with one sentence. The student continues using the result of the previous sentence as the next condition. Try to keep the story logical, then make it increasingly absurd.
Student: “If I miss the bus, …”
Challenge: after 5 links, switch conditional type. For example, move from a real future chain to “If I had a car, …”.
Hypothetical dilemma cards
Student chooses a card, answers and justifies their decision. Teacher asks at least two follow-up questions.
Follow-ups: What would be the hardest part? Who would you take with you? What would you do first? Would you ever move there permanently?
Buy the correct sentences
Read each sentence aloud. Student decides whether to “buy” it (grammatically correct) or reject it. For every choice, they must explain the rule or correct the sentence.
- If you freeze water, it turns into ice.
- If I will see Tom, I’ll tell him.
- If I had more time, I would exercise more.
- If she studies, she would pass the test.
- If it rains tomorrow, we’ll cancel the picnic.
- If I would be famous, I’d travel everywhere.
- If people don’t sleep enough, they often feel tired.
- If I won the lottery, I’ll buy a house.
- Buy — zero conditional, general fact.
- Reject — “If I see Tom, I’ll tell him.”
- Buy — second conditional.
- Reject / revise for meaning: “If she studies, she’ll pass” (real possibility) or “If she studied, she would pass” (hypothetical).
- Buy — first conditional.
- Reject — “If I were famous, I’d travel everywhere.”
- Buy — zero conditional, general tendency.
- Reject / revise: “If I won the lottery, I’d buy a house.”
Look, imagine, predict
Choose one of the real photos. For each image, the student must make three sentences:
- A general truth or habit (zero).
- A real possibility in the near future (first).
- An imaginary situation (second).
If the sea is rough, …
If it’s sunny this weekend, …
If I lived by the sea, …
If a city has too much traffic, …
If I go downtown tomorrow, …
If I could redesign this city, …
If it rains a lot, …
If we visit this place soon, …
If I lived here, …
If you heat oil too much, …
If I cook tonight, …
If I had my own restaurant, …
Teacher follow-up: ask “Why?”, “What would happen next?” and “Can you make the sentence more specific?” Encourage the student to use all three conditional types for every photo.
Make a case for an imaginary choice
Student picks one situation and has 45 seconds to persuade the teacher. They should use at least three second conditionals and respond to one objection.
If you could remove one invention from the world, what would you remove?
If schools had no exams, how would education change?
If everyone worked only four days a week, what would happen?
If you could change one rule in your city, what would it be?
Teacher challenge: “That sounds good, but what if…?” Student must respond spontaneously.
Give advice with “If I were you…”
Teacher plays a person with a problem. Student gives advice and explains the likely result. Swap roles after three problems.
Useful frame: “If I were you, I’d… If you did that, you might… If you didn’t…, you would…”
Feedback after speaking
During the games, note examples without interrupting too often. At the end, ask the student to self-correct.
Final review
Zero conditional
If + present simple, present simple
Facts, routines and general results.
If I’m stressed, I go for a walk.
First conditional
If + present simple, will + base verb
Real or possible future situations.
If I finish early, I’ll call you.
Second conditional
If + past simple, would + base verb
Imaginary, unlikely or hypothetical situations.
If I had more time, I’d read more.
Exit ticket
Without looking at the rules, write one original sentence of each type. Then explain why each one belongs to that type.