Conditionals are sentences with two clauses: an ‘if' clause and a main clause.
Four basic conditional structures are used in English.
Four basic conditional structures are used in English.
- Zero Conditional
- First Conditional
- Second Conditional
- Third Conditional
| Zero Conditional | What is always true or usually happens, or what is advised in this situation. | |
| If | +Present Simple | + Present Simple |
| If | you have a ticket | you go straight in. |
| If | you stand in the rain | you get wet. |
| If | you see an accident | call an ambulance. |
| The 'if' in the above sentences can usually be replaced by 'when' without changing the meaning. | ||
| First Conditional | Something that will possibly happen in the future. | |
| If | +Present Simple | +Will + Infinitive |
| If | I see an accident | I will call a doctor. |
| If | it rains tomorrow | the picnic will be cancelled. |
| If | you make an apple tart | Dad will eat it. |
| Note : Sometimes we use can or may instead of will. For example : If you finish your vegetables, you can have a dessert. | ||
