# data[].attributes.body
Sing along!

# data[].attributes.body
Enjoy this short video to review 1st and 2nd conditionals

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Conditionals - zero, first & second conditionals | ENGLISH GRAMMAR VIDEOS

# data[].attributes.body
Enjoy this short video to review 3rd conditional

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
3rd Conditional | ENGLISH GRAMMAR VIDEOS

# data[].attributes.body
As you watch the video, look at the examples of conditional sentences. They are in red in the subtitles. Then read the conversation below to learn more. Finally, do the grammar exercises to check you understand, and can use, conditionals correctly.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We use conditional sentences to say one thing depends on another. They can be used to talk about real or imaginary situations. One of the clauses starts with if (or a similar word) - this is the conditional clause. The other clause talks about the result of the conditional clause happening.
Don't worry, it's a lot easier than it sounds. Let's look at some examples.

I know that one. It's a first conditional: if + present simple, then will + infinitive.

That's right. It's for talking about a situation in the future which the speaker thinks is quite possible. If the first condition happens, something will happen as a result. In this conditional sentence, the present tense after if refers to the future, not the present.

And can you change the order of the clauses round?

Yes, and we leave out the comma in the middle of the sentence if the order is changed round.

OK. I also know the second conditional. If + past simple, then would + infinitive.

Right again! This is for talking about an unlikely or unreal condition.

So, in the second example, Oliver doesn't think he will have the opportunity to travel a lot. It's possible but improbable. We use the past simple to show that it's not likely, not to indicate past time.

Can you use any other verbs, apart from would, in this kind of conditional?

Yes, we sometimes use other modal verbs like might or could in the result clause (not the if clause).

I see. What about, 'If you mix blue and yellow, you get green'. Is that a conditional?

Yes. That's a zero conditional. We often use them for facts, or in academic subjects.
it rains a lot, the animals move to higher ground. (geography)
What about other words that can replace if, like unless and as long as?

Well, unless is a kind of negative version of if.
I'll never go unless you take me. (= If you don't take me, I'll never go.)
imposes a condition on someone. You're telling them what you expect them to do.
You can borrow my surfboard as long as you get it back to me by five o'clock.
So if you agree to what I say, you can borrow my surfboard?

Are there any other conditionals?

Well, there's the third conditional, but we'll deal with that separately.

Phew! Now, if you don't mind, I'll have to stop there.

That's fine, as long as everything's clear!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sophie is in Iceland for work and Oliver is in a really bad mood.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We use the third conditional (if + past perfect, would + have + past participle) to talk about something in the past that did not happen.
How is the third conditional different from the other conditionals?

This is the way we imagine how things could have been different in the past. If something had been different, something else would have happened. Notice that both the condition and the result are impossible now.
If I'd known, I would have worn something nicer.
In this case, Amy didn't know about the party so she didn't wear special clothes.

OK, so the bit after if is different to what really happened?

Yes, then the next clause is imagining the result in the past, which didn't happen, of course. The if clause can be at the beginning or at the end of the sentence.
I definitely would've remembered if you'd told me!
So Alfie didn't remember because Ollie didn't tell him.

Exactly. We can use negatives to talk about things that did happen in the past.
He wouldn't have missed the bus if he hadn't overslept.
So he overslept and he missed the bus.

Yes. When you're using this kind of conditional be careful with the contractions. We use ' d for would and had.
If I'd seen him, I'd have asked him to come over. (had, would)
Can you use other verbs apart from would?

Yes, we also use could or might.
If they'd told me, I might have been able to help.
These sentences all seem a bit negative.

Well, yes. We often use the third conditional to express regret or to complain about something.
It would've been even better if Alfie hadn't ruined it!
If I'd known about the third conditional before, I wouldn't have failed my English test!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We use the third conditional (if + past perfect, would + have + past participle) to talk about something in the past that did not happen. How is the third conditional different from the other conditionals? This is the way we imagine how things could have been different in the past.

# data[].attributes.body
Review the rules and do the exercises

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Conditional Sentences are also known as Conditional Clauses or If Clauses. They are used to express that the action in the main clause (without ) can only take place if a certain condition (in the clause with if) is fulfilled. There are three types of Conditional Sentences.

Conditional Sentence Type 1
→ It is possible and also very likely that the condition will be fulfilled.
Example: If I find her address, I'll send her an invitation.

more on Conditional Sentences Type I ►

Conditional Sentence Type 2
→ It is possible but very unlikely, that the condition will be fulfilled.
Form: if + Simple Past, Conditional I (= would + Infinitive)

Example: If I found her address, I would send her an invitation.

more on Conditional Sentences Type II ►

Conditional Sentence Type 3
→ It is impossible that the condition will be fulfilled because it refers to the past.
Form: if + Past Perfect, Conditional II (= would + have + Past Participle)

Example: If I had found her address, I would have sent her an invitation.

more on Conditional Sentences Type III ►

Exceptions

Sometimes Conditional Sentences Type I, II and III can also be used with other tenses.

more on Conditional Sentences used with other tenses ►

Exercises on Conditional Sentences

Conditional Sentence Type 1

Conditional Sentence Type 2

Conditional Sentence Type 3

Mixed Exercises on Conditional Sentences

Exceptions

Tests on Conditional Sentences

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Conditional Sentences Type I, II und III (Conditional Sentences, If-Clauses)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Conditional Sentences Type I, II und III (Conditional Sentences, If-Clauses) Explanation and Exercises.

# data[].attributes.body
Enjoy the quiz!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Let's do English ESL general grammar practice. Fill in the gaps with the correct forms of the verbs in brackets to practice third conditional