Conditionals: Top 15 Key Points

Understanding conditionals is essential for expressing situations that are contingent on certain conditions. This guide covers the top 15 key points about conditionals in English.

No.	Key Point	Explanation	Examples
1	Zero Conditional	Used for universal truths or habitual actions. Structure: 'If' + present simple, present simple.	"If water reaches 100 degrees, it boils." "If you heat ice, it melts."
2	First Conditional	Used for real or possible situations in the future. Structure: 'If' + present simple, will + base verb.	"If it rains, we will stay indoors." "If you study hard, you will pass the exam."
3	Second Conditional	Used for hypothetical or unlikely situations in the present or future. Structure: 'If' + past simple, would + base verb.	"If I won the lottery, I would travel the world." "If he knew the answer, he would tell us."
4	Third Conditional	Used for hypothetical situations in the past. Structure: 'If' + past perfect, would have + past participle.	"If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam." "If she had left earlier, she would have caught the train."
5	Mixed Conditionals	Combines different types of conditional clauses to express complex situations.	"If I had known you were coming, I would be there." (3rd in 'if'-clause, 2nd in main clause)
6	'Unless' in Conditionals	'Unless' means 'if not'. Used to express a condition.	"Unless you hurry, you will be late." "You won't succeed unless you try."
7	'As long as', 'Provided that'	Used for specifying a condition.	"As long as you follow the rules, you will be fine." "You can borrow the car, provided that you return it by 7 PM."
8	'Even if' in Conditionals	Used to emphasize that the condition does not affect the outcome.	"Even if it rains, I will go for a run." "I will go to the party even if I'm tired."
9	Conditional Questions	Forming questions using conditional structures.	"What would you do if you won the lottery?" "Where would you go if you could travel anywhere?"
10	Imperative in Conditionals	Using the imperative form in the main clause of conditional sentences.	"If you see John, tell him to call me." "If you feel sick, go to a doctor."
11	'Wish' Clauses	Similar to conditionals, used for wishes about the present or past.	"I wish I were taller." (present) "I wish I had studied for the test." (past)
12	Using 'Would' in Conditionals	'Would' is used for polite requests or habitual actions in the past.	"I would go to the gym if I had more time." "When I was a kid, I would play outside every day."
13	'Should' in Conditionals	Expressing advisability or recommendation.	"If you should encounter any problems, call me immediately."
14	'Might' and 'Could' in Conditionals	Expressing less certainty in the result.	"If you call him, he might help us." "If I had time, I could travel more."
15	Conditionals in Reported Speech	Shifting tenses when reporting conditional sentences.	Direct: "If I get the job, I will move to New York." Reported: "She said that if she got the job, she would move to New York."