Two people looking at a half-clouded sky over a field with a tent, a clover and a rain cloud A2 · Elementary

The First Conditional in English (A2)

The first conditional (If + present simple, will + verb) talks about real and likely future situations and their results. This lesson shows how to form it and when to use it.

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The first conditional talks about a real possibility in the future and its likely result. If it rains, we will cancel the picnic. The condition has not happened yet, it might well happen, and you are stating what will follow if it does. This makes it the conditional of plans, warnings, promises and negotiations.

The structure is if plus the present simple, followed by will plus the base verb. The single most important rule is that will does not appear in the if clause. If it will rain is wrong; If it rains is correct. English uses a present form to talk about the future inside the condition, which surprises speakers of many other languages.

The result clause is flexible. Instead of will you can use may or might for less certainty, can for possibility, should for advice, or an imperative for instructions. The if clause stays in the present simple throughout, which keeps the pattern easy to control.

Four rows: zero conditional with present simple in both halves for things always true; first conditional with present simple then will for likely futures; second conditional with past simple then would for unreal present; third conditional with past perfect then would have for unreal past.
Second rung down, and exactly one thing has changed: the result half is now will, because the sentence has stopped describing a rule and started describing a particular occasion that has not happened yet. The if half stays present simple, and the ladder shows why — the condition is not the part being predicted, so it has nothing to put will on.

How to form The First Conditional

Present simple in the if clause; will or another modal in the result clause.
PartFormExample
Conditionif + present simpleIf you study hard,
Resultwill + base verbyou will pass the exam.
Reversed orderresult + if + conditionYou will pass if you study hard.
Less certain resultmay / might + base verbIf you hurry, you might catch it.
Instruction resultimperativeIf you see him, tell him to call me.
Advice resultshould + base verbIf you feel ill, you should rest.
Negative conditionif + don't/doesn'tIf it doesn't rain, we'll walk.

The First Conditional: the key rules

  1. Form: If + present simple, will + base verb — for real future possibilities.

    If it rains tomorrow, we'll stay in.

  2. The if-clause stays in the present even though the meaning is future.

    If she passes the exam, she'll celebrate.

  3. Unless means if…not.

    Unless you hurry, you'll miss the bus.

  4. Might, can and imperatives can replace will in the result.

    If you're free later, call me.

When to use The First Conditional

if vs. unless

Unless means if not, and using it removes the need for a negative in the condition.

if + negative

States the condition negatively using don't or doesn't.

If you don't hurry, you'll be late.

unless + positive

Carries the negative itself, so the verb after it stays positive. Means the same thing.

Unless you hurry, you'll be late.

The First Conditional in example sentences

The First Conditional in a real conversation

Notice that will never appears after if, no matter how clearly future the meaning is.

Client:If we sign this week, will you reduce the fee?

Consultant:If you commit to twelve months, I'll take ten per cent off.

Client:And if the project runs late?

Consultant:Unless the delay is on our side, the original rate applies.

Client:If I speak to my director today, we might decide by Friday.

Consultant:That works. If you email me, I'll send the contract straight away.

Common mistakes (and how to fix them)

Check yourself: 10 The First Conditional questions

Answer these and see the reason for each one. They are 10 of the 60 exercises in the full The First Conditional practice set.

  1. If it ___ tomorrow, we'll stay at home.

    • rains
    • rained
    • is raining
    • will rain
    Show answer

    rains — The if clause takes the present simple even though it refers to the future.

  2. We'll miss the train unless we ___ now.

    • will leave
    • leave
    • left
    • don't leave
    Show answer

    leave — Unless means if not, so the verb after it stays positive and present.

  3. If we leave now, we ___ get there by six.

    • are might
    • would might
    • might
    • will might
    Show answer

    might — Might replaces will when the result is less certain.

  4. What does unless mean?

    • if
    • when
    • because
    • if not
    Show answer

    if not — Unless is equivalent to if not, so it already contains the negative.

  5. They won't come ___ you invite them properly.

    • unless
    • if
    • when
    • until not
    Show answer

    unless — Unless means if not, which is the meaning required here.

  6. If you don't book early, there ___ any seats left.

    • wouldn't be
    • won't be
    • aren't
    • weren't
    Show answer

    won't be — The negative future result takes won't.

  7. If it ___ tomorrow, we'll postpone the picnic.

    Show answer

    rains — The if clause takes the present simple even for future time.

  8. As soon as the results ___ out, I'll let you know.

    Show answer

    come — As soon as takes the present simple in a future sentence.

  9. If she ___ the interview, she'll start in September.

    Show answer

    passes — The present simple follows if, with the -s for she.

  10. ___ you don't leave now, you'll miss the ferry.

    Show answer

    If — If introduces the real condition, and the verb after it is present simple.

Practise The First Conditional today

The if clause is where the error lives, so check every one for a stray will.

  1. Write four plans for next weekend that depend on the weather.
  2. Write three warnings and three promises using the first conditional.
  3. Rewrite three if not conditions using unless.
  4. Correct these: If it will rain, we stay in. — If you will help me, I finish faster.

The First Conditional: frequently asked questions

Why can I not use will after if?

Because English marks the future only once in a conditional sentence, and it does so in the result clause. The if clause uses a present form even though the meaning is clearly future — the same thing happens after when, as soon as, before, after and until: I'll call you when I arrive, not when I will arrive. Treat all these time and condition words as blocking will.

What is the difference between the first and second conditional?

Probability. The first conditional describes something realistically possible: If I get the job, I'll move to Berlin — you have applied and might succeed. The second describes something unlikely or imaginary: If I won the lottery, I would move to Berlin. The second conditional uses a past form in the if clause and would in the result, and it signals that you do not really expect it to happen.

How exactly does unless work?

Unless means if not, so the verb after it stays positive: Unless you hurry, you'll be late is equivalent to If you don't hurry, you'll be late. The most common error is doubling the negative — Unless you don't hurry reverses the meaning. Note that unless does not work in every if not context, particularly with hypothetical or emotional conditions, so if not is the safer general choice.

Can I use something other than will in the result?

Yes, and it is very common. Use may or might when the result is uncertain, can when it is a possibility or permission, should for advice, and the imperative for instructions: If you finish early, start the next section. The if clause stays in the present simple in every case, so only the result clause changes.

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