Conditionals: Zero, First and Second (B1)
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- #Grammar
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This lesson compares the three most common conditionals: the zero for facts, the first for real future possibilities, and the second for unreal or unlikely situations. Seeing them together makes the differences clear.
The three basic conditionals form a scale of likelihood. The zero conditional describes what is always true. The first describes a realistic future possibility. The second describes something imaginary, unlikely or contrary to present fact. Choosing between them tells your listener how probable you think the situation is.
The forms follow a clear logic. Zero: present simple in both halves. First: present simple in the if clause, will in the result. Second: past simple in the if clause, would in the result. Notice that in the second conditional the past tense does not refer to past time at all — it signals unreality.
That last point is the key B1 insight. If I had more money, I would travel is about now, not the past. English uses a past form to create distance from reality, which is why the same structure appears in polite requests and in wishes. Once you see the past tense as a distancing device rather than a time marker, the second conditional stops feeling arbitrary.
How to form Conditionals
| Type | If clause | Result clause | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero — always true | present simple | present simple | If you heat ice, it melts. |
| First — likely future | present simple | will + base verb | If it rains, we'll stay in. |
| Second — unlikely or unreal | past simple | would + base verb | If I won the lottery, I'd travel. |
| Second with be | were (all persons) | would + base verb | If I were you, I'd accept. |
| First — alternatives | present simple | may/might/can/should | If you hurry, you might catch it. |
| Second — alternatives | past simple | could/might + base verb | If we left now, we could make it. |
Conditionals: the key rules
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Zero: if + present, present — general truths. First: if + present, will — real future. Second: if + past, would — imaginary present/future.
If you mix blue and yellow, you get green. If it's sunny tomorrow, we'll cycle. If I had more time, I'd learn Japanese.
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The second conditional's past tense is unreality, not time — it talks about now.
If I lived closer, I'd visit every week. (I don't live closer.)
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Were replaces was in careful style, and powers the advice formula If I were you.
If I were you, I'd take the job.
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Could and might can replace would for ability and possibility.
If we left now, we could catch the early train.
When to use Conditionals
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Making conditional plans
The first conditional is the everyday form for arrangements that depend on circumstances.
If the meeting finishes early, I'll join you for lunch.
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Giving advice with if I were you
A fixed second-conditional pattern that is the standard polite way to advise.
If I were you, I'd speak to them directly.
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Imagining different circumstances
The second conditional lets you explore situations that are not currently true.
If I spoke better German, I'd apply for that job in Munich.
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Stating general rules and consequences
The zero conditional for procedures and unchanging facts.
If you don't renew the licence, the account closes automatically.
First vs. second conditional
Same situation, different assessment of how likely it is. The choice reveals what the speaker actually believes.
First — you think it may well happen
Present simple plus will. Used for realistic future possibilities.
If I get the promotion, I'll move closer to the office.
Second — you doubt it, or it is not true now
Past simple plus would. Used for hypothetical or contrary-to-fact situations.
If I got the promotion, I'd move closer to the office. (I don't expect to)
Conditionals in example sentences
- If you mix blue and yellow, you get green.Zero — always true.
- If the shop is open, I'll buy some bread.First — realistic possibility.
- If I had a car, I'd drive you home.Second — I don't have a car.
- If I were you, I wouldn't sign that.Fixed advice pattern with were.
- If she studied harder, she'd pass easily.Second — criticism of a present situation.
- If you finish early, you can go home.First with can instead of will.
- If we booked now, we might get a discount.Second with might for a tentative suggestion.
- Unless you tell them, they won't know.unless replacing if not in a first conditional.
Conditionals in a real conversation
Track which conditional each speaker chooses — it reveals how likely they think each outcome is.
Sami:If the funding comes through, we'll start in September.
Rosa:And if it doesn't?
Sami:If I were in charge, I'd delay the whole project.
Rosa:If we had more time, that would work. We don't.
Sami:If you speak to the board this week, they might reconsider.
Rosa:I'll try. If nothing changes, we'll have to scale it back.
Common mistakes (and how to fix them)
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If I would have more money, I would travel.
If I had more money, I would travel.
Would never enters the if-clause — the past simple does the imagining.
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If it will rain, we'll cancel.
If it rains, we'll cancel.
First conditional: present simple after if, will only in the result.
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If I was you, I'd apologise.
If I were you, I'd apologise.
The fixed advice formula uses were for all persons.
Check yourself: 10 Conditionals questions
Answer these and see the reason for each one. They are 10 of the 60 exercises in the full Conditionals practice set.
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If you heat water to 100°C, it ___.
- will boil
- would boil
- boiled
- boils
Show answer
boils — Zero conditional: a fact that is always true takes the present simple in both halves, not will.
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I will ring you ___ I land, so keep your phone switched on.
- when
- if
- unless
- should
Show answer
when — The landing is certain, so when is right. If would suggest the plane might never arrive.
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If you ___ the icon twice, the file opens.
- would click
- click
- clicked
- will click
Show answer
click — A machine behaves the same way every time, so this is the zero conditional: present simple throughout.
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If I ___ enough money saved, I would move abroad next year.
- will have
- would have
- had
- have
Show answer
had — The speaker does not have the money, so the unreal present takes the past simple in the if clause.
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If I were taller, I ___ reach the top shelf without a stool.
- can
- will
- must
- could
Show answer
could — Could is the second-conditional form of can: an ability that does not exist in reality.
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If we ___ this minute, we would still arrive after the interval.
- left
- leave
- will leave
- have left
Show answer
left — Left plus would marks the situation as hypothetical — the speaker is not actually proposing to go.
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If you mix blue and yellow paint, you ___ green.
Show answer
get — Zero conditional: an unchanging result takes the present simple in both halves.
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If she ___ me to lend her the car, I would have to refuse.
Show answer
asked — The past simple after if marks the request as imagined rather than actual.
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If I ___ you, I would take the earlier flight.
Show answer
were — If I were you is the fixed advice formula; were is preferred in careful writing.
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What would you do if your laptop ___ stolen at the airport?
Show answer
were — An imagined misfortune, so the if clause takes a past form even though it refers to the future.
Practise Conditionals today
Write the same situation in both the first and second conditional to feel the difference.
- Write four first conditionals about realistic plans for next month.
- Rewrite each one as a second conditional and describe how the meaning changes.
- Write four pieces of advice using If I were you.
- Correct these: If I will see him, I tell him. — If I would have money, I travel.
Conditionals: frequently asked questions
Why does the second conditional use a past tense for present situations?
Because English uses past forms to create distance from reality, not only distance in time. If I had a car signals that you do not have one now. The same distancing appears in polite requests — I was wondering if you could help — and in wishes — I wish I knew. Once you see the past tense as marking unreality rather than past time, the structure becomes intuitive.
Should I say if I was or if I were?
Both are heard. If I were is the subjunctive and is the traditional form for hypothetical situations, particularly in the fixed phrase If I were you. If I was is very common in speech and is not considered an error by most modern grammarians. In exams and formal writing, were is the safer choice, and in the advice pattern it is strongly preferred.
Can I use will or would in the if clause?
Not in these three conditional types. The if clause takes a present form in the zero and first conditionals and a past form in the second; will and would belong in the result clause. The exception is when will means be willing to, as in If you will just sign here, but that is a different meaning and rare. For B1 purposes, keep will and would out of the if clause.
Are the three types the only possibilities?
No — real English mixes them freely. You can combine a second conditional if clause with a would have result, or a third conditional condition with a present result: If I had studied medicine, I would be a doctor now. These mixed conditionals appear at B2, but recognising that the two halves can be chosen independently already helps at B1.