How to use conditionals in English: zero, first, second, third and mixed
´Sabrena Doherty 
Many English language students have problems with conditionals, especially the third conditional. However, with some practice, everyone can use conditionals.
In this article, we will explain the four different conditionals with examples, how to use them, how to contract them, and how to pronounce them properly.
We will also talk about how conditionals are used in business, and common mistakes to avoid.
Finally we will test your knowledge with a short quiz.
Let´s go!
Easy Explanation of Conditionals:
1. Zero Conditional:
Purpose: Describing general truths or facts.
Why: To express situations that are universally true.
Structure: If + present simple, present simple.
Examples:
If it rains, the ground gets wet.
If the sun sets, it gets dark.
If you heat water, it boils.
If you mix blue and yellow, you get green.
2. First Conditional:
Purpose: Discussing real and possible situations in the future.
Why: To talk about likely outcomes based on a condition.
Structure: If + present simple, will + base verb.
Examples:
If she studies hard, she will pass the exam.
If it rains tomorrow, we will stay indoors.
If you call me, I will answer.
If you eat too much, you will feel sick.
3. Second Conditional:
Purpose: Expressing unreal or unlikely situations in the present or future.
Why: Dreaming about situations that are not likely to happen.
Structure: If + past simple, would + base verb.
Examples:
If I had a million dollars, I would travel the world.
If it snowed in summer, I would be surprised.
If I were you, I would take the job.
If she won the lottery, she would buy a mansion.
4. Third Conditional:
Purpose: Discussing unreal or unlikely situations in the past.
Why: Reflecting on things that didn't happen in the past.
Structure: If + past perfect, would have + past participle.
Examples:
If she had studied, she would have passed the exam.
If I had known, I would have come to the party.
If it hadn't rained, we would have gone for a picnic.
If they had listened, they wouldn't have gotten lost.
Mixed conditionals
Mixed conditionals might sound complex, but they're like time-travel sentences that connect the past and present in English. Imagine this: "If she studied more last year (talking about the past), she would have a better job now (talking about now)."
So, it's about linking something from the past to how it affects things today.
Another example: "If they didn't miss the train last year (in the past), they would be enjoying their vacation now (talking about now)." See? The past action (missing the train) connects with the current situation (not enjoying the vacation).
Mixed conditionals help you talk about how past choices impact today, making your English storytelling more interesting!
Here are some examples of mixed conditionals:
If I hadn't forgotten my keys, I wouldn't be locked out of the house now.
Past unreal situation: Forgetting the keys.
Present consequence: Being locked out of the house.
If she had studied economics, she would understand the stock market better today.
Past unreal situation: Not studying economics.
Present consequence: Lack of understanding the stock market.
If we hadn't missed the bus, we would be at the concert by now.
Past unreal situation: Missing the bus.
Present consequence: Not being at the concert.
If he hadn't ignored the warnings, his computer wouldn't have crashed yesterday.
Past unreal situation: Ignoring the warnings.
Present consequence: Computer crashing.
If they had invested in renewable energy years ago, they would be saving more money on electricity bills today.
Past unreal situation: Not investing in renewable energy.
Present consequence: Not saving as much money on electricity bills.
How Native Speakers Use Conditionals and Why it can be difficult to understand
Native speakers often contract words in conditionals, making them sound more natural but challenging for learners.
Here are some common contractions:
- Would have → Would've:
If I'd known, I would've helped.
- Could have → Could've:
She could've finished the project on time.
- Should have → Should've:
They should've called before coming over.
Understanding these contractions is important for understanding native speakers.
How to make Conditionals Sound Natural
- Use Contractions:
Instead of "I would like," say "I'd like."
Instead of "You should not," say "You shouldn't."
- Casual Pronunciation:
"I would have" can be contracted to "I would've" (pronounced I wood-uhv).
"He would have" can be contracted to "He would've" (pronounced He wood-uhv).
How to pronounce Would
Pronouncing "would" can be tricky. Try these steps:
Start with "wuh": Pronounce the 'w' sound.
Add "oo": Follow with the 'oo' sound, as in "wood."
Finish with "d": Complete the word with the 'd' sound.
If pronouncing "would" is challenging, consider using contractions like "I'd" or "He'd" until you feel more confident.
Using Conditionals For Business
In a business setting, conditionals play an important role in expressing possibilities, hypothetical situations, and potential outcomes. Clear communication is essential in the corporate world, and using conditionals helps professionals discuss various scenarios, make predictions, and outline potential consequences.
Here are some examples:
1. Zero Conditional:
Purpose: Describing general truths and facts in a business context.
Example:
If the demand for our product is high, our sales increase.
In this case, the zero conditional is used to express a factual relationship between the demand for a product and the subsequent increase in sales.
2. First Conditional:
Purpose: Discussing real and possible situations in the future based on a condition.
Example:
If we meet the project deadline, we will secure the client's trust.
Here, the first conditional is used to highlight the potential positive outcome of meeting a project deadline – gaining the client's trust.
3. Second Conditional:
Purpose: Expressing unreal or unlikely situations in the present or future in a business context.
Example:
If we had invested in digital marketing earlier, we would be reaching a broader audience now.
This second conditional statement reflects on a past decision (not investing earlier) and speculates on the potential outcomes if a different choice had been made.
4. Third Conditional:
Purpose: Discussing unreal or unlikely situations in the past in a business context.
Example:
If we had implemented the cost-cutting measures last year, we would have avoided financial challenges now.
In this case, the third conditional is used to reflect on a missed opportunity in the past and its potential impact on the present financial situation.
If you want to know how to convert your English to Business English, read this article: https://inglesconkillian.com/blog/how-to-convert-your-english-into-business-english
5 common mistakes to avoid when using conditionals
- Mixing Tenses Incorrectly:
One common mistake is mixing tenses within a conditional statement.
For example, saying, "If he will come early, we can finish on time." The correct form would be, "If he comes early, we can finish on time."
The if-clause should be in a simple present tense when discussing future possibilities.
- Confusing First and Second Conditionals:
Another error is using the first conditional when the second conditional is more appropriate.
For instance, saying, "If I will win the lottery, I will buy a new car." The correct form is, "If I won the lottery, I would buy a new car."
The second conditional is used for unreal or unlikely situations in the present or future.
- Neglecting Contractions and Informal Language:
Native speakers often use contractions and informal language in conditionals, which can be challenging for learners. Avoiding contractions like "wouldn't" or "couldn't" and using overly formal language can make your speech sound less natural.
For example, saying, "If I would not have known, I could not have helped," can be simplified to "If I hadn't known, I couldn't have helped."
- Incorrect Use of 'Will' in the If-Clause:
Using 'will' in the if-clause is a common mistake. For instance, saying, "If it will rain tomorrow, the event will be canceled." The correct form is, "If it rains tomorrow, the event will be canceled."
The if-clause should typically be in a simple present tense, and 'will' is reserved for the main clause.
- Forgetting the Unreal Aspect in the Third Conditional:
In the third conditional, it's necessary to convey the unreal or unlikely nature of the situation. For example, saying, "If she had studied harder, she passed the exam."
The correct form is, "If she had studied harder, she would have passed the exam." This emphasizes the hypothetical nature of the situation and the unrealized outcome.
Avoiding these common mistakes will enhance your ability to use conditionals accurately and sound more natural in English conversations.
Avoid these other common mistakes in English: 10 COMMON MISTAKES ENGLISH LEARNERS MAKE AND HOW TO AVOID THEM.
Test your knowledge with this quick quiz (answers below).
1. Zero Conditional:
If water reaches 100 degrees Celsius, it _______.
a) boils
b) will boil
c) boiling
2. First Conditional:
If you _______ your sales targets, you might get a promotion.
a) meet
b) met
c) will meet
3. Second Conditional:
If I _______ a car, I would travel across the country.
a) have
b) had
c) have had
4. Third Conditional:
If they _______ the deadline, the project would have been successful.
a) meet
b) met
c) will meet
5. Mixed Conditional:
If she _______ more attention in class, she _______ a better job now.
a) pays / will have
b) paid / would have
c) pays / would have
6. Zero Conditional:
If the sun sets, it _______ dark.
a) get
b) gets
c) getting
7. First Conditional:
If it _______ tomorrow, we _______ the outdoor event.
a) rain / cancel
b) rains / will cancel
c) raining / would cancel
8.Second Conditional:
If he _______ a lottery ticket, he _______ a millionaire now.
a) buy / will be
b) bought / would be
c) buys / would have been
9. Third Conditional:
If we _______ the customer's complaint, they _______ with our service.
a) address / will be satisfied
b) addressed / would be satisfied
c) addressing / would have been satisfied
10. Mixed Conditional:
If I _______ my job last year, I _______ so stressed now.
a) quit / wouldn't feel
b) quitted / won't feel
c) quit / wouldn't have felt
11. Zero Conditional:
If ice _______ (melt), it _______ (become) water.
a) melt / become
b) melts / becomes
c) melting / becoming
12. First Conditional:
If she _______ (study) harder, she _______ (pass) the exam.
a) studies / will pass
b) studied / would pass
c) studying / would have passed
13. Second Conditional:
If they _______ (know) about the traffic, they _______ (not be) late.
a) know / wouldn't be
b) knew / wouldn't have been
c) knows / won't be
14. Third Conditional:
If he _______ (listen) to the advice, he _______ (not lose) his job.
a) listened / won't lose
b) listens / wouldn't have lost
c) had listened / wouldn't lose
15. Mixed Conditional:
If you _______ (not forget) the meeting details, we _______ (be) on time.
a) didn't forget / would be
b) haven't forgotten / will be
c) hadn't forgotten / would be
Quiz Answers:
b) boils
a) meet
b) had
b) met
b) paid / would have
b) gets
b) rains / will cancel
b) bought / would be
b) addressed / would be satisfied
a) quit / wouldn't feel
b) melts / becomes
b) studied / would pass
b) knew / wouldn't have been
c) had listened / wouldn't lose
c) hadn't forgotten / would be
Conclusion
Mastering conditionals is like acquiring a secret code to fluent English. By understanding the four main types of conditionals, learning how native speakers actually use them in real life, and practicing regularly, you'll not only sound more natural but also navigate real-life conversations with ease. In terms of Business English, knowing how to use the conditionals more fluently will also help you communicate more effectively.
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Categories: : Grammar & Vocabulary