The Real Conditional

The first type is the easiest to learn. It involves a present choice and a future consequence.

If you drive north for three miles, you will get to Columbus.
If he doesn’t exercise, Fred will gain weight.
If you purchase a raffle ticket, you might win a car.

Real conditional sentences contain two parts, the if clause, and the result clause.

The if clause indicates the choice and is expressed in present tense.

It indicates a choice and can be either positive or negative. If statements can also imply the opposite choice and result.

Unreal Conditionals

Conditional sentences have two parts – a condition and a result.

Unreal conditionals are similar to real conditionals, but with unreal conditionals, the condition is not true and not real. Or it is very unlikely to happen or be true.

We are just imagining what we would do in a situation that is not real or very unlikely to be real.

If this shirt were on sale, I would buy it.
(Really, the shirt is not on sale and I will not buy it.)

If I were an animal, I would be a lion.
(Really, I am not an animal.)

Here are some examples of when we might use an unreal conditional for a highly unlikely thing.

If I won the lottery, I would buy a house and a car.
(The probability of winning the lottery is so low that we use the unreal conditional.)

If I met the President, I would want to tell him to lower taxes.
(The chances of me meeting the President are very low.)

We can use unreal conditionals in the present, past, and future tense.

Let's go over unreal conditionals for each tense. Remember that we can also mix tenses, but we will study this more in a different lesson.

Present and Future Unreal Conditionals

These conditionals talk about what we would do in an unreal situation. We are just imagining or thinking about it. It is not real or it is very unlikely to be real.

If/When + condition + (then) result
Result + if/when + condition

The condition is in the past tense. Use "would/could/might/may + verb" for the result in the future or present tense.

If I didn't have to work, I would go hiking every day.
If she had more time, she would learn English.
They would come if it were possible. But sadly, it is impossible for them to come.
I wish this car were cheaper. If it were cheaper, I would buy it in a second.
If there were another way, I would not quit my job, but I don't think there is another way.
I could move to Canada if I spoke English better.
She might like me if I were more handsome.

The zero conditional

The zero conditional is a grammatical structure that is used to talk about general truths or about situations that are real and possible. It is used to talk about scientific laws, general truths, and to give instructions.

To talk about general truths

General truths are part of practical and daily knowledge. That is, they are things that happen if there is a given condition and are generally expressed with the present simple.

Examples :

If you mix yellow and blue, you get green. (If you mix yellow and blue, you get green.)

If you don't eat lunch, you feel weak. (If you don't eat lunch, you feel weak.)

To give instructions

The zero conditional can also be used to give instructions or to warn about something.

Examples :

If the phone rings, don't answer. (If the phone rings, don't answer.)

If you have legal problems, visit a lawyer. (If you have legal problems, visit a lawyer.)

To talk about scientific laws

As you can imagine, scientific laws do not change. That is, they are always met when a specific condition has been given. Pay attention to these examples.

Examples :

If you put an ice cube in the sun, it melts. (If you put an ice cube in the sun, it melts.)

If you walk under the rain, you get wet. (If you walk in the rain, you get wet.)