Mastering English Conditionals: Zero, First, Second, Third

Posted on Apr 3, 2025 in Hospitality and Tourism

English Conditional Sentences: Zero, First, Second, Third

Understanding conditional sentences is crucial for mastering English grammar. This document outlines the structure of the four main types of conditionals: zero, first, second, and third.

Conditional Forms Explained

Each conditional type serves a different purpose and uses a specific grammatical structure. The tables below illustrate the structure of each conditional.

Zero Conditional

Used for general truths and facts.

	IF	Condition	Result
Zero Conditional	if	present simple	present simple

First Conditional

Used for possible future events.

	IF	Condition	Result
First Conditional	if	present simple	future simple (‘ll)

Second Conditional

Used for hypothetical or unlikely situations.

	IF	Condition	Result
Second Conditional	if	past simple	would + infinitive

Third Conditional

Used for hypothetical past events (things that did not happen).

	IF	Condition	Result
Third Conditional	if	past perfect	would have + past participle