Salt Shaker Press: Grammatical rules for the main types of conditional sentences in English.

Here are the grammatical rules for the main types of conditional sentences in English.

For a quick overview, here is a summary table. The main difference between each type is the tense used in each part of the sentence.

Conditional Type	Purpose (When to Use It)	If-Clause (Condition) Tense	Main-Clause (Result) Tense
Zero	General truths, scientific facts, habits	Simple Present	Simple Present
First	Real and possible future situations	Simple Present	Simple Future (`will` + verb)
Second	Hypothetical or unreal present/future	Simple Past	Conditional (`would` + verb)
Third	Hypothetical or unreal past situations	Past Perfect (`had` + verb)	Perfect Conditional (`would have` + verb)
Mixed	Unreal past condition & present result	Past Perfect (`had` + verb)	Conditional (`would` + verb)

A conditional statement is a logical proposition that takes the form "If $P$ , then $Q$ ."

$P$ is the antecedent (the hypothesis or condition).
$Q$ is the consequent (the result or conclusion).

The statement asserts that if the antecedent ( $P$ ) is true, the consequent ( $Q$ ) must also be true. Listing and individually explaining 60 is extensive, so I've grouped them into common categories. The explanation for each category covers the function of the statements within it.

1. Everyday Cause and Effect (Zero Conditional)

Explanation: These statements describe general truths, habits, or scientific facts. They state that if one thing happens, another thing always happens as a direct result. The structure is typically "If [present tense], then [present tense]."

If you heat water to 100°C (212°F), it boils.
If you drop a ball, it falls to the ground.
If plants don't get sunlight, they die.
If you mix red and blue paint, you get purple.
If you don't eat, you become hungry.
If it rains, the grass gets wet.
If you touch a hot stove, you get burned.
If the sun rises, it becomes daytime.
If you freeze water, it becomes ice.
If you press the power button, the device turns on.

2. Real Future Possibilities (First Conditional)

Explanation: These statements describe a realistic situation in the future. They state that if a certain condition is met, a specific result will likely happen. The structure is "If [present tense], then [future tense, 'will' + verb]."

If it rains tomorrow, I will take my umbrella.
If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
If I have time this evening, I will call you.
If the bus is late, I will be late for work.
If you don't hurry, you will miss the train.
If I find your keys, I will let you know.
If the store is open, I will buy some milk.
If you eat all that candy, you will feel sick.
If our team wins this game, we will be in the championship.
If you ask him politely, he will help you.

3. Hypothetical Scenarios (Second Conditional)

Explanation: These statements describe situations that are unreal, unlikely, or hypothetical in the present or future. They are often used for dreaming or giving advice. The structure is "If [past tense], then [would + verb]."

If I won the lottery, I would buy a new house.
If I were you, I would apologize to her.
If I had a superpower, I would choose to fly.
If I knew the answer, I would tell you.
If we lived in a bigger city, we would go out more.
If he practiced more, he would be a better musician.
If I spoke French, I would move to Paris.
If I didn't have to work tomorrow, I would stay up all night.
If it snowed in Hawaii, it would be very strange.
If I had a time machine, I would visit the dinosaurs.

4. Past Hypotheticals (Third Conditional)

Explanation: These statements describe an unreal situation in the past and its hypothetical past result. They are almost always used to express regret or to imagine a different outcome. The structure is "If [past perfect, 'had' + verb], then [would have + verb]."

If I had studied harder, I would have passed the test.
If you had told me you were coming, I would have baked a cake.
If I had woken up earlier, I wouldn't have missed the bus.
If they had invited me, I would have gone to the party.
If we had taken a map, we wouldn't have gotten lost.
If he had driven more carefully, he wouldn't have had the accident.
If I hadn't eaten that spoiled food, I wouldn't have gotten sick.
If the weather had been better, we would have gone to the beach.
If she had saved her money, she would have been able to buy the car.
If I had known it was your birthday, I would have bought you a gift.

5. Logical & Mathematical Deductions

Explanation: These statements express logical certainty or mathematical definitions. The consequent is a necessary and absolute conclusion from the antecedent.

If a number is even, then it is divisible by 2.
If $x = 5$ , then $x + 2 = 7$ .
If a shape is a square, then all its angles are 90 degrees.
If an animal is a dog, then it is a mammal.
If $a = b$ and $b = c$ , then $a = c$ . (This is the Transitive Property).
If a triangle has three equal sides, then it is an equilateral triangle.
If a number is positive, then it is greater than zero.
If you are in Paris, then you are in France.
If $P$ is a true statement, then "not $P$ " is a false statement.
If two lines are parallel, then they never intersect.

6. Computer Programming & Commands

Explanation: In coding, conditional statements (like if, else if, else) direct the flow of a program. They tell the computer to execute a block of code only if a certain condition is true.

If user_is_logged_in is true, then display the user's dashboard.
If password does not equal confirm_password, then show an error message.
If age is less than 18, then print "Access Denied."
If temperature is greater than 30, then activate the cooling system.
If item_is_in_stock is false, then disable the "Add to Cart" button.
If file_exists is true, then open the file.
If the "submit" button is clicked, then validate the form's data.
If user_role is "admin," then show the settings panel.
If email does not contain an "@" symbol, then return "Invalid email."
If x > y, then print "x is larger than y."

A conditional statement is a logical proposition that takes the form "If $P$ , then $Q$ ."

$P$ is the antecedent (the hypothesis or condition).
$Q$ is the consequent (the result or conclusion).

1. Everyday Cause and Effect (Zero Conditional)

If you heat water to 100°C (212°F), it boils.
If you drop a ball, it falls to the ground.
If plants don't get sunlight, they die.
If you mix red and blue paint, you get purple.
If you don't eat, you become hungry.
If it rains, the grass gets wet.
If you touch a hot stove, you get burned.
If the sun rises, it becomes daytime.
If you freeze water, it becomes ice.
If you press the power button, the device turns on.

2. Real Future Possibilities (First Conditional)

If it rains tomorrow, I will take my umbrella.
If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
If I have time this evening, I will call you.
If the bus is late, I will be late for work.
If you don't hurry, you will miss the train.
If I find your keys, I will let you know.
If the store is open, I will buy some milk.
If you eat all that candy, you will feel sick.
If our team wins this game, we will be in the championship.
If you ask him politely, he will help you.

3. Hypothetical Scenarios (Second Conditional)

If I won the lottery, I would buy a new house.
If I were you, I would apologize to her.
If I had a superpower, I would choose to fly.
If I knew the answer, I would tell you.
If we lived in a bigger city, we would go out more.
If he practiced more, he would be a better musician.
If I spoke French, I would move to Paris.
If I didn't have to work tomorrow, I would stay up all night.
If it snowed in Hawaii, it would be very strange.
If I had a time machine, I would visit the dinosaurs.

4. Past Hypotheticals (Third Conditional)

If I had studied harder, I would have passed the test.
If you had told me you were coming, I would have baked a cake.
If I had woken up earlier, I wouldn't have missed the bus.
If they had invited me, I would have gone to the party.
If we had taken a map, we wouldn't have gotten lost.
If he had driven more carefully, he wouldn't have had the accident.
If I hadn't eaten that spoiled food, I wouldn't have gotten sick.
If the weather had been better, we would have gone to the beach.
If she had saved her money, she would have been able to buy the car.
If I had known it was your birthday, I would have bought you a gift.

5. Logical & Mathematical Deductions

Explanation: These statements express logical certainty or mathematical definitions. The consequent is a necessary and absolute conclusion from the antecedent.

If a number is even, then it is divisible by 2.
If $x = 5$ , then $x + 2 = 7$ .
If a shape is a square, then all its angles are 90 degrees.
If an animal is a dog, then it is a mammal.
If $a = b$ and $b = c$ , then $a = c$ . (This is the Transitive Property).
If a triangle has three equal sides, then it is an equilateral triangle.
If a number is positive, then it is greater than zero.
If you are in Paris, then you are in France.
If $P$ is a true statement, then "not $P$ " is a false statement.
If two lines are parallel, then they never intersect.

6. Computer Programming & Commands

If user_is_logged_in is true, then display the user's dashboard.
If password does not equal confirm_password, then show an error message.
If age is less than 18, then print "Access Denied."
If temperature is greater than 30, then activate the cooling system.
If item_is_in_stock is false, then disable the "Add to Cart" button.
If file_exists is true, then open the file.
If the "submit" button is clicked, then validate the form's data.
If user_role is "admin," then show the settings panel.
If email does not contain an "@" symbol, then return "Invalid email."
If x > y, then print "x is larger than y."

Would you like some practice exercises to test your understanding of these rules?

Yes, here are some practice exercises.

Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

🧠 Practice Exercises

Zero Conditional (General Truths)

If you (heat) ________ water to 100°C, it (boil) ________.
The grass (get) ________ wet when it (rain) ________.

First Conditional (Real Future) 3. If I (see) ________ John tomorrow, I (tell) ________ him you called. 4. We (be) ________ late if we (not leave) ________ now.

Second Conditional (Unreal Present/Future) 5. If I (win) ________ the lottery, I (buy) ________ a new car. 6. If she (be) ________ taller, she (be) ________ a great basketball player.

Third Conditional (Unreal Past) 7. If you (study) ________ harder, you (pass) ________ the exam last week. 8. We (go) ________ to the beach if the weather (not be) ________ so bad yesterday.

Mixed (All Types) 9. If I (be) ________ you, I (apologize) ________ to her right now. 10. If I (eat) ________ breakfast this morning, I (not be) ________ so hungry now.

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Here are the answers to the practice exercises.

✅ Answer Key

If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.
The grass gets wet when it rains.
If I see John tomorrow, I will tell him you called.
We will be late if we don't leave now.
If I won the lottery, I would buy a new car.
If she were taller, she would be a great basketball player.
- Note: Using were (instead of was) is the correct subjunctive mood for Second Conditional, even though the subject is "she."
If you had studied harder, you would have passed the exam last week.
We would have gone to the beach if the weather hadn't been so bad yesterday.
If I were you, I would apologize to her right now.
If I had eaten breakfast this morning, I wouldn't be so hungry now.
- Note: This is a Mixed Conditional. The condition is in the past (had eaten), but the result is in the present (wouldn't be).

How did you do? Would you like to try some more difficult mixed conditional exercises?

You got it. These are trickier because they force you to mix the tenses from the Second and Third Conditionals.

The key is to identify the timeframe for both the condition (the if-clause) and the result (the main-clause).

Reminder: The Two Mixed Types

Past Condition $\rightarrow$ Present Result
- Use: An unreal past action has an unreal present result.

- Structure: If + Past Perfect (had + verb), ... would + verb.
- Example: If I had taken that job (past), I would be rich (now).
Present Condition $\rightarrow$ Past Result
- Use: An unreal present state (a general fact about someone/something) would have changed a past outcome.
- Structure: If + Simple Past, ... would have + verb.
- Example: If I were a good cook (present), I would have made dinner (past).

🧠 Difficult Practice Exercises

Pay close attention to the time words (like now, today, last year, then). Fill in the blanks with the correct verb forms.

If he (study) ________ harder in university back then, he (have) ________ a better job right now.
If I (be) ________ a more cautious person (in general), I (not invest) ________ all my money in that company last year.
If we (not miss) ________ the flight yesterday, we (lie) ________ on a beach today.
If I (not be) ________ so afraid of heights (as a general rule), I (join) ________ you on the bungee jump last weekend.
If she (leave) ________ earlier yesterday, she (arrive) ________ on time for the meeting yesterday afternoon. (Hint: Is this one really mixed?)
If I (listen) ________ to your advice back then, I (not be) ________ in this mess now.

Take your time with these! They require you to analyze the when of each part of the sentence.

Here are the answers to the difficult mixed conditional exercises, with explanations for each.

✅ Answer Key

If he had studied harder in university back then, he would have a better job right now.
- Reason: Past Condition (he didn't study) $\rightarrow$ Present Result (he doesn't have a good job now).
If I were a more cautious person (in general), I would not have invested all my money in that company last year.
- Reason: Present Condition (I am not a cautious person) $\rightarrow$ Past Result (I did invest the money).
If we hadn't missed the flight yesterday, we would be lying on a beach today.
- Reason: Past Condition (we did miss the flight) $\rightarrow$ Present Result (we are not on a beach now).
If I weren't so afraid of heights (as a general rule), I would have joined you on the bungee jump last weekend.
- Reason: Present Condition (I am afraid of heights) $\rightarrow$ Past Result (I didn't join you).
If she had left earlier yesterday, she would have arrived on time for the meeting yesterday afternoon.
- Reason: This was a trick question! It's a standard Third Conditional. The condition is in the past, and the result is also in the past. (Past $\rightarrow$ Past).
If I had listened to your advice back then, I wouldn't be in this mess now.
- Reason: Past Condition (I didn't listen) $\rightarrow$ Present Result (I am in this mess now).

Mixed conditionals are definitely one of the most advanced parts of English grammar. How did you find them?

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Grammatical rules for the main types of conditional sentences in English.

1. Everyday Cause and Effect (Zero Conditional)

2. Real Future Possibilities (First Conditional)

3. Hypothetical Scenarios (Second Conditional)

4. Past Hypotheticals (Third Conditional)

5. Logical & Mathematical Deductions

6. Computer Programming & Commands

1. Everyday Cause and Effect (Zero Conditional)

2. Real Future Possibilities (First Conditional)

3. Hypothetical Scenarios (Second Conditional)

4. Past Hypotheticals (Third Conditional)

5. Logical & Mathematical Deductions

6. Computer Programming & Commands

🧠 Practice Exercises

✅ Answer Key

Reminder: The Two Mixed Types

🧠 Difficult Practice Exercises

✅ Answer Key

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