Conditionals¶

Zero Conditional First Conditional Second Conditional Third Conditional

Used for general truths, scientific facts, and situations that are always true when a condition is met.

Certainty level: Certain

	Formula	Example
Affirmative	`If`+`Subject`+`V1` , `Subject`+`V1`	If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.
Negative	`If`+`Subject`+`do/does not`+`V1` , `Subject`+`do/does not`+`V1`	If you do not heat water to 100°C, it does not boil.
Question	`If`+`Subject`+`V1` , `do/does`+`Subject`+`V1`?	If you heat water to 100°C, does it boil?

	Formula	Example
Affirmative	`If`+`Object`+`is/am/are`+`V3` , `Object`+`is/am/are`+`V3`	If water is heated to 100°C, it is boiled by the scientist.
Negative	`If`+`Object`+`is/am/are not`+`V3` , `Object`+`is/am/are not`+`V3`	If water is not heated to 100°C, it is not boiled.
Question	`If`+`Object`+`is/am/are`+`V3` , `is/am/are`+`Object`+`V3`?	If water is heated to 100°C, is it boiled?

Important Concepts

General Truths and Scientific Facts — facts that are always true (e.g., "If you heat water, it boils")
Cause and Effect — one thing causes another every time
No Uncertainty — it's about things that always happen the same way

Used for real and possible situations in the future that are likely to happen if a certain condition is met.

Certainty level: Likely

	Formula	Example
Affirmative	`If`+`Subject`+`V1` , `Subject`+`will`+`V1`	If it rains tomorrow, I will stay home.
Negative	`If`+`Subject`+`do/does not`+`V1` , `Subject`+`will not (won't)`+`V1`	If it does not rain tomorrow, I will not stay home.
Question	`If`+`Subject`+`V1` , `will`+`Subject`+`V1`?	If it rains tomorrow, will I stay home?

	Formula	Example
Affirmative	`If`+`Object`+`is/am/are`+`V3` , `Object`+`will`+`be`+`V3`	If the work is finished on time, it will be approved by the manager.
Negative	`If`+`Object`+`is/am/are not`+`V3` , `Object`+`will not (won't)`+`be`+`V3`	If the work is not finished on time, it will not be approved.
Question	`If`+`Object`+`is/am/are`+`V3` , `will`+`Object`+`be`+`V3`?	If the work is finished on time, will it be approved?

Important Concepts

Possible Future Events — things that are possible and what will happen if they occur
Cause and Effect — one event leads to another in the future
Decision-Making — often used for decisions based on what might happen

Used for hypothetical or unreal situations in the present or future — imagining what would happen if things were different.

Certainty level: Unlikely

	Formula	Example
Affirmative	`If`+`Subject`+`V2` , `Subject`+`would`+`V1`	If I had a million dollars, I would buy a big house.
Negative	`If`+`Subject`+`V2` , `Subject`+`would not`+`V1`	If I didn't have a million dollars, I wouldn't buy a big house.
Question	`If`+`Subject`+`V2` , `would`+`Subject`+`V1`?	If I had a million dollars, would I buy a big house?

	Formula	Example
Affirmative	`If`+`Object`+`were`+`V3` , `Object`+`would`+`be`+`V3`	If the project were completed by the team, it would be praised by the manager.
Negative	`If`+`Object`+`were not`+`V3` , `Object`+`would not`+`be`+`V3`	If the project were not completed on time, it wouldn't be praised.
Question	`If`+`Object`+`were`+`V3` , `would`+`Object`+`be`+`V3`?	If the project were completed on time, would it be praised?

Important Concepts

Imaginary or Unlikely Events — things not likely to happen (e.g., "If I were a superhero")
Hypothetical Cause and Effect — an imaginary cause leads to an imagined result
Wishful Thinking — often used for dreams and wishes (e.g., "If I were rich, I would travel the world")

Used for hypothetical or unreal situations in the past that did not happen — imagining what could have happened.

Certainty level: Impossible

	Formula	Example
Affirmative	`If`+`Subject`+`had`+`V3` , `Subject`+`would have`+`V3`	If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.
Negative	`If`+`Subject`+`had not`+`V3` , `Subject`+`would not have`+`V3`	If I had not studied harder, I wouldn't have passed the exam.
Question	`If`+`Subject`+`had`+`V3` , `would`+`Subject`+`have`+`V3`?	If I had studied harder, would I have passed the exam?

	Formula	Example
Affirmative	`If`+`Object`+`had been`+`V3` , `Object`+`would have been`+`V3`	If the work had been finished by the team, it would have been approved by the manager.
Negative	`If`+`Object`+`had not been`+`V3` , `Object`+`would not have been`+`V3`	If the work had not been finished, it wouldn't have been approved.
Question	`If`+`Object`+`had been`+`V3` , `would`+`Object`+`have/has been`+`V3`?	If the work had been finished, would it have been approved?

Important Concepts

Imaginary Past Events — things that didn't happen but could have
Regrets or Missed Opportunities — often used to express regrets (e.g., "If I had studied, I would have passed")
Hypothetical Cause and Effect in the Past — imagining what could have been different