Welcome to this grammar lesson. Today, we're going to learn the differences between the 5 conditionals in English. So, let’s get started!
00:00 Intro
02:42 Zero Conditional
04:56 First Conditional
07:11 Second Conditional
09:09 Third Conditional
11:11 Mixed Conditional
#learnenglishgrammar
#conditionals
#conditional_sentence_a_to_z
Conditionals are used to talk about a condition, and a result or consequence.
The conditions are usually introduced by “if”.
For example:
If you work hard, you will pass the exam.
In this sentence, success is the result, and working hard is the condition. So, if working hard happens, then success also happens.
If you start your own business, you will make money.
Making money is the result, and starting a business is the condition. So, if starting a business happens, then making money also happens.
You can start with the “if” clause, or you can put it at the end.
If you work hard, you will pass the exam.
You will pass the exam if you work hard.
But if you put the “if” clause at the beginning, you have to put a comma after it.
You will make money if you start your own business.
If you start your own business, you will make money.
The verb forms in the two clauses can be affirmative or negative depending on the context. So, you can say:
If you work hard, you will pass the exam.
If you don’t work hard, you won’t pass the exam.
If you don’t work hard, you will fail the exam.
If you work hard, you won’t fail the exam.
As you can see, the verbs can be affirmative or negative depending on the meaning of the sentence.
In English, there are 5 main conditional tenses.
Zero Conditional
First Conditional
Second Conditional
Third Conditional
Mixed Conditional
The use of the appropriate conditional depends on the time reference. The time that the speaker is talking about. Is the speaker talking about present time, past time, or future time? Are the condition and the outcome located in the present time-sphere, the past time-sphere, or the future time-sphere?