5 Types of Conditional Sentences with Examples

Want to master one of the most powerful tools in the English language?

Then you need to understand conditional sentences.

In fact, these “if-then” structures are everywhere: from casual chats (“If you’re hungry, we can order pizza”) to business negotiations (“If you sign today, we’ll offer a 20% discount”).

But here’s the thing:

Most people use conditional sentences wrong. Why? Because they don’t realize there are actually 5 distinct types, each with its own specific rules and use cases.

The good news? You’re about to learn all of them.

They include:

• The zero conditional: statements of fact and universal truths
• The first conditional: real possibilities and their potential outcomes
• The second conditional: hypothetical situations that are unlikely or impossible
• The third conditional: past hypotheticals and their consequences
• The mixed conditional: a blend of past and present hypotheticals

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll break down each type with crystal-clear examples and practical tips you can use right away.

What’s a Conditional Sentence?

Let me break it down in simple terms:

A conditional sentence is like a cause-and-effect story told in two parts.

Part 1: The condition (the “if” part)

Part 2: The result (the “then” part)

Here’s a dead-simple example:

“If it rains, we will stay indoors.”

In this case:

• “If it rains” = the condition
• “we will stay indoors” = the result

Think of it as an “if this, then that” relationship. Just like programming logic, but for everyday language.

The beauty of conditional sentences? They help us express everything from basic facts to wild “what-if” scenarios.

Pro Tip: You can spot most conditional sentences by looking for words like “if,” “when,” or “unless.”

Why Do We Use Conditional Sentences?

We use conditional sentences to talk about things that might happen in the future. We can use them to talk about possibilities, like what might happen if it rains. We can also use them to talk about hypothetical situations, like what would happen if we won the lottery.

The Two Parts of a Conditional Sentence

A conditional sentence has two parts: the condition and the result. The condition usually starts with a word like “if” or “unless.” The result tells us what happens if the condition is true.

For example:

• Condition: If it rains
• Result: we will stay indoors

Types of Conditional Sentences

Did you know that there are four main types of conditional sentences? Each type helps us talk about different kinds of situations. Let’s explore them together!

Zero Conditional Sentences

The zero conditional is a type of conditional sentence that uses the present simple tense in both the condition and the result. It’s called “zero” because it doesn’t use any special conditional verb forms.

When to Use the Zero Conditional

We use the zero conditional to talk about:

• Facts and general truths
• Things that are always true
• Scientific facts
• Universal truths

Examples of Zero Conditional Sentences

• If you heat ice, it melts.
• If you mix blue and yellow, you get green.
• If you don’t eat, you get hungry.
• If it’s a weekday, I go to work.
• If you don’t water plants, they die.

Notice the Verb Forms

In zero conditional sentences, both the condition and the result use the present simple tense. For example:

• If you heat ice (present simple), it melts (present simple).
• If you mix blue and yellow (present simple), you get green (present simple).

Why Use the Zero Conditional?

We use the zero conditional to talk about things that are always true, so we can:

• Explain how things work
• Describe scientific facts
• Talk about universal truths

Let’s Practice!

Can you make your own zero conditional sentence? Try using “if” and a present simple verb form in both the condition and the result. For example:

• If you _______________________, you _______________________.

(Remember to use the present simple tense in both the condition and the result!)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using “will” or “would” in the result clause (instead of the present simple tense)
• Using the zero conditional to talk about hypothetical or uncertain situations (instead of the first or second conditional)

First Conditional Sentences

The first conditional is a type of conditional sentence that uses the present simple tense in the condition and the future simple tense (will + verb) in the result.

When to Use the First Conditional

We use the first conditional to talk about:

• Real and possible situations in the future
• Plans and predictions
• Things that might happen if something else happens

Examples of First Conditional Sentences

• If it rains, I will stay at home.
• If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
• If I see her, I will say hello.
• If they don’t hurry, they will miss the train.
• If I get a job, I will move to a new city.

Notice the Verb Forms

In first conditional sentences, the condition uses the present simple tense, and the result uses the future simple tense (will + verb). For example:

• If it rains (present simple), I will stay at home (future simple).
• If you study hard (present simple), you will pass the exam (future simple).

Why Use the First Conditional?

We use the first conditional to talk about things that might happen in the future, so we can:

• Make plans and predictions
• Talk about possibilities and consequences
• Give advice and warnings

Let’s Practice!

Can you make your own first conditional sentence? Try using “if” and a present simple verb form in the condition, and “will” + verb in the result. For example:

• If _______________________, I _______________________.

(Remember to use the present simple tense in the condition and the future simple tense in the result!)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using the present simple tense in the result clause (instead of the future simple tense)
• Using the first conditional to talk about hypothetical or uncertain situations (instead of the second conditional)

Tips and Variations

• You can also use the first conditional with “unless” instead of “if”. For example: “Unless it rains, I will go to the park.”
• You can use the first conditional with “will” in the condition clause to talk about future possibilities. For example: “If I will get a job, I will move to a new city.”
• You can use the first conditional with “might” or “may” in the result clause to talk about possibilities. For example: “If it rains, I might stay at home.”

Second Conditional Sentences

The second conditional is a type of conditional sentence that uses the past simple tense in the condition and the conditional simple tense (would + verb) in the result.

When to Use the Second Conditional

We use the second conditional to talk about:

• Unreal or improbable situations in the present or future
• Hypothetical situations that are unlikely to happen
• Things that we wish were true, but are not

Examples of Second Conditional Sentences

• If I won the lottery, I would buy a house.
• If I were a superhero, I would save the world.
• If it snowed in July, we would have a big party.
• If I had a million dollars, I would travel around the world.
• If I could fly, I would fly to the moon.

Notice the Verb Forms

In second conditional sentences, the condition uses the past simple tense, and the result uses the conditional simple tense (would + verb). For example:

• If I won the lottery (past simple), I would buy a house (conditional simple).
• If I were a superhero (past simple), I would save the world (conditional simple).

Why Use the Second Conditional?

We use the second conditional to talk about things that are unlikely or impossible, so we can:

• Express our wishes and dreams
• Talk about hypothetical situations
• Imagine what could happen if things were different

Let’s Practice!

Can you make your own second conditional sentence? Try using “if” and a past simple verb form in the condition, and “would” + verb in the result. For example:

• If _______________________, I _______________________.

(Remember to use the past simple tense in the condition and the conditional simple tense in the result!)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using the present simple tense in the condition clause (instead of the past simple tense)
• Using the second conditional to talk about real or possible situations (instead of the first conditional)

Tips and Variations

• You can also use the second conditional with “were” instead of “was” in the condition clause. For example: “If I were rich, I would buy a yacht.”
• You can use the second conditional with “could” or “might” in the result clause to talk about possibilities. For example: “If I won the lottery, I could buy a house.”
• You can use the second conditional with “wish” to express a desire or regret. For example: “I wish I were rich, I would buy a yacht.”

Third Conditional Sentences

The third conditional is a type of conditional sentence that uses the past perfect tense in the condition and the conditional perfect tense (would have + verb) in the result.

When to Use the Third Conditional

We use the third conditional to talk about:

• Past hypothetical situations and their consequences
• Things that didn’t happen in the past and what could have happened if they had
• Regrets and what could have been done differently

Examples of Third Conditional Sentences

• If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.
• If it had snowed yesterday, we would have gone skiing.
• If I had known about the party, I would have gone.
• If I had won the lottery, I would have bought a house.
• If I had taken the job, I would have moved to a new city.

Notice the Verb Forms

In third conditional sentences, the condition uses the past perfect tense, and the result uses the conditional perfect tense (would have + verb). For example:

• If I had studied harder (past perfect), I would have passed the exam (conditional perfect).
• If it had snowed yesterday (past perfect), we would have gone skiing (conditional perfect).

Why Use the Third Conditional?

We use the third conditional to talk about things that didn’t happen in the past and what could have happened if they had, so we can:

• Express regrets and what could have been done differently
• Talk about hypothetical past situations and their consequences
• Imagine what could have happened if things had been different

Let’s Practice!

Can you make your own third conditional sentence? Try using “if” and a past perfect verb form in the condition, and “would have” + verb in the result. For example:

• If _______________________, I _______________________.

(Remember to use the past perfect tense in the condition and the conditional perfect tense in the result!)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using the past simple tense in the condition clause (instead of the past perfect tense)
• Using the third conditional to talk about real or possible situations (instead of the first or second conditional)

Tips and Variations

• You can also use the third conditional with “could have” or “might have” in the result clause to talk about possibilities. For example: “If I had studied harder, I could have passed the exam.”
• You can use the third conditional with “wish” to express a regret or desire. For example: “I wish I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.”
• You can use the third conditional with “if only” to express a regret or desire. For example: “If only I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.”

Mixed Conditional Sentences

The mixed conditional is a type of conditional sentence that uses the past perfect tense in the condition and the conditional simple tense (would + verb) in the result.

When to Use the Mixed Conditional

We use the mixed conditional to talk about:

• Hypothetical situations in the past and their consequences in the present
• Things that didn’t happen in the past and what would happen if they had
• Regrets and what would happen if things had been different

Examples of Mixed Conditional Sentences

• If I had won the lottery, I would be rich now.
• If I had studied harder, I would be a doctor now.
• If it had snowed yesterday, the roads would be slippery today.
• If I had taken the job, I would be working in a new city now.
• If I had married my first love, I would be happy now.

Notice the Verb Forms

In mixed conditional sentences, the condition uses the past perfect tense, and the result uses the conditional simple tense (would + verb). For example:

• If I had won the lottery (past perfect), I would be rich now (conditional simple).
• If I had studied harder (past perfect), I would be a doctor now (conditional simple).

Why Use the Mixed Conditional?

We use the mixed conditional to talk about hypothetical situations in the past and their consequences in the present, so we can:

• Express regrets and what would happen if things had been different
• Talk about hypothetical past situations and their consequences in the present
• Imagine what would happen if things had been different

Let’s Practice!

Can you make your own mixed conditional sentence? Try using “if” and a past perfect verb form in the condition, and “would” + verb in the result. For example:

• If _______________________, I _______________________.

(Remember to use the past perfect tense in the condition and the conditional simple tense in the result!)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using the past simple tense in the condition clause (instead of the past perfect tense)
• Using the mixed conditional to talk about real or possible situations (instead of the first or second conditional)

Tips and Variations

• You can also use the mixed conditional with “could” or “might” in the result clause to talk about possibilities. For example: “If I had won the lottery, I could be rich now.”
• You can use the mixed conditional with “wish” to express a regret or desire. For example: “I wish I had won the lottery, I would be rich now.”
• You can use the mixed conditional with “if only” to express a regret or desire. For example: “If only I had won the lottery, I would be rich now.”

Conclusion

Now It’s Your Turn

You’ve just learned the 5 types of conditional sentences that most English speakers get wrong.

But here’s the thing:

Knowledge alone isn’t enough. You need to put these patterns into practice.

Here’s exactly what to do next:

• Use one type of conditional in your next conversation
• Write 3 example sentences each morning
• Come back to this guide when you need a refresher

The bottom line?

Start using these patterns today. The more you practice, the more natural they’ll feel.