1.

Zero Conditional
When we are thinking about facts which are generally true, we use:

If + Present Simple, Present Simple

 If you put water in the freezer, it becomes ice.
 If you stand in the rain, you get wet.
 If you heat ice, it melts.

You can see in the examples about the condition always has the same result.

Notice how we use a comma after the first present simple tense clause.

We can also reverse the order and use:

Present Simple + If + Present Simple

 You get wet if you stand in the rain.
 I can't sleep if I drink coffee at night.
 Plants die if you don't water them.

Notice how the comma is not necessary with this word order.

2. First Conditional

When we are thinking about a possible situation in the future, we use:

If + Present verb, future verb

This structure is common when talking about possible plans, promises, warnings, threats or for
persuading someone. We are predicting a likely result in the future if a condition is fulfilled.

If + Simple Present, Will / Won't ...

 If I go to Paris next month for work, I'll visit the Eiffel Tower (Plans)
 If I have time, I will help you. (Promise)
 If you touch that wire, you will get an electric shock. (Warning)
 If you eat my chocolate that is in the fridge, you'll sleep outside with the dog.(Threat)
 If you take me to the mall, I'll buy you an ice cream. (Persuasion)
 If she doesn't go to university, her parents won't be happy.
 If it rains, we will cancel the trip.
 If that candidate becomes President, the country will be in trouble.
 If I win the competition, I will donate half of the prize money to charity.

Notice how we use a comma after the present tense clause.

We can also reverse the order and use:

Future Verb + If + Present Simple

 I will be annoyed if they don't arrive on time.
 You will get a better job if you can speak English.
 The dog will bite you if you pull its tail.
 Your boss will be angry if you don't finish the job.
 You will feel better if you take this medicine.

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Notice how the comma is not necessary with this word order.

Modal Verbs in First Conditional

Normally WILL is used in the main clause of first conditional sentences. However you can also use the
modal verbs MAY, MIGHT and COULD when something is a possible consequence (and not a certain one)
in the future.

 If you are nice to me, I may buy you a gift when I'm in Peru.
 If they train a little harder, they might win the match.
 If he doesn't do his work, he could get fired.

3. Second Conditional

When we are thinking about a situation in the present or future that is hypothetical, unlikely or
impossible, we use:

If + Past Simple, ...Would + Verb

We use a past verb though are imagining the present or the future to be different.

The second clause of subject + would + verb (conditional verb) is conditional to the first clause happening
(or will only happen if the first part/clause happens).

Example: If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world.

= It is unlikely that I will win the lottery, but I'm going to hypothetically imagine that I did win. In that
situation I would travel around the world. So in order for me to travel around the world, I would need the
first clause (the condition or situation) to happen, that is, for me to win the lottery first.

 If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world. (Though I am unlikely to win the lottery)
 If I knew his name, I would tell you.
 If I didn't have a headache, I would go to the party.
 If I became President, I would reduce the salaries of all politicians. (Though it is unlikely I will
become President)

Notice how we use a comma after the past tense clause.

We can also reverse the order and use:

Conditional verb (would + verb) + If + Past Simple

 I would be happy if I had more free time.
 I would tell you the answer if I knew what it was.
 There would be fewer accidents if everyone drove more carefully.
 We would have a lot of money if we sold our house.
 Would she come if I paid for her flight?
 Would you accept the job if they offered it to you?
 What would you do if you won the lottery?
 What would you do if you saw a U.F.O?

Notice how the comma is not necessary with this word order.

If I were ...
Note that with the verb To Be we use IF + I / HE / SHE / IT + WERE

The reason we use WERE instead of WAS is because the sentence is in the Subjunctive mood.

 If I were not in debt, I would quit my job.

 If he were taller, he'd be accepted into the team.

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  She would be still be correcting my grammar if she were still alive.

Though in informal English, you will hear some people say If I was... If he was... etc. This usage doesn't
sound good though unfortunately is common.

Could in Second Conditional sentences

COULD can be used instead of WOULD to make the hypothetical present or future more likely.

 If he trained every day, he could represent his country

 If I had a little more money, I could buy a car.

4. Third Conditional
When we are talking about something in the past which cannot be altered now, we use:

If + Past Perfect, would have + past participle

EXAMPLE: If you had studied all of these grammar pages, you would have passed the exam.

You can not alter or change the past. You didn't study in the past (something you cannot change now) so
you didn't pass the exam. It is an imaginary situation that didn't happen.

 If you had been more careful, you wouldn't have had an accident.
 If I had seen you, I would have said hello.
 If he had asked me, I would have helped him.
 If you had studied, they would have passed the exam.
 If I had known, I wouldn't have done that.

Notice how this tense can be used to say that you regret doing something or when you are telling someone
off (reproaching someone). This type of conditional can also be used when making excuses.

We can also change the word order of the sentence...

Would have + If + past perfect

EXAMPLE: You would have passed the exam if you had studied all of these grammar pages.

 I wouldn't have left my job if I had known how difficult it is to find another one.
 I would have taken a photo if I had brought my camera with me.
 He would have died if the ambulance hadn't arrived quickly.
 She would have gone to your birthday party if she hadn't been sick.
 He wouldn't have become lost if he had taken the map with him.
 The team would have won if the referee hadn't taken the bribe.
 You wouldn't have needed fillings if you had brushed your teeth more frequently.

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