RULES OF CONDITIONALS
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| 1. Use the "Zero Conditional" to express facts or general truths. | If you heat water, it boils. |
| 2. Both clauses of the Zero Conditional use the "present simple." | If it rains, the grass gets wet. |
| 3. The Zero Conditional means the result always happens. | If you don't water plants, they die. |
| 4. "When" can replace "if" in Zero Conditionals. | When you mix red and blue, you get purple. |
| 5. The Zero Conditional is ften used for instructions. | If the light turns red, stop the car. |
| 6. Use the "First Conditionalmto talk about real future possibilities. | If it rains tomorrow, we'll stay home. |
| 7. The First Conditional uses "present simple" "will" in the main clause. | If I study hard, I'll pass the exam, |
| 8. "Can," Cimay," or "might'* can replace awill" in First Conditional. | If you hurry, you might catch the bus. |
| 9. Use wunless" instead of "if...not" jn First Conditionals. | I won't go unless you come. |
| 10. "When" can replace '"if" for certain outcomes. | When you arrive, call me. |
| 11. Use "as soon as" to show quick result in a First Conditional. | I'll text you as soon as I reach. |
| 12. Use "until" to show a limit in time in a First Conditional. | I'll wait until you finish. |
| 13. Use "before" and "after" with conditional meaning. | I'll call you before I leave. |
| 14. Use "provided that" to mean "only if." | You can borrow my car provided that you return it by 6. |
| 15. Use "in case" to show recaution. | Take an umbrella in case it rains, |
| 16. "If" + "present describe ongoing future conditions. | If you're going out? buy some milk. |
| 17. Use "if" + "present perfect" to show completed action before main clause. | If YOU*ve finished your homework, watch TV. |
| 18. Use "First Conditional" for promises or warnings. | If you touch that wire, you'll get shocked. |
| 19. Use "First Conditional?' for offers. | If you need help, I'll call my friend. |
| 20, "Zero Conditional" is used for scientific facts. | If you drop an object, it falls, |
| 21. "Second Conditional" expresses unreal or hypothetical situations. | If I won the lottery, I'd travel the world, |
| 22. The structure is "if past simple, would + base verb." | If I had a car, I'd drive to work. |
| 23. Use "were" for all subjects in unreal conditionals (formal). | If I were rich, I'd buy a mansion. |
| 24. Use "was" in informal Second Conditionals | If I was taller, I'd play basketball. |
| 25. "Could" and "might" can replaCe "would" in Second Conditionals, | If I knew Spanish, I could live in Spain. |
| 26. Use Second Conditionalfor unlikely future events. | If aliens landed, people would panic. |
| 27. Use "Second Conditional" to give advice (polite). | If I were you, I'd take that job. |
| 28. "First Conditional" = possible; "Second conditional" = Imaginary | If it rains (possible), we'll cancel; if it snowed (imaginary), we'd cancel. |
| 29. "Third Conditional" talks about past unreal situations. | If I had studied, I would have passed. |
| 30. Structure: "if + past perfect, would have + past participle." | If she had known, she would have come. |
| 31. Use "could have" or "might have" for possibility. | If you had left earlier, you might have caught the train. |
| 32. "Third Conditional" expresses regret or blame. | If we had left earlier, we wouldn't have been late. |
| 33. "Mixed Conditional? connects different ti me frames. | If I had studied harder, I'd have a better job now. |
| 34. Structure 1: past condition + present result. | If I had gone to bed earlier, I wouldn't be tired now. |
| 35. Structure 2: present condition + past result. | If I Weren't afraid of flying, I would have visited you. |
| 36. Use '"if only" for strong wish about unreal situations. | -If only I knew her name! |
| 37, Use "wish" + past for present unreal situations, | I wish I were taller. |
| 38. Use "wish" + past perfect for past regrets. | I wish I had studied medicine. |
| 39. "If" clauses can come before or after the main clause. | We'll start if everyone's ready. / If everyone's ready, we'll start. |
| 40. A comma is used when the "if" clause comes first. | If it rains, we'll stay inside. |
| 41. No comma when "if" clause comes second. | We'll stay inside if it rains. |
| 42. "Even if" shows contrast or strong condition. | Even if it rains, we'll play. |
| 43. "Only if" limits the condition strictly. | I'll go only if you go. |
| 44. "Whether or not" replaces "if" for alternatives. | Whether or not it rains, we'll go out. |
| 45. "Suppose" and "What if" introduce imagined conditions. | Suppose you lost your phone, at would you do? |
| 46. "Otherwise" means "if not." | Study hard; otherwise, you'll fail. |
| 47. "Unless" means "if not," but the verb remains positive. | I won't go unless you come. |
| 48. Use "as long as" to show requirement. | You can stay as long as you're quiet. |
| 49. "In case" is precautionary; don't confuse with if. | Take your coat in case it's cold. |
| 50, "Provided that" and "Providing that" both mean "if." | You can go out provided that you finish your work. |
| 51, Use "If imperative" to give instructions. | If you see John, tell him I called. |
| 52. Use "If + should" for polite or formal condition. | If you should need help, call me. |
| 53. Ulf + happens to" adds uncertainty. | If he happens to call, tell him I'm busy. |
| 54. ('If + were to" expresses very unlikely future. | If I were to win, I'd donate the money. |
| 55. Inversion replaces if- cn formal writing. | Had I known, I would have helped. |
| 56. Structure: "Had subjecs + past participle." | Had we left earlier, we'd be there by now. |
| 57. "Should + subject + base verb" replaces "if + should." | Should you need help, call me. |
| 58, "Were 4- subject + to" replaces "if -v were to." | Were I to see him, I'd say hello. |
| 59, "If not for" shows hypothetical dependence. | If not for your help, I'd have failed. |
| 60. "But for" is similar to "if not for." | But for her support, I'd be lost. |
| 61. Use "Otherwise" after a statement to show a negative condition. | Leave now; otherwise, you'll miss the train. |
| 62. "Imagine" introduces hypothetical situations like "if." | Imagine you were invisible. |
| 63. "What if" can express worry about possible results. | What if he doesn't come? |
| 64. "Provided" and "so long as" mean "on the condition that." | You can stay so long as you behave. |
| 65. Don't use "will" in the "if"clause in standard conditionals. | X If it will rain, we'll stay home. If it rains, we'll stay home. |
| 66. IJse "will" in "if" clause onlyfo/ willingness or insistence. | If you'll wait here, I'll bring the car. |
| 67, Use "modal verbs" in main clause to express degrees of certainty. | If you study, you might pass. |
| 68, "Zero Conditional" = fact, "First" = possible, "Second" = unlikely, "Third" = impossible (past). | |
| 69. Conditionals can express emotions, not just logic. | If you loved me, you'd stay. |
| 70. Use "Otherwise" to avoid repeating the "if" clause. | Hurry up; otherwise, we'll be late. |
| 71, 'If it weren't for" means "without." | If it weren't for her, we'd be lost. |
| 72. "If you will excuse me" is a polite fixed phrase. | If you'll excuse me, I must go. |
| 73. In informal English, "if" can start suggestions. | If you want, we can order pizza. |
| 74. "If need be" means "if necessary," | I'll work late if need be. |
| 75. "If so" and "if not" refer to previous statements. | Are you ready? If so, let's go, |
| 76. "If anything" reverses an expectation. | It wasn't rude; if anything, it was polite. |
| 77. "If ever" adds emphasis. | If ever you need me, call. |
| 78. "If at all" softens the statement. | If at all possible, call me today. |
| 79. "Even if" emphasizes that the result won't change. | Even if he apologizes, I won't forgive him. |
| 80. "If possible" makes polite requests. | Come early, if possible. |
| 81. Don't confuse 'fif" and "whether" in indirect questions. | I don't know if he's coming. |
| 82. "Whether" often fits better after prepositions. | It depends on whether you agree. |
| 83. "If you happen to" shows chance. | If you happen to see him wave |
| 84. "If only" + past simple wish for present. | If only I knew the answer. |
| 85. "If only" + past perfect regret for past. | If only I had told her, |
| 86. Avoid double conditionals, | X If I would knows I would tell you. If I knew, I'd tell you. |
| 87. "Unless" can't replace "if" when meaning is positive. | X Unless you come, I'll be happy. If you come, I'll be happy. |
| 88. Don't mix tense forms incorrectly. | X If I will see him, I told him. If I see him, I'll tell him. |
| 89. "As if" and "as though" show unreal comparisons. | He talks as if he knew everything. |
| 90. "If" can mean "whether" in indirect speech. | She asked if I was free. |
| 91. "If ever" = "on the rare occasion," | If ever l meet her again, I'll apologize. |
| 92. "If need arises" means "if necessary," | If the need arises, we'll move. |
| 93. "If nothing else" emphasizes a small positive. | If nothing else, it was fun. |
| 94. use "had better" for advice in conditionals. | If you want to pass, you'd better study. |
| 95. "Otherwise" connects-two independent ideas conditionally, | Keep it quiet; otherwise, we'll be in trouble. |
| 96, "If necessary" is often used formally | We'll meet again if necessary. |
| 97. Use "Second Conditional" in d reams or fantasy. | If I were a bird, I'd fly away. |
| 98. "If" can be implied without saying it. | Were I rich, I'd travel. |
| 99. "If + adjective" can shorten informal speech. | If lucky, we'll catch him. |
| 100. "If it hadn't been for" = "without." | If it hadn't been for you, I'd be lost. |
| 101. "Had it not been for" is formal for "if it hadn't been for." | Had it not been for her, we'd have failed. |
| 102. "If thatts the case" confirms a condition. | If that's the case, we'll postpone. |
| 103. "If I'm not mistaken" means "l think." | If I'm not mistaken, you're Tom |
| 104. "If you ask me" means "in my opinion." | If you ask me, he's lying. |
| 105. "If I may say so" softens opinions. | If I may say so, that's not fair |
| 106. "If it comes to that" means "if that situation arises." | We'll act if it comes to that. |
| 107. "If I had my way" expresses desi re. | If I had my way, school would start later. |
| 108. "If that's what it takes" shows willingness. | If that's what it takes, I'll do it. |
| 109. "If worst comes to worst" means "in the worst case." | If worst comes to worst, we'll move out. |
| 110. "If I remember correctly" expresses uncertainty. | If I remember correctly, she left early. |
| 111. 'elf only for" shows minimal reason. | I'll go, if only for you. |
| 112. "If nothing else" highlights a small benefit. | If nothing else, it was a good experience. |
| 113, "If anything goes wrong" expresses fear of failure, | Call me if anything goes wrong. |
| 114. "If necessary" adds flexibi lity. | We can reschedule if necessary. |
| 115. "If need be" = "If required." | I'll stay late if need be. |
| 116. "If + imperative" cammeao.vs warning. | If you don't move, you'll get hurt. |
| 117, "If + past perfect" is always used for Third Conditional. | If I had known, I would have acted. |
| 118. Don't use "would" in the "if" clause of Third Conditional. | X If I would have known. If I had known. |
| 119. "Mixed Conditional" connects different time realities. | If I had studied, Pd be successful now. |
| 120. Conditional clauses can show cause and effect relationships. | If you push it, it breaks. |
| 121. The choice of conditional depends on "time" and "reality." | If it rains (real), we'll stay. If it snowed (imaginary), we'd stay. |