First, Second and Third Conditional

What are conditionals in English grammar? Sometimes we call them 'if clauses'. They describe the result of something that might happen (in the present or future) or might have happened but didn't (in the past) . They are made using different English verb tenses.

	The First Conditional	The Second Conditional	The Third Conditional
If Clause	If + Present tense	If + Past Simple	If + Past Perfect tense
Main Clause	will / can / may / must + verb	would / could / might + verb	would/could/might + have + past participle
Structure	If + Subject Pronoun + Verb in Present + Complement, Subject Pronoun + (will / can / may / must) + verb in present + Complement	If + Subject Pronoun + Verb in Past + Complement, Subject Pronoun + (would / could / might) + verb in present + Complement	If + Subject Pronoun + Verb in Past Perfect + Complement, Subject Pronoun + (would/could/might + have) + past participle + Complement
Example	If you drink too much, you'll get drunk.	If they spoke Spanish, we would understand them.	If I hadn't forgotten his number, I would have phoned him.
Description	Real or Possible Situation	hypothetical situation	hypothetical situation from the past