First and second conditional

What you will practice

• Use the present in a real if clause.
• Use will in the result of a real future condition.
• Use the past form and would for a hypothetical present.

Explanation

Facts and real futures

A general fact uses the present in both clauses: If you heat ice, it melts. A real future possibility uses the present in the if clause and will in the result: If it rains, I will stay home. The future marker stays out of the if clause. If it will rain is the error this lesson is meant to prevent.

Hypothetical present

A hypothetical present uses a past form in the if clause and would in the result: If I had more time, I would travel. This past form does not mean past time. It marks the situation as unreal now. If I would have more time puts would in the clause that should have the past form.

Where will and would go

The two clauses can change places. When if comes second, there is no comma in the usual written form: I will stay home if it rains. The verb choice does not change. Questions about a real future still keep the present in the condition: What will you do if it rains?

Examples

1. If you heat ice, it melts.a general fact
2. If it rains, I will stay home.a real future possibility
3. If I had more time, I would travel.a hypothetical present
4. I would travel.the result with would
5. I will stay home if it rains.if after the result

Common mistakes

• Do not read the past form in If I had as a story about yesterday. In this pattern it means a hypothetical present.
• would belongs in the result of the hypothetical pattern, not in the if clause.