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The English Conditional

here are a number of structures in English that are called the conditionals which are used to talk about possible or imaginary situations. A "Condition" is a "situation or circumstance".
For example: If a certain condition is true, then a particular result happens.
There are four basic conditionals that we use in English.
ro Conditional: Certainty

The Zero conditional is used for things that are always true as long as the condition is met.
IFConditionResultSituation present simplepresent simple Ifyou heat water to 100 degrees celsius,it boils.fact- univer**l present simplepresent simple IfI drink coffee,I get a headache.fact- personal
In these examples, the result will always occur if the condition is met, so the time is not important.
First Conditional: A real possibility in the future

A First Conditional sentence is one connecting two future actions, where one must take place before the second is possible. Take a student who wants to go to university but hasn't got the results of their exams yet. They cannot go to university until they have received their results. In the case of a good student who is expected to get good grades, then there is a good possibility of achieving the marks required to get to university, so the following sentence could be used:
IFConditionResult present simpleWILL + base verbIfshe gets good grades,she will go to university.We are talking about the future, but we use a present tense for the condition and will for the result. In this case, the person is sure about going to university. We can use other modal verbs in the result part of the sentence:

IFConditionResultPossibilityIfshe gets good grades,she will go to university.If the condition is met, then she def***tely will goIfhe gets good grades,he may go to university.He is not sure about going to university.Ifshe gets good grades,she should go to university.The speaker is expressing his or her op***on, giving advice.Ifhe gets good grades,he can go to university.This means that it is possible.Ifshe gets good grades,she could go to university.This means that it is possible, but not that likely.Ifhe gets good grades,he might go to university.This means that it is possible, but not that likely.We can also use different present forms in the condition part of the sentence:
IFConditionReason for tenseResult present simplean action in the future IfI see her, I'll ask her about it. present progressivean unf***shed present action Ifthey are still working, I'll go home. present progressivea future arrangement Ifthey are going, I'll stay at home. present perfecta f***shed action related to now Ifyou have f***shed your meal, I'll clear away the plates. WILL + base verbmaking an agreementWILL + base verbIfyou will work late today, I will let you have Friday off. WILL + base verbexpressing displeasure because someone insists on doing somethingWILL + base verbIfyou will drive too fast, the police will stop you.

Second Conditional: Imaginary Present or Unlikely Future

The Second Conditional can be used used to talk about imaginary present situations, where we are imag***ng something different from what is really the case. We can also use it to talk about things in the future that are unlikely to happen, as the condition is unlikely to be met. We use the past tense in the condition part and would for the result.
IF Condition TimeResult Possibility past simple presentWOULD + base verb impossible If I had the time, I would learn Italian. I don't have the time, so I'm not going to learn Italian. past simplefutureWOULD + base verbunlikelyIfI won the lottery I would travel around the world.There's a very small chance of winning the lottery, so the trip is unlikelyWe can use other modal verbs in the past tense in the result part of the sentence:
IF Condition Result Certainty past simple WOULD + base verb If I had the time, I would learn Italian. Although unlikely to happen, the speaker is sure that they would do it given the opportunity.If I had more time, I might learn Spanish. Although unlikely to happen, it is only a possibility anyway.If I had more time, I should learn some more about IT. Although unlikely to happen, the speaker is **ying that it would be a good idea, but is not committed to it.If I had more time I could learn Hindi. Although unlikely to happen, it is only a possibility anyway.With the verb to be, there are two forms that can be used with I, he, she & it:
IFConditionResultI, he, she, itWere If I were you, I'd marry her. I, he, she, it Was IfI was you,I'd marry her.

Third Conditional: Imaginary Past

The third conditional is used when we are talking about the past and imag***ng something different from what actually happened:

Condition Result What actually happened Past Perfect WOULD HAVE + Past Participle If I had known, I would have helped. I didn't know and didn't help.
IFConditionResultCertainty past perfect WOULD HAVE+ past participle If I had known, I would have helped. Although this didn't happen, the speaker is sure about the result.If I had known, I could have helped. Although this didn't happen, the result is only a possibility.If I had known, I might have helped. Although this didn't happen, the result is only a possibility.If you had known,you should have helped. Although this didn't happen, it is only a good suggestion or piece of advice.