ALL CONDITIONALS | 0,1,2,3 and MIXED CONDITIONALS - English Grammar

Hi there. This is Harry. And welcome back  to advanced English Lessons with Harry,  

where I try to help you to get a better  understanding of the English language.

And in this particular  lesson we're going to look at

conditional tenses okay.

And just a little bit of a comment on them

first of all. Conditional clauses usually  consist of two parts. You'll have the what  

I call the if clause or what the grammar books  call the hypothesis. It's a difficult word to  

pronounce. And then we have the main  clause, which is the result. Okay. So

if clause can be first or second, it doesn't  really matter. And the main clause can be first.

The second as long as you  keep them separate. Okay. So

If clause, and then the main clause  on main clause and then the if clause.

Okay. Let's start with the  zero conditional. And the  

structure of the zero conditional  is that we use it to talk about.

Something that's always true, or something about  the laws of nature. Let me give you some examples.  

If you heat ice, it melts. Simple fact. If you  heat ice, it turns to water. It melts. If you  

study hard, generally you pass exams. If you press  the button, the machine stops or indeed starts,  

depending on which button you press. And  if you mix black and white, you get grey.

The colour grey. Okay, so they're statements,  truisms or facts or something about the  

laws of nature. And that's really  how we use that zero conditional.

And we can also use when here instead of if, for  example, when you tickle a baby, he or she laughs.

It's easier to sleep when you are not stressed.  When babies are hungry, they cry. You know,  

all of us who are parents will know all  about that one. When babies are hungry,  

they cry. Generally. Okay,  so again zero conditional.

Now we can replace if with on less.  Usually in a negative situation. Do  

your homework. Unless the teacher tells  you not to do your homework. Unless the  

teacher tells you not to. So all  good examples. Zero conditional.

So let's look at the first conditional  okay. So this is when it gets a little  

bit more complicated okay. So when  we use the first conditional we are  

talking about if plus the present okay  okay. Or if plus present continuous.

present perfect. And then we have the  second clause, the main clause with

The future imperative. And then we can  use can must, should. And it's with the  

bare infinitive. So that all sounds like a  mouthful. So let me give you some examples.

We use first conditional to talk about something  real likely to happen in the immediate,  

or in the present time, or in  the immediate future. Okay. So.

If it rains, we will go to  the cinema. If it rains,  

we will go to the cinema. So if it rains,  if plus present simple, if it rains, then

We will go to the cinema. So we've  got that there infinitive. We will  

go to the cinema. Okay. So if it  rains we will go to the cinema.

If it doesn't rain, we will go  for a walk. If it doesn't rain,  

we will go for a walk.  Exactly the same. But it's the

if clause separate from the will clause and you  can turn it around, as I said before. So you can  

say we will go to the cinema. If it rains,  we will go to the park if it doesn't rain.

So

one clause first, the main clause with will  and then the if clause second, or if clause  

first. If it rains, we will go to the cinema. So  you have a choice to reverse some if you wish.

If he doesn't study, he will fail his exams.  If he doesn't study, he will fail his exams.

If you need money, let me know. If you  have cleaned your room, you can watch TV  

and if you're in town, you should call us or you  should call me. Okay, so there are examples of  

using if with different tenses. And then in that  second of the main clause, we've got that future

And we can use can or may or might or  must or should with the bare infinitive.

Never put if and will in the  same clause. That's a real no no.

So if it's sunny, we will go to the beach.  If it's sunny. That's your if clause. If it's  

sunny and your main clause, we will go to the  beach. Not if it will be sunny. We will go to  

the beach. You see that often. And it's a it is a  mistake. So if it's usually followed by one of the  

present tenses in this first conditional, if it  rains, we will, we will or we'll go to the beach.

So try and keep them separate. And it's always  a good way to check yourself. If you see that  

you've got if and will in the same clause, then  you're wrong. Okay. So you can't. And it's not  

good idea to have will two clauses. That's  another indication that you've done something  

wrong. So look for your two clauses. If it rains  one clause we will go to the beach main clause.

So make sure you have will  only in one of those clauses.

Now we can also substitute if for some other words  

like provided or providing.  So long as or as long as,

or on condition that. Let  me give you some examples.

I will cook dinner provided your home on time.

I will cook to dinner as  long as you’re home on time.

I will cook dinner only if you're home on time.

I will cook dinner on condition  that you are home on time. Okay,  

so I'm using the same sentence just to  emphasise the point that we can substitute

if with a number of other words, but  we're still using the conditional tenses.

Now let me give you another example. When we want  to be really emphatic. Yeah. My teacher thinks  

I will pass the exam. My teacher thinks I will  pass the exam provided I continue to work hard.

I will lend you my book, or  I will lend you the book,  

as long as you promise to give it back to me.

I'll tell you what really happened. Only  if you can keep a secret. So they're good  

examples of those first conditionals  where we're emphasising a point,  

and we want to use some words to  be a little bit more emphatic.

Now we can also use even if. Okay. And  this is used when we want to express a  

condition that is somewhat unexpected  in certain circumstances. For example,  

even if you apologise, she will never forgive you.  Even if you apologise, she'll never forgive you.

We can also use it to express alternative  conditions. I'll go to the concert whether  

you like it or not. I'll go to the  party whether you like it or not.

And we can also then use it  when we're talking about,

situations like... well, I’d say a fire.

We use it with a noun in case of fire.  Do not use the elevator in case of fire.

Do not use the elevator. In case of an emergency.  Call 999. In case of an emergency. Call 999. Okay,

so that's all about those first  conditional tenses. And where  

we can substitute if for other  words like provided as long as.

And if you do like this particular  lesson, then please like the video. And  

if you can subscribe to the channel  because it really, really helps.

So let's look at the second conditional. Now when  we're talking about the second conditional just a  

little hint here. We're talking about the unreal  future okay. So it's unlikely to happen in the  

future. But we use the past tense to describe.  It's a little bit confusing. So when you see  

the past tense it's not actually talking about  the past, it's referring to an unreal event.

In the future. Okay. So it's. If so, we  always have if if plus the past simple  

or the past continuous. And then we use would  could might plus that bare infinitive okay. So.

If you see well, it's not the second conditional.  If you use will. You're making a mistake.

So we use the second condition, as I  said, to talk about imaginary situations.

Contrary to the present or the facts about  the present for example, if I were taller,  

I would be a basketball player. I'm  obviously not going to be any taller.  

I'm obviously not going to be a basketball  player. I'm we're talking about the future.  

If I were taller, I would be a basketball player.

But we're using that past

simple to describe it. If I were  taller. And another issue about this  

second conditional we usually say were  instead of was if not if I was taller,  

if I were taller, I would be a basketball player.

If I won the lotto, I would quit  my job and travel the world.

I would visit Paris every week.

If I had lots of money. Okay, so these are all  unreal situation. Now there is a possibility  

that at one stage they might just might happen,  but at the moment they're not likely to happen.  

So we're using the second conditional to  describe them. We're using the past simple  

or past continuous. And then it's followed in  the main clause with would or could or might.

Also, if we're giving advice, we also use that  second conditional and it starts as follows.  

If I were you, I would do something. If I were  you, I would go to the doctor about that cough.

If I were you, I would call him  and find out what's happening.

If I were you, I would take a taxi  because the buses are on strike.

Okay. So again,

giving advice to people. If I and we started  if I were you again the use of that past tense.  

But we're talking about future events. If I  were you. Because you're not going to be. I  

would take a taxi. If I were you, I would call  him. If I were you, I would go to the doctor.

Most people use that word. Some people tried t to  

use was. And this is again the  difference when we talk about

British English and American English. Okay.  But the grammar books will tell you and it's,  

it's better to use were in that situation only  in a situation when using the second conditional.

now let me give you some more examples. I  would be grateful if you could deal with  

this matter yourself. I would be grateful if  you could deal with this matter yourself. We  

would appreciate it if you could sign this  form and send it back. I would be grateful

if you could give me a discount.  Okay, so these are situations where  

we're making polite requests for  something and we're using that.

Second conditional.

If we want to give an excuse or excuses,  we can also use second conditional. If  

there were more hours in the day,  I would gladly help you with this.

If my help were outside, my health and my  health were better, I would spend more time  

exercising if my health were better.  I would spend more time exercising. So

again. The talking about,

the future again. We're talking about

using the past to describe it. And again, we're  talking about unreal situations. At that time,  

if my health were better, it's  not. So I can do nothing about it.

If there were more hours in the day, I would  help you. There are no more hours in the day,  

so I can't help you. That's realistically  what it means. So these are unreal situations

And we don't use them unless with these.

unreal

conditions or situations.  We only use if and again,  

the same as we had with the first conditional.

Make sure that if and would or if  and could are in separate clauses.  

If in the first clause could  or would in the main clause,  

and again switch them around if you wish to do so.  But just make sure you keep them separate. Okay,

And now we're going to look at the  third conditional. We've looked at  

zero and first conditional. And second  conditional. And now we're going to  

look at the third conditional. Third  conditional. A little bit more tricky.  

Okay. The good news here is we're  talking about the past. All right.

But we're talking about something that  has happened or didn't happen. And it's  

impossible to change it at this stage  okay. So always is. But something that  

has happened in the past or didn't happen  in the past, and you cannot change it.

So we use if together with the past. Perfect.  If I had done something. Okay. And then in  

the main clause of the second clause we  use word or code or might with the have

And the past participle. Okay, so  let me give you an example of that.

So we're using the third conditional to imagine  situations or actions in the past that we know  

are the opposite of the facts. As they are. For  example, they would have heard the news if they  

had listened to the radio. Well, they weren't  listening to the radio. We'd know they weren't,  

but if they had, listen to the radio,  they would have heard the news.

And here in this example, we're  turning them around again,  

as we've done with all the conditions, it  doesn't matter which clause you put first,  

as long as you keep that if and would or  if and will separate. So here they would  

have heard the news. So here they  would have heard. So that's your

have plus your,

past participle, they would have heard the news.

And then if they had listened to the  radio. And that's our past perfect.

Another example. If you had left ten minutes  earlier. So here we've got if in the first clause,  

if you had left ten minutes earlier,  you wouldn't have missed the train.  

So he didn't leave ten minutes earlier and  he did miss the train. So if you had left,  

if with that past perfect, if you had left  ten minutes earlier, you wouldn't have missed.

And here we have, would or wouldn't  in this case, plus have plus the past  

participle missed the train. Okay, so we  know he didn't leave ten minutes earlier,  

and therefore we know that he did miss the train.

So just a rule here. If the  past condition happened,  

we use a negative. If it didn't happen we use  a positive. Okay. If I hadn't got the job.

I might have stayed in Glasgow. If I hadn't  got the job, I might have stayed in Glasgow.  

The fact is, on the condition, as it happened,  I did get the job so I didn't stay in Glasgow.  

If I had got the job I couldn't  have stayed in Glasgow. So.

that means I didn't get the job and  therefore I did stay in Glasgow.

So

If the the past condition  happened. You use a negative verb.

And if it didn't happen, then the  opposite. We use a positive, vice versa.

Now there is a way of writing this third  conditional, which is often used in books,  

and they're often used as a more literary  style. Okay, so had the film been released  

after the pandemic, it might have been more  successful. So it's here, we're saying had  

had the film. It just means if the film had  been released the other way to write it.

But in literary terms, it can often  look more attractive if we write it  

and say it this way. Had the film  been released after the pandemic,  

it might have been more successful if the  film had been released after the pandemic,  

it might have been more successful. We  usually don't use it in the speaking,

way because it's more of a literary  art as more for for writing.

Now.

got one more part of the conditionals to look  at. And these are mixed conditionals. Now these  

are not used so often. And they're really  at that upper intermediate and beyond. So  

don't worry if you don't understand them  or you don't get to use them in fact,  

you might not even see them  as so often, but they can be,

Used in exams at C1, C2 level in particular,  

but you don't often hear them. But let me  give them to you anyway. And then you can  

at least you know you've you've read them. But  focus more on the zero first, second and third.

So these are less common patterns when we  talk about conditional tenses. And as I said,  

we call them mixed conditionals.  And they can be mixed in different  

ways. So the first one would be  mixing the past to the present  

conditional. Okay. So we've got if plus  past perfect and then a result which is  

would plus the infinitive. If I had learnt to  play the violin I could give music lessons.

Now if I had learnt to play the violin I  could give music lessons. Now the fact is,  

I didn't learn how to play the violin and  therefore I cannot give music lessons now.  

But if I had learnt to play the violin,  so that's if plus are past perfect,  

I could give music lessons now and  that's mixing it to a present condition.

Okay.

Or if we had missed the bus, we wouldn't be  here to celebrate Christmas. The fact is,  

we didn't miss the bus. And yet, here we are  on your doorstep and enjoying and visiting for  

Christmas. Okay, so if we had missed the bus,  we wouldn't be here to celebrate Christmas.

And then the second one is to mix the present to  

the past conditional. So the  the reverse. And it's the.

if plus past simple and then the result  could or would with the have and the past  

participle. If we knew more about the software  now, if we knew more about the software now,  

we wouldn't have had to call the help  line if we knew more about the software.

So if plus the past simple, if we knew  more about the software, we wouldn't have  

had that's a have plus up past participle. We  wouldn't have had to call the help line. Okay,  

now the fact is we didn't know. So  we we we had to we had no choice.  

You could have gone to study computer  science if you were better at maths.

So again, if you were better at maths,  

you could have gone to study computer  science. Fact is you weren't okay.

And then the third one is to mix past to future  conditional. Okay, so it's the if plus past  

simple. And then a future result usually using  will. So for example if they left at midday on  

Monday they will be here by lunchtime tomorrow.  So here you can see where moving to the future.  

And we're using Will. If they left at midday on  Monday they will be here by lunchtime tomorrow.

All right. So that's the third option which is  I said the mixed past to future conditional. And  

then one last one when we have the mixed past to  the past or the present conditional. For example,  

if you gave him all your money, you've  made a big mistake. If you gave him all  

your all your money, you've made a big  mistake because he's probably spent it.

If you gave him all your money, you've made  a big mistake. It's if plus that past simple.  

If you gave him all your money, you've made  it says your present perfect. A big mistake.

Okay, so that's all of those conditional zero  first, second, third. And then just as we've  

covered now. Mixed conditionals I'll say just  I'll just highlight again with the mix conditions.

You're not going to see them so often if you're at  sort of intermediate or upper intermediate you'll  

see them when you get beyond that to advanced  levels. You need to know them and understand them,  

but you recognise them when you see them. There'll  be a bit unusual. They're not the same as any of  

the other conditionals. But don't worry if you  don't understand them fully, check it out in a

grammar book. Check it out on my course. Okay,  

thanks for listening to this particular  lesson. Join me for the next one.