Understanding the Four Main Types of "If" Sentences in English (1)

 In English, there are 4 main types of "If" sentence.

English grammar is a complex and nuanced field that often bewilders both native and non-native speakers alike. Among its myriad rules and exceptions, the use of "if" sentences, or conditional sentences, stands out as a particularly interesting topic. These sentences are pivotal in expressing conditional ideas—situations that could happen, have happened, or might have happened under certain conditions. There are four main types of conditional sentences in English: the zero conditional, the first conditional, the second conditional, and the third conditional. Each type serves a unique purpose, from stating general truths to exploring hypothetical scenarios. Let's dive into these 4 types, with special attention on distinguishing between the zero and first conditionals.

If : Conditional sentence

① zero conditional sentence, - fact / habit -

ex. If I wake up at night, I drink warm milk.

: Routine, general phenomenon. The zero conditional is the simplest form of conditional sentence, used to express general truths, facts, and habits. It describes what happens as a routine consequence when a certain condition is met. The structure involves using the present simple tense in both the if-clause (condition) and the main clause (result).

② First conditional, - specific possible -

ex. If I see her later, I will tell her to call you.

: The first conditional is a step into the realm of real possibilities. It deals with specific future situations that are possible or likely to happen, and the result they would bring about. This conditional uses the present simple tense in the if-clause and "will" plus the base form of the verb in the main clause.

※Caution : people often confuse with ① condition and ② condition. 

③ Second conditional, - less possible / imaginary change to real

ex. If I could be an animal, I would be a red panda.

④ Third conditional, - an imaginary change to real past

If I hadn't chosen art as my major, I would have taken chemistry instead.

Distinguishing Zero from First Conditional

A common confusion arises between the zero and first conditionals, largely because they can sometimes describe similar situations. However, the key difference lies in their application. The zero conditional describes general truths and habitual actions that always happen under certain conditions, while the first conditional focuses on specific, possible future events. To differentiate, ask whether the sentence describes a routine or a specific future possibility.

Lets compare and comprehend ① zero conditional sentence and ② First conditional sentence.

① zero conditional, example :

- If you cut me, I bleed.

- If you are late to the airport, you miss your plane.

- If it's late or raining, I take a taxi home.

upon texts are ① zero conditional sentence. It's about facts, routines, actions.

② First conditional, example :

'specific example' to 'general thing'

- If I study for the exam next week, I will get a good score.

- If you are late for today's flight, you will miss it!

- If it's raining later, I will take a taxi home.

Result & Cause. 

Order is not important, you can change it any times.

- If you don't sleep (Cause), You will feel exhausted (RESULT)

- You will feel exhausted (RESULT), If you don't sleep (Cause)