First and Second Conditionals

Conditionals let you negotiate, plan, warn, and dream — four things you do every day in English. At B1 you need two of them working reliably.

What you can do after this lesson

You can build if-sentences about real future possibilities and about situations that are imaginary or unlikely, and you can hear the difference in other speakers.

The lesson

First conditional — real future. If + present simple, will + verb. Use it when the condition is genuinely possible:

If it rains tomorrow, the market will close early.

Second conditional — imaginary present or future. If + past simple, would + verb. Use it when you are imagining, or the chance is small:

If I won the lottery, I would open a bookshop.

The past tense in the second conditional does not mean past time — it signals distance from reality. That is why If I were you, I would apologise uses were even for I.

How to choose: ask yourself, do I believe this could really happen? Yes → first conditional. No, or I'm only imagining → second.

Examples

• First: If you submit late, you will lose ten per cent. (A real course rule.)
• Second: If classes were online only, I would miss the discussions. (Imagining.)
• Both are possible with different meanings: If I get the scholarship, I'll study in Brisbane (I applied — realistic) vs If I got the scholarship, I'd study in Brisbane (dreaming aloud).

Common mistakes

• ✗ If it will rain, we will stay home. → ✓ If it rains, we will stay home. (No will in the if-clause.)
• ✗ If I would have money, I would travel. → ✓ If I had money, I would travel. (No would in the if-clause.)
• Using the second conditional for real plans makes you sound unsure — If I finished this degree… suggests you doubt you will. Say When I finish this degree…

Self-check — what can I do now?

Complete each sentence, then check the logic:

1. If the bus ______ (be) late again tomorrow, I ______ (walk). (is / will walk — realistic)
2. If I ______ (be) the Vice-Chancellor, I ______ (build) a bigger library. (were / would build — imaginary)
3. Say one true first-conditional sentence about your week, aloud.

Can you explain why sentence 2 uses a past form for a present idea? Then the concept is yours.