Las diferencias entre las formas condicionales (zero, primero, segundo y tercero)

 

To build the conditional forms, you need to understand how to shift from present to past to future and to past.

Zero conditional 

It's used when you talk about a fact or a truth. Something that is true or real in the present past and future. The formula will be:

If  + subject + present simple + (object), subject + present simple + (object). 

Ex: If you mix blue and red, you get purple,

      If I drink too much coffee, I can't sleep at night.

First conditional 

It's used when someting is possible or probable in the future. The formula will be:

If  + subject + present simple + (object), subject + will + main verb + (object). 

Ex: if i have money, i will buy a big house for my family. 

( it means, it's possible  or probable i have money, i buy a house in the future)

Second conditional 

It's used when someting is impossible or improbable in the present. The formula will be:

If  + subject + past simple + (object), subject + would + main verb + (object). 

Ex: if i had money, i would buy a big house for my family. 

( It means, now, i don't have money, i don't buy a house, that impossible or improbable in the present).

Third conditional 

It's used when something was impossible or improbable in the past. The formula will be:

If  + subject + past perfect + (object), subject + would + have +  past participle of the main verb + (object). 

Ex: if i had had money, i would have bought a big house for my family. 

( It means, in the past, i didn't have money, i didn't buy a house, that impossible or improbable in the past).