First vs Second Conditional: What's the Difference?

Conditional sentences, the ones with if, are everywhere in English: plans, advice, daydreams and warnings. Two of them cause the most confusion: the first and the second conditional. The good news is that the difference comes down to one simple question: how real is the situation?

The First Conditional: Real Possibilities

Use the first conditional for things that could realistically happen. The pattern is if + present simple, then will + base verb: 'If it rains, we'll stay at home.' 'If you study tonight, you'll feel more confident tomorrow.' If you're not sure how will differs from other ways of talking about the future, our guide to will vs going to explains it.

The Second Conditional: Imaginary Situations

Use the second conditional for situations that are unlikely, impossible or purely imaginary. The pattern is if + past simple, then would + base verb: 'If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.' 'If I lived closer, I would see you more often.' Notice that the past simple here doesn't talk about the past. It signals distance from reality. If you'd like a refresher on the form itself, read past simple vs present perfect.

How to Choose Between Them

The same event can take either form, depending on how likely you think it is:

• 'If I get the job, I'll move to Milan.' (You think it's a real possibility.)

• 'If I got the job, I would move to Milan.' (You think it's unlikely, or you're just imagining it.)

Neither sentence is wrong. The tense you choose tells the listener how you feel about the chances.

'If I Were You': A Special Case

In the second conditional, formal English uses were for every person: 'If I were you, I would call her.' 'If she were here, she would help.' In everyday speech, many people say was instead, but were is always safe, and it's essential in the fixed expression 'If I were you' when giving advice.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using will after if: ✗ 'If I will see him, I'll tell him.' ✓ 'If I see him, I'll tell him.'

• Using would after if: ✗ 'If I would have more time, I would learn Spanish.' ✓ 'If I had more time, I would learn Spanish.'

• Mixing the two patterns: ✗ 'If I had more time, I will learn Spanish.' ✓ 'If I had more time, I would learn Spanish.'

A useful trick: the verb right after if never takes will or would. Those belong in the other half of the sentence.

Conditionals feel natural once you've used them in real conversation, such as making plans, giving advice or talking about your dreams. With JennyLingo, you can practise exactly those situations one-to-one with a tutor who corrects you as you speak.