1st and 2nd conditionals.

1st and 2nd conditionals.


This became confusing last lesson, hope this makes more sense.


First conditional    (if + present simple, will + infinitive)

1. Nature: Open condition, what is said in the condition is possible.
2. Time: This condition refers either to present or to future time. 

• If he is late, we will have to go without him.
• If he wears that shirt, he'll look good. He'll look stupid if he wears the other.

Second conditional    (if + past simple, would + infinitive)

1. Nature: unreal (impossible) or improbable situations.
2. Time: present; the TENSE is past, but we are talking about the present, now. 

• If I knew her name, I would tell you.
• If I were you, I would tell my father. 
• If monkeys ruled the planet, bananas would be currency.
• I would fight back if aliens invaded.
  

Compare:

1st conditional.
If I become president, I will change the social security system. (Said by a presidential candidate)

2nd conditional.
If I became president, I would change the social security system. (Said by a schoolboy: improbable)

If I lose my phone, I will have no numbers. 

vs

If I lost my phone, I would have no numbers.

The form depends on whether the condition is likely to happen.


There are some exercises here to work with.
https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/grammar-reference/conditionals-1