English Conditionals, Inversions and Cleft Sentences

🔵 0. Zero Conditional

If + present simple, present simple

Used for general truths, scientific laws, and things that always happen.

• If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.

🔵 1. First Conditional

If + present simple, will + base verb

Used for possible future situations.

• If I study, I will pass the exam.

🔵 2. Second Conditional

If + past simple, would + base verb

Used for unreal or unlikely situations in the present or future.

• If I had more money, I would travel the world.

🔵 3. Third Conditional

If + had + past participle, would have + past participle

Used for impossible past situations (regrets).

• If I had studied, I would have passed.

🔶 Mixed Conditional: Type 3 → 2

(Past condition → present consequence)

If + had + participle, would + base verb

• If I had studied medicine, I would be a doctor now.

👉 Error in the past → consequence in the present.

🔶 Mixed Conditional: Type 2 → 3

(Unreal present → past consequence)

If + past simple, would have + participle

• If I were smarter, I would have passed the exam.

👉 Current characteristic → affected the past.

✅ Inversions

🔹 Only if

Structure: Only if + clause, will + subject + verb

• Only if Mario promises, will he stay.

🔹 Negative and Restrictive Inversions

Never

Structure: Never + auxiliary + subject + verb

• Never have I seen such a confusing exam.

Only after

Structure: Only after + clause, did + subject + base verb

• Only after the bell rang did the students leave.

Not only… but also

Structure: Not only + auxiliary + subject + verb

• Not only did he forget his homework, but he also arrived late.

Hardly… when

Structure: Hardly + had + subject + participle + when

• Hardly had Jaime started the exam when…

No sooner… than

Structure: No sooner + had + subject + participle + than

• No sooner had I heard Rafa Ballarín than…

Under no circumstances

Structure: Under no circumstances + auxiliary + subject + verb

• Under no circumstances must Noah doubt going to the Olympics.

✅ Cleft Sentences

🔹 It-cleft

Structure: It was + person + who + verb

🔹 Wh-cleft

Structure: What + subject + verb + is/was…

🔹 When-cleft

Structure: When + clause + is/was…