Conditionals

Four „if…, then…” patterns, from always-true facts to the purely hypothetical. The key is the tense in each half.

Zero & First conditional

A2if + present, … present / will

Zero: things always true (if + present, present). First: a real future (if + present, will).

Examples

If you heat ice, it melts.
PLJeśli podgrzejesz lód, topnieje.
zero — general fact
If it rains, we'll stay home.
PLJeśli będzie padać, zostaniemy w domu.
first — real future

Common mistake

If it will rain, we will stay home.If it rains, we will stay home.

The „if” clause (first conditional) takes no „will” — the condition is in Present Simple: „If it rains…”. „Will” stays in the main clause.

B1if + past, … would + base verb

An unreal or unlikely situation now or in the future. „If I…, I would…”.

Examples

If I had more time, I would travel.
PLGdybym miał więcej czasu, podróżowałbym.
If I were you, I'd wait.
PLNa twoim miejscu poczekałbym.
„were” for every person

B1if + past perfect, … would have + past participle

Regret or a hypothesis about an unchangeable past. „If I had…, I would have…”.

Examples

B2if + past perfect, … would + base verb

Mixes two times: a past condition with a present result. „If I had…, I would now…”.

Examples

If I had studied medicine, I would be a doctor now.
PLGdybym studiował medycynę, byłbym teraz lekarzem.

B2wish + past (now) · wish + past perfect (past)

Regrets and wishes. Past tense for the present („I wish I…”), past perfect for the past.

Examples

I wish I had more time.
PLSzkoda, że nie mam więcej czasu.
about now → past
I wish I had said no.
PLŻałuję, że nie powiedziałem nie.
about the past → past perfect