If Rita opens a boutique in the High Street, she will make lots of money. This sentence is in the first conditional, which is used to talk about possible future events and their likely results. It suggests that if Rita takes the action of opening a boutique, the result will be that she will make lots of money.
If the economy doesn’t improve, lots of businesses will close down. This sentence is in the second conditional, which is used to talk about hypothetical or unlikely future events and their possible outcomes. It suggests that if the economy does not improve, the likely result will be that lots of businesses will close down.
This burglar alarm is so sensitive: it goes off if a mouse runs across the floor. This sentence is in the zero conditional, which is used to talk about general truths or facts. It suggests that the burglar alarm always goes off when a mouse runs across the floor, indicating a cause and effect relationship.
George may go to prison unless he pays his taxes. This sentence is in the first conditional, suggesting that if George does not pay his taxes, there is a possibility that he may go to prison.
The company would be more successful if it spent more money on advertising. This sentence is in the second conditional, suggesting that if the company spent more money on advertising, it is likely that it would be more successful.
If the employees of a company are happy, they work harder. This sentence is in the zero conditional, suggesting that when the employees of a company are happy, the result is that they work harder.
We might sell our business if it makes another loss this year. This sentence is in the first conditional, suggesting that if the business makes another loss this year, there is a possibility that the owners might sell it.
It looks like Molly’ll be okay, unless something new happens. This sentence is in the first conditional, suggesting that if nothing new happens, it is likely that Molly will be okay.
Unless Shelly had read him wrong, Jack would have found her unorthodox approach irresistible. This sentence is in the third conditional, which is used to talk about hypothetical events in the past and their possible outcomes. It suggests that if Shelly had not read Jack wrong, the result would have been that he found her approach irresistible.
Mat would not trust that unless he had to. This sentence is in the second conditional, suggesting that if Mat did not have to, he would not trust the situation.