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I have been teaching conditionals to another student. I taught her the zero, first, second, and third conditional. We are not tackling mixed conditionals, and we were identifying which part of the sentence is second or third conditional. But I'm not sure which conditional the main clause is in this sentence: "If the weather is rainy, I am going to read a book at home". The if clause is first conditional, but what about the main clause?

Thank you!

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    The last sentence of your question is problematic since the so-called zero conditional also uses the present tense in the if-clause. It is better if your student understands that the numbered conditionals represent common conditional patterns, but that sentences with if-clauses have numerous other combinations of verb constructions (usually called 'tenses' in traditional language teaching). In the sentence you are asking about, I think it is enough to say that it represents a hypothetical that is equivalent to the first conditional.
    – Shoe
    Commented Jul 6, 2022 at 8:30
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    Numbered conditionals are a crude attempt to reflect how English works in respect of hypothetical scenarios. If you're not tackling "mixed conditionals" (wise choice, imho), there's no real point in trying to accurately classify your specific example (which is just colloquial / "loose" phrasing for If [it rains,] I will read a book at home).
    – FumbleFingers
    Commented Jul 6, 2022 at 10:20
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    'I am going... etc' is not even a future tense. 'If the weather is rainy, I am reading a book at home' is the real concept. In absolute terms it means 'If weather rainy, I a book read.'
    – Nigel J
    Commented Jul 6, 2022 at 10:34
  • While you're obviously not learning English yourself, numbered conditionals are a didactic technique best handled on our sister site.
    – Andrew Leach
    Commented Jul 6, 2022 at 11:49
  • @Shoe Thank you! Your explanation really helps. I'll explain it like that.
    – Anna
    Commented Jul 7, 2022 at 9:24

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Going to in the First Conditional

OP is unsure if "going to" can be used in the First Conditional.

"If the weather is rainy, I am going to read a book at home." The if-clause is in the first conditional, but what about the main clause?

The structure of a first conditional sentence is "if/when + present simple" followed by "will + infinitive". For example: "If it is sunny tomorrow, we will go to the beach."

In OP's sentence, the main clause uses "going to" instead of "will."

The "going-to" future refers to planned or intended actions in the future.

We can use the future with going to instead of will in the first conditional. Going to implies a more certain future than will.

  • If no one comes to my birthday party, I’m going to be really unhappy.
  • John is going to buy that house if he has enough money..
    The First Conditional is about possible events in the present or the future.
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    Going to in the first conditional

If it rains, I am going to read a book." is the First conditional because the "going-to future" is used to talk about a future event.

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