Unit 8 Conditionals

Zero Conditional

Introduction

The zero conditional is a structure used for talking about general truths — things
which always happen under certain conditions. This page will explain how the zero
conditional is formed, and when to use it.

1. The structure of a zero conditional sentence

A zero conditional sentence consists of two clauses, an “if” clause and a main clause
(In most zero conditional sentences you can use when or if and the meaning will
stay the same.):

“if” clause main clause

If you heat water to 100

it boils.
degrees,

If the “if” clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the “if” clause comes
second, there is no need for a comma:

main clause “if” clause

Water boils if you heat it to 100 degrees,

We use the same verb form in each part of a zero conditional: the simple present
tense:

“if” clause if + subject + simple present verb

main clause subject + simple present verb

2. Using the zero conditional

The zero conditional is used to talk about things which are always true — such as
scientific facts and general truths:

Example Explanation

If you cross an international date This always happens — every time you cross
line, the time changes. a date line.

This is basically always true — the rain

If it rains, the grass gets wet.
makes the grass wet.

Wood doesn't burn if there is no This is a scientific fact — wood needs air in
air. order to burn. No air = no fire.

First Conditional

Introduction

The first conditional (also called conditional type 1) is a structure used for talking
about possibilities in the present or in the future. This page will explain how the
first conditional is formed, and when to use it.

1. The structure of a first conditional sentence

A first conditional sentence consists of two clauses, an "if" clause and a main clause:

if clause main clause

you will pass the

If you study hard,
test.

If the "if" clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the "if" clause comes
second, there is no need for a comma:
 main clause if clause

You will pass the

if you study hard.
test

We use different verb forms in each part of a first conditional:

main clause if clause

You will pass the

if you study hard.
test

2. Using the first conditional

The first conditional is used to talk about things which are possible in the present or
the future — things which may happen:

Example Explanation

If it's sunny, we'll go to the park. Maybe it will be sunny — that's possible.

Paula will be sad if Juan leaves. Maybe Juan will leave — that's possible.

If you cook the supper, I'll wash the Maybe you will cook the supper — that's
dishes. possible.

Second Conditional

Introduction

The second conditional (also called conditional type 2) is a structure used for talking
about unreal situations in the present or in the future. This page will explain how
the second conditional is formed, and when to use it.

1. The structure of a second conditional sentence

Like a first conditional, a second conditional sentence consists of two clauses, an “if”
clause and a main clause:
 “If” clause Main clause

If I had a million
I would buy a big house.
dollars,

If the “if” clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the “if” clause comes
second, there is no need for a comma:

Main clause “If” clause

I would buy a big

if I had a million dollars.
house

We use different verb forms in each part of a second conditional:

“If” clause if + subject + simple past verb*

Main clause subject + would + verb

*Note that this "simple past" form is slightly different from usual in the case of the
verb BE. Whatever the subject, the verb form is "were", not "was": If I were rich, I'd
buy a big house.

2. Using the second conditional

The second conditional is used to talk about things which are unreal (not true or not
possible) in the present or the future -- things which don't or won't happen:

Example Explanation

If I were you, I would drive more carefully

I am not you — this is unreal.
in the rain.

Jan will not leave — that's not going to

Paula would be sad if Jan left.
happen.

If dogs had wings, they would be able to Dogs don't have wings — that's
fly. impossible.
Third Conditional

Introduction

The third conditional (also called conditional type 3) is a structure used for talking
about unreal situations in the past. This page will explain how the third conditional
is formed, and when to use it.

1. The structure of a third conditional sentence

Like the other conditionals, a third conditional sentence consists of two clauses, an
“if” clause and a main clause:

IF clause main clause

If I had studied
I would have passed the exam.
harder,

Explanation: I failed the exam, because I didn't study hard enough.

If the “if” clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the “if” clause comes
second, there is no need for a comma:

main clause IF clause

I probably would have passed the

if I had studied harder.
exam

We use different verb forms in each part of a third conditional:

IF clause if + subject + past perfect verb*

main clause subject + would (OR could, OR might) have + past participle

*The past perfect is formed with the auxiliary verb “had”, and the past participle (or
third form) of the verb.
Note also that third conditional forms can be contracted:

Full form If I had studied harder, I probably would have passed the exam.

Contracted form If I'd studied harder, I probably would've passed the exam.

2. Using the third conditional

The third conditional is used to talk about things which did not happen in the past.
If your native language does not have a similar construction, you may find this a
little strange, but it can be very useful. It is often used to express criticism or regret:

Example Explanation

If you had driven more carefully, you Criticism: You had an accident because
would not have had an accident. you didn't drive carefully enough.

If we had played a little better, we Regret: We didn't play well, so we lost the
could have won the game. game.

If you had saved your money, you Criticism: You didn't save your money, so
could have bought a computer. now you can't afford a computer.

If it had snowed, we could have gone Regret: It didn't snow, so we couldn't go

skiing. skiing.

Real & Unreal Conditional

Met if kun je twee soorten situaties beschrijven:

[1] situaties die echt bestaan (de real conditional)

[2] en denkbeeldige situaties. (de unreal conditional)

Dat onderscheid is belangrijk omdat je in het Engels in de real conditional ook when kunt gebruiken
in plaats van if. When geeft dan aan dat iets regelmatig gebeurt en if af en toe.

In de denkbeeldige situaties, de unreal conditional dus, is when niet mogelijk. Je kunt immers van
denkbeeldige situaties niet zeggen dat ze met regelmaat echt gebeuren!

De conditional sentences bestaan altijd uit twee delen: de if clause (de conditie) en de hoofdzin met
het resultaat. Als je de if clause vooraan zet, gebruik je een komma. Als je de if clause achteraan zet,
laat je de komma weg.

If you are late (kan, dus real)

If you don't like it (kan, real)

If I could fly (kan niet, unreal)

If I were you (vet unreal)

If I have a day off, ... (komt soms voor)

When I have a day off,... (komt regelmatig voor)

If I were a dog, I would bite you.

*When I were a dog .. o ja? wanneer dan??

If you drink too much whiskey, you'll get sick.

You'll get sick if you drink too much whiskey.
Exercise 1

Complete the Conditional Sentences Type I.

If you (go) out with your friends tonight, I (watch) the football match on TV.

I (earn) a lot of money if I (get) that job.

If she (hurry / not) , we (miss) the bus.

Complete the Conditional Sentences Type II.

If he (try) harder, he (reach) his goals.

I (buy) these shoes if they (fit) .

It (surprise / not) me if he (know / not) the answer.

Complete the Conditional Sentences Type III.

If we (listen) to the radio, we (hear) the news.

If you (switch) on the lights, you (fall / not) over the chair.

She (come) to our party if she (be / not) on holiday.

Exercise 2

if-clauses, type I

Complete the sentences.

1.If it (rain) …, we (stay) … at home.

2.If you (know/not) … the way, I (pick) …you up.

3.My mum (bake) …. a cake if you (come) … to see us.

if-clauses, type II

Complete the sentences.

1.If you (study) … harder, you (get) ….better marks in your tests.

2.If I (be) … rich, I (travel) … around the world.

3.She (come) … to the market with us if she (have/not) … to work.

if-clauses, type III

Complete the sentences.

1.If you (help) ….us, we (finish) …. the work in next to no time.

2.I (call) …you earlier if I (lose/not) …. your phone number.

3.They (go/not)….to the theatre by car if the weather (be) ….better.

if-clauses, mixed

Complete the sentences.

1.If I (have) …. a compass, I would give it to you.

2.If he hadn’t been ill, he (run) ….the marathon.

3.If you go to Ireland, you (need) …. a raincoat.

4.We (miss/not) …. the train if we had got up earlier.

5.If we lived in the country, the kids (play) …..outside all day long.

6.If they (eat/not) …..that much, they wouldn’t have got a stomach ache.

7.I will not be able to write you if you (give/not) ….. me your address.
Answers 1

Complete the Conditional Sentences Type I.

If you go out with your friends tonight, I will watch the football match on TV.

I will earn a lot of money if I get that job.

If she doesn’t hurry , we will miss the bus.

Complete the Conditional Sentences Type II.

If he tried harder, he would reach his goals.

I would buy these shoes if they fitted.

It would not surprise me if he did not know the answer.

Conditional Sentences Type III

If we had listened to the radio, we would have heard the news.

If you had switched on the lights, you would not have fallen over the chair.

She would have come to our party if she had not been on holiday.

Answers 2
if-clauses, type I

Complete the sentences.

1.If it rains, we will stay at home.

2.If you do not know the way, I will pick you up.

3.My mum will bake a cake if you come to see us.

If-clauses, type II

Complete the sentences.

1.If you studied harder, you would get better marks in your tests.

2.If I were rich, I would travel around the world.

3.She would come to the market with us if she did not have to work.
if-clauses, type III

Complete the sentences.

1.If you had helped us, we would have finished the work in next to no time.

2.I would have called you earlier if I had not lost your phone number.

3.They would not have gone to the theatre by car if the weather had been better.

if-clauses, mixed

Complete the sentences.

1.If I had a compass, I would give it to you.

2.If he hadn’t been ill, he would have run the marathon.

3.If you go to Ireland, you will need a raincoat.

4.We would not have missed the train if we had got up earlier.

5.If we lived in the country, the kids would play outside all day long.

6.If they had not eaten that much, they wouldn’t have got a stomach ache.

7.I will not be able to write you if you do not give me your address.