Scribd
Upload
11 views19 pages

CONDITIONALS

A conditional sentence consists of two parts: one beginning with 'if' to describe a possible situation and the other describing the consequence. There are four types of conditionals: zero, first, second, and third, each serving different purposes and structures for expressing general truths, future possibilities, hypothetical situations, and past regrets, respectively. Each type has specific grammatical structures and examples to illustrate their usage.

Uploaded by

maryfermtz1411
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
11 views19 pages

CONDITIONALS

A conditional sentence consists of two parts: one beginning with 'if' to describe a possible situation and the other describing the consequence. There are four types of conditionals: zero, first, second, and third, each serving different purposes and structures for expressing general truths, future possibilities, hypothetical situations, and past regrets, respectively. Each type has specific grammatical structures and examples to illustrate their usage.

Uploaded by

maryfermtz1411
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 19

Conditionals

ELE06
What is a Conditional Sentence?
A conditional sentence is based on the word ‘if’. There are always
two parts to a conditional sentence
- One part beginning with ‘if’ to describe a possible situation, and
the second part which describes the consequence. For example:

If it rains, we’ll get wet.

- We can also invert the two parts of a conditional sentence so


that the ‘if’ part comes second, and this is especially common in
questions. For example:

What will you do if you miss the train?


What happens if the students don’t pass an exam?
Types of conditionals
0 01
Zero First
conditional conditional

02 03
Second Third
conditional conditional
0
Zero
conditional
Use:
We use the zero conditional to talk about general truths or
results that always happen if a condition is present. We are
talking in general, not about one particular situation.

Structure
If + subject + present simple verb + , + subject + present simple verb
Examples:
If water reaches 100 degrees, it boils. (It is always true, there can't be a different result
sometimes).

If I eat peanuts, I am sick. (This is true only for me, maybe, not for everyone, but it's
still true that I'm sick every time I eat peanuts)

Here are some more examples:


NOTE
• If people eat too much, they get fat.
• If you touch a fire, you get burned.
The 'if' in this
• People die if they don't eat. conditional can
• You get water if you mix hydrogen and oxygen. usually be
• Snakes bite if they are scared replaced by 'when'
• If babies are hungry, they cry without changing
the meaning.
1
First
conditional
Use:
The first conditional is used to talk about things that might
happen in the future if a condition is present. We don’t know
if those things will happen or not, but they are a real
possibility.

Structure
If + subject + present simple verb + , + subject + will + infinitive verb
Examples:
• If you study, you’ll pass.
• If he doesn’t call you, tell me immediately.
• If you’ve come to class, the exam is going to be easy.
• If you help me, I’ll have finished by the end of the month.
• If it rains, I won't go to the park. NOTE
• If I study today, I'll go to the party tonight.
• If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes. It is also common
• She'll be late if the train is delayed. to use unless, as
• She'll miss the bus if she doesn't leave soon. long as, as soon
as or in case
• If I see her, I'll tell her.
instead of if.
• I'll leave as soon as the babysitter arrives.
• I don't want to stay in London unless I get a well-paid job.
• I'll give you a key in case I'm not at home.
• You can go to the party, as long as you're back by midnight.
2
Second
conditional
Use:
We use the second conditional to talk about hypothetical or
imaginary situations in the present or the future that are
impossible or unlikely in reality.

Structure
If + subject + past simple/ continuous verb + , + subject +
would/could/might + simple/ continuous infinitive verb
Examples: NOTE
We use a comma
• If there was a fire, it would be impossible to escape. after the if-clause
when it goes at the
• If you weren’t making so much noise, I could concentrate.
beginning of the
• I wouldn’t have a car if I lived in the city. sentence, but we
• If it weren’t for him, I might not be talking to you right now. don’t use a comma
• f you weren’t making so much noise, I could concentrate. when the if-clause
• I could concentrate if you weren’t making so much noise. goes at the end.

When we use the verb be in the if-clause, we can use either was (more formal)
or were (spoken English) after I, he, she or it. But when we are giving advice, we
always use if I were you (NOT was).
• If he was/were rich, he wouldn’t be living in this house.
• If I were you, I’d call him as soon as possible. (NOT was)
3
Third
conditional
Use:
We use the third conditional to talk about hypothetical or
imaginary situations in the past. We often use the third
conditional to describe regrets.

Structure
If + subject + past perfect verb + , + subject + would/ could/ might + have+
past participle
Examples:
• If you had come to class more often, you would have passed the test.
• I wouldn’t have been late if I hadn’t overslept.
• He could have died if he hadn’t been wearing a helmet.
• If the jacket had been a bit cheaper, I might have bought it.
• If we had left earlier, we would have arrived on time.
• If you hadn’t forgotten her birthday, she wouldn’t have been upset.
• If they had booked earlier, they could have found better seats.
• If I hadn’t learnt English, I wouldn’t have got this job.
• What would you have studied if you hadn’t done engineering?
• They wouldn’t have hired you if you hadn’t had some experience abroad.
• You could have helped me if you’d stayed later.

You might also like