The document provides a quick review of the conditional tense in English, outlining its three main types: first, second, and third conditionals. It details the structures and usages of each type, offering examples and practice scenarios for each. Additionally, it highlights how conditionals can express real possibilities, unreal situations, and past regrets or criticisms.

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The Conditional Tense
A Quick Review
with Practice

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Conditionals
Consist of at least TWO Clauses
Dependent Clause Uses “If” or
“When
Used to express certain “Conditions”
Have specific forms and functions!
3 general types

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Form Details
Dependent, Independent (DC, IC)
IF + SV, SV
Or
Independent Dependent (IC DC)
SV IF SV

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Form Names
1. Possible Present or Future
2. Unlikely Present
3. Impossible Past

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First Conditional Function
Used for talking about
possibilities in the present
or in the future.

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First Conditional Form
Usually:
IF + S + V (present), S + V (future)
Or
Sometimes:
IF + S + V (present), S + V (present)

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If it's sunny, we'll
go to the park.
Paula will be sad if
Juan leaves.
If you cook the
supper, I'll wash
the dishes.
Maybe it will be
sunny - that's
possible.
Maybe Juan will
leave - that's
possible.
Maybe you will
cook the supper -
that's possible
First Conditional Examples

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First Conditional Practice
State the following scenario in a
conditional clause.
You might get a raise at work.
You would like a new car.

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First Conditional Practice
You might get a raise at work.
You would like a new car.
If I get a raise, I’ll buy a new
car.

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First Conditional Practice
State the following scenario in a
conditional clause.
You plan to work really hard in
ESL 380. You would like to earn
an A.

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First Conditional Practice
You plan to work really hard in
ESL 380. You would like to earn
an A.
If I work really hard, I might
earn an A.

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Second Conditional Form
If S past V, S would + V
If S Past V, S Could + V
If S Past V, S would V
BE EXCEPTION
With Be, use WERE
If I were a millionaire, I would give
money to the poor.

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Second Conditional Function
The second conditional is a
structure used for talking about
unreal (not likely to happen)
situations in the present or in
the future

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If I were you, I
would drive more
carefully in the rain.
Paula would be sad if
Jan left.
If dogs had wings,
they would be able
to fly.
I am not you - this is
untrue.
Jan will not leave -
this is untrue.
Dogs don't have
wings -- this is
untrue.
Second Conditional Example

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State the following scenario in a
conditional clause.
You are not a teacher. You think
students should have less
homework.
Second Conditional Practice

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You are not a teacher. You think
students should have less
homework.
If I were a teacher, I would give
less homework to the students.
Second Conditional Practice

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State the following scenario in a
conditional clause.
You are not perfect. You would like
to make no mistakes.
Second Conditional Practice

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You are not perfect. You would like
to make no mistakes.
If I were perfect, I would not
make so many mistakes.
Second Conditional Practice

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Third Conditional Form
If S Past Perfect V, S Would
Perfect V
If I had been born in the 1900s, I
would have been a pioneer.

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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.
Third Conditional Form

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Third Conditional Function
The third conditional is a structure
used for talking about unreal (not
possible) situations in the past. In
other words, it is used to talk about
things which DID NOT HAPPEN in
the past.

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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.
Third Conditional Function

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If you had driven
more carefully,
you would not
have had an
accident.
If we had played
a little better, we
could have won
the game.
Criticism: You had an
accident because
you didn't drive
carefully enough.
Regret: We didn't
play well, so we lost
the game.
Third Conditional Examples

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If you had saved
your money, you
could have bought
a computer.
If it had snowed,
we could have
gone skiing.
Criticism: You
didn't save your
money, so now you
can't afford a
computer.
Regret: It didn't
snow, so we
couldn't go skiing.
Third Conditional Examples

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Third Conditional Practice
State the following scenario in a
conditional clause.
You came to America. You miss
your family.

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Third Conditional Practice
You came to America. You miss
your family.
If I had stayed at home, I
would not miss my family so
much.

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Third Conditional Practice
State the following scenario in a
conditional clause.
Your friend forgot to do her
homework. She earned an F on
the paper.

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Third Conditional Practice
Your friend forgot to do her
homework. She earned an F on
the paper.
If she had done her homework,
she would not have earned an F.

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