2. I. CONDITIONAL S.
DEFINITION
They are complex sentences formed by:
► a SUBORDINATE CLAUSE→ the .
CONDITIONAL cl.
►the MAIN CLAUSE →the RESULT cl.
►a CONNECTOR→IF (“si”). .
→UNLESS (“a menos que/se non/ a
non ser que”) (1 Cond.,2 Cond.(less freq.))
st nd
3. II. TYPES
►FIRST Conditional: REAL or POSSIBLE situations. .
►SECOND Conditional: UNREAL or PROBABLE situations.
►THIRD Conditional: IMPOSSIBLE situations. .
*IF and UNLESS are the connectors.
*Both the main and the subordinate clause can start the
sentence, but when IF or UNLESS are at the beginning, a
COMMA(,) must be added after the subordinate cl.
Ex.:”I’ll watch TV more often if I get cable television.”
“If I get cable television, I’ll watch TV more often.”
4. FIRST CONDITIONAL
CONDITIONAL CL. RESULT CLAUSE
IF/UNLESS+ PRES. S. →WILL + BASE form
→IMPERATIVE
→MODAL + BASE form
→PRESENT SIMPLE
,
Ex: “ If we phone, he WILL answer.”
“Unless we phone, he WON’T answer.”
“If Tom comes soon, he WILL BE ABLE TO help.”
“If you want my number, ASK me.”
5. SECOND CONDITIONAL
CONDITIONAL CL. RESULT CLAUSE
IF/UNLESS+S. PAST. →WOULD + BASE form
→COULD + BASE form
* WERE is used for all →MIGHT + BASE form
persons of TO BE
Ex:
“If you touchED here, the alarm WOULD go off.”
“If weWON the lottery, we COULD/MIGHT buy it.”
6. THIRD CONDITIONAL
CONDITIONAL CL. RESULT CLAUSE
IF + PAST PERFECT →WOULD+HAVE+PART.
(HAD+ PAST PART.)
Ex:
“If you HAD BEEN here,
youWOULD HAVE SEEN her.”
7. III. USES
●FIRST CONDIT. ►Refers to the FUTURE.
REAL/POSSIBLE
GENERAL IDEAS
HABITUAL ACTIONS
●SECOND CONDIT. ►Refers to PRESENT situations.
UNREAL/PROBABLE( less than1st)
HOPES, AMBITIONS
●THIRD CONDIT. ►Refers to the PAST.
IMPOSSIBLE
8. V. COMMON MISTAKES:
▪IF+WILL
▪WHEN+WILL
“If it WILL rain, you will get wet.” WRONG!
“When it WILL rain,you’ll get wet.”WRONG!
“If/When it RAINS, you’ll get wet.” RIGHT
▪IF+WOULD
“If I WOULDhave money, I would buy this”WRONG!
“If I HAD money, I would buy this” RIGHT
