This document reviews the basics of first and second conditionals in English. The first conditional is used to talk about possible future situations and their consequences, using "if + present, will/won't + infinitive". The second conditional is used to talk about hypothetical or imaginary future situations, using "if + past, would/wouldn't + infinitive". It also provides examples of variations on these structures, such as using modal verbs instead of will/won't, "unless" instead of "if...not", and different present and past verb tenses.

1. First and Second Conditionals
EF Intermediate +
4B

2. LET’S REVIEW THE BASICS…

3. First Conditional
• Future POSSIBLE situation and its consequence
• If + present, will/won’t + infinitive
If I have time, I’ll write my CV tonight.
I’ll write my CV tonight if I have time
If you don’t work hard, you won’t pass.
You won’t pass if you don’t work hard.

4. Second Conditional
• Future HYPOTHETICAL or IMAGINARY situation and its
consequence. We don’t think it’s possible.
• If + past, would/wouldn’t + infinitive
If I had time, I’d write my CV tonight.
(but I know I won’t have time…)
If you worked hard, you would pass.
(but you don’t really work hard…)

5. Second Conditional
• If + was/were, would/wouldn’t + infinitive
If it was/were mine, I’d really take care
of it.
If I was/were you, I wouldn’t do it.

6. NOW, LET’S ADD SOME VARIATIONS…

7. First Conditional
• Instead of will/won’t you can also use modal verbs
can, might, may, must, should, other future tenses or
an imperative
If I have time, I may write my CV tonight.
If he finishes his homework, he can go out.
If I make it to university, I‘m going go to study hard
If you fail, try again.

8. First Conditional
• Instead of if … not you can use unless
If you don’t work hard, you won’t pass.
Unless you work hard, you won’t pass.

9. First Conditional
• Instead of the present simple you can use other
present tenses (present perfect, continuous)
If you finally aren’t coming, you should
tell us as soon as possible.
If you have finished, you can start the
exercises on page 60.

10. Second Conditional
• You can use might or could instead of
would/wouldn’t + infinitive
If I had time, I could write my CV tonight.
(but I know I won’t have time…)
If you worked hard, you might pass.
(but you don’t really work hard…)