1. CONDITIONALS
►The Zero Conditional
►The First Conditional
►The Second Conditional
►The Third Conditional
►The Mixed Conditionals
2. The Zero Conditional (Structure)
The Zero Conditional sentence, like all other conditionals,
consists of two clauses, an "if clause" and a "main clause".
We use the same verb form in each clause of a zero conditional:
the present simple tense:
■ If Clause: If + Subject + Present Simple
■ Main Clause: Subject + Present Simple
If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.
3. The Zero Conditional (Uses)
The Zero Conditional is used to talk about things which are
always or usually true ―scientific facts, general truths, etc.:
►Example: If you cross an international dateline, the time
changes.
Explanation: This always happens every time you cross a
dateline.
► Example: If you dive 10 meters under water, the pressure
increases to two atmospheres.
Explanation: This is basically always true ―the pressure of
10 meters of water equals one atmosphere.
► Example: Phosphorus burns if you expose it to air.
Explanation: This is a scientific fact ―you can test it in a lab.
4. The Zero Conditional (Using When)
(note that MOST Zero Conditional sentences will mean the
same if "when" is used instead of "if"):
● If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.
● When you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.
But
● If When you get this exercise right, you have a good brain.
If proves that you have a good brain.
When will make you have a good brain.
5. Comma?! ▬This Rule Applies to All Conditionals
► When the "if" clause comes first, a Comma is used:
If clause + , + main clause.
If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.
► When the "if" clause comes second, a Comma is NOT
used:
Main clause + if clause. (No Comma)
Water boils if you heat it to 100 degrees.
6. Let’s Practice:
Use the conditions and results in the box to complete the phrases below.
Conditions: you've got a headache, you don't wear a crash helmet,
you heat it to 100º C, she comes home very late,
you leave gates open in the country, you add sugar
Results: you get pink, A dog bites, Butter melts,
the DVD player comes on, it scratches you,
You have more chance of being killed
you heat it to 100 ºc
1.Water boils if _______________________________.
you get pink
2. If you mix red and white, _______________________________.
Butter melts
you've got a headache
you add sugar
A dog bites
3. _______________________________ if you leave it in the sun.
4. If _______________________________, take an aspirin.
5. If _______________________________, it tastes sweet.
6. _______________________________ if you go near its food when it's eating.
7. If you pull a cat's tail, _______________________________.
it scratches you
You have more chance of being killed
8. _______________________________ if you don't wear a seat belt.
the DVD player comes on
you leave gates open in the country
9. If you press this button, _______________________________.
10. Farmers get very angry if _______________________________.
7. The First Conditional (Structure)
The First Conditional sentence consists of two clauses,
an "if clause" and a "main clause":
We use the present simple with the If clause
Will + Infinitive with the main clause:
► If Clause: If + Subject + Present Simple
► Main Clause: Subject + Will + V. Infinitive
If clause + , + main clause.
If it rains, we will stay indoors.
NB: You may use Will, Can, Shall, or May.
8. The First Conditional (Uses)
The First Conditional is used to talk about things which are
possible in the present or the future ―things which may
happen:
►Example: If it's sunny, we'll go to the park.
Explanation: Maybe it will be sunny ―that's possible.
► Example: Paula will be sad if Juan leaves.
Explanation: Maybe Juan will leave ― that's possible.
9. Let’s Practice:
arrives
1. If Jack ______________ late again, his trainer will be furious. (to arrive)
2. You'll be sorry if you ______________ for your exams. (to revise)
do not revise
will go
3. We ______________ if the weather's good. (to go)
is
4. If the bus ______________ on time, I won't miss the football match. (to be)
do
5. If you ______________ your homework now, you'll be free tomorrow. (to do)
6. We ______________ out if there's no food at home. (to eat)
will eat
7. You'll find life much easier if you ______________ more often. (to smile)
smile
will go
8. If it's hot, we ______________ for a swim. (to go)
take
9. You'll do it better if you ______________ more time over it. (to take)
keeps
10.If she ______________ practicing, she'll get better. (to keep)
11.I ______________ so happy if I pass the exam. (to be)
will be
do not go
12.You'll be really tired tomorrow if you ______________ to bed soon. (to go)
10. The Second Conditional (Structure)
The Second Conditional sentence consists of two clauses,
an "if clause" and a "main clause":
We use the past simple with the If clause
Would + Infinitive with the main clause:
► If Clause: If + Subject + Past Simple
► Main Clause: Subject + Would + V. Infinitive
If clause + , + main clause.
If it rained, we should stay indoors.
NB: You may use Would, Could, Should, or Might.
11. The Second Conditional (Uses)
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: If I were you, I would drive more carefully.
(I am not you ―this is unreal)
►Example: Mariam would be sad if Rana left.
(Rana won’t leave ―that's not going to happen)
►Example: If cats had wings, they would be able to fly.
(Cats don't have wings ―that's impossible)
12. The Second Conditional (with Verb to BE)
Note that the "Past Simple" form is slightly different from usual in
the case of Verb to BE.
When there is an impossibility, we use "were" instead of "was"
with any subject whether singular or plural.
►If I were rich, I'd buy a big house.
= unlikely to be rich
►If he were here, he wouldn’t allow that.
= he is not here; he is somewhere else
13. The Second Conditional (Inverted Structure)
One very important structure is omitting “If” and inverting the
structure to take the interrogative (question) form.
Normal: If + Subject + Past Simple + Complement
Subject + Would + V. Infinitive
Example: If I were you, I would study harder.
Inverted: Were + Subject + Complement
Subject + Would + V. Infinitive
Example:Were I you, I would study harder.
14. Let’s Practice:
were would catch
1. If Joe ___________ (be) here, he ___________ (catch) some fish for supper.
would be stopped
2. It ___________ (be) nice if the rain ___________ (stop)!
could give had
3. I ___________ (give) you a chocolate if I ___________ (have) any.
had would not feel
4. If I ___________ (have) a better sleeping bag, I ___________ (not feel) so cold.
were would sleep
5. If this tent ___________ (be) any smaller, one of us ___________ (have to sleep)
outside!
would look were
6. I ___________ (look) out for bears if I ___________ (be) you!
were not could share
7. If I ___________ (not be) so hungry, I ___________ (share) my beans with you.
Were could / would help
8. ___________ (be) I here, I ______________________ (help) you.
15. The Third Conditional (Structure)
Like all conditionals, the Third Conditional sentence consists of
two clauses, an "if clause" and a "main clause":
We use the Past Perfect Simple with the If clause
Would Have + Past Participle with the main clause:
► If Clause: If + Subject + Past Perfect Simple
► Main Clause: Subject + Would Have + V. PP
If clause + , + main clause.
■If it hadn’t rained, we could have gone out.
■It could have been nice if you had come on Saturday.
NB: You may use Would, Could, Should, or Might.
16. The Third Conditional (Uses)
The Third Conditional is used to talk about unreal situations
in the past ▬things which DID NOT HAPPEN in the past. It is
often used to express Criticism or Regret:
►Example: If you had driven more carefully, you would not
have had an accident.
Criticism: You had an accident because you didn't drive
carefully enough.
►Example: If it hadn’t snowed, we could have gone skiing.
Regret: It snowed, so we couldn't go skiing.
17. The Third Conditional (Inverted Structure)
One very important structure is omitting “If” and inverting the
structure to take the interrogative (question) form.
Normal: If + Subject + Had + Past Participle
Subject + Would Have + Past Participle
Example:
If I had studied harder, I could have passed the exam.
Inverted: Had + Subject + Past Participle
Subject + Would Have + Past Participle
Example:
Had I studied harder, I could have passed the exam.
18. Let’s Practice:
1. He crashed his car, because he fell asleep while driving.
hadn’t fallen wouldn’t have crashed
If he ______________ asleep while driving, he ______________________ his car.
2. We could go to the show, because we had enough money.
hadn’t had couldn’t have gone
If we ______________ enough money, we _______________________ to the show.
3. I lost my job because I was late for work.
shouldn’t have lost hadn’t been
I _______________________ my job if I ______________ late for work.
4. The wind was so strong that the bridge collapsed.
hadn’t been couldn’t have collapsed
If the wind ______________ so strong, the bridge _______________________.
5. I couldn't call Sally because I had lost her number.
could have called hadn’t lost
I _______________________ Sally if I ______________ her number.
6. I couldn't tell Talha because I had not met him. (start with Had)
Had met could have
_________ I _________ Talha, I _______________________ told him.
7. I would have come on time If my car hadn’t broken down. (start with Had)
Hadn’t my car broken down, I would have come.
___________________________________________________________________.
19. Mixed Conditional —1 (Structure)
We use the Past Perfect Simple with the If clause (3rd Cond.)
Would + Infinitive with the main clause (2nd Cond.)
► If Clause: If + Subject + Past Perfect Simple (Third Cond.)
► Main Clause: Subject + Would + Inf. (Second Cond.)
If clause (3rd Cond) + , + main clause (2nd Cond).
■If Vince had taken my advice, he wouldn’t be in trouble now.
Vince did not take my advice in the Past.
He is in trouble NOW.
NB: You may use Would, Could, Should, or Might.
20. Mixed Conditional —1 (Uses)
The Mixed Conditional 1 is used to talk about conditions in
the Past ▬things which did NOT HAPPEN in the Past and
have the results in the Present:
►Example: If you had driven more carefully, you would not
had this accident.
Explanation: You had this accident now because you didn't
drive carefully in the past.
21. Mixed Conditional —2 (Structure)
We use the Past Simple with the If clause (2nd Cond.)
Would Have + Past Participle with the main clause (3rd Cond.)
► If Clause: If + Subject + Past Simple (Second Cond.)
► Main Clause: Subject + Would Have + V. PP (Third Cond.)
If clause (2nd Cond) + , + main clause (3rd Cond).
■If Vince were a good student, he would have studied for the
exam yesterday.
Vince is not a good student NOW.
He did not study for the exam in the Past.
NB: You may use Would, Could, Should, or Might.
22. Mixed Conditional —2 (Uses)
The Mixed Conditional 2 is used to talk about conditions in
the Present ▬things which are UNTRUE in the Present and
have the results in the Past:
►Example: If I were smart, I would have studied for the exam
yesterday.
Explanation: You are not smart now because you didn't
study in the past.
23. CONDITIONALS
Overview of Basic Verb Forms Used in Conditional Sentences
Situation If Clause Main Clause Example
0 Facts and Truths present simple
present simple
If I have enough time,
I read every evening.
1 True in the Present / Future present simple
will + infinitive
If I have enough time,
I will read tonight.
2 Untrue in the Present / Future past simple
would + infinitive
If I had enough time,
I would read now or later.
3 Untrue in the Past past perfect simple
would + have + pp
If I had had enough time,
I would have read yesterday.
M Untrue in the Past
Result in Present
past perfect simple
would + infinitive
If I had had breakfast,
I would not be hungry now.