Grado en Psicología

Comunicación Profesional en Inglés

Unidad didáctica 4. Conditional sentences

UD 4. Conditional sentences ............................................................................................. 3

1. Content ...................................................................................................................... 4

1.1. Conditional Sentences ............................................................................................. 4

1.1.1. Zero, First, Second, and Third Conditional ............................................................ 5

1.1.2. Uses of the Conditional ...................................................................................... 5

Uses of the Conditional (II) ......................................................................................... 6

Uses of the Conditional (III) ........................................................................................ 8

1.1.3. Conditionals with Modal Verbs .......................................................................... 10

Conditionals with Modal Verbs (II) .............................................................................. 11

Conditionals with Modal Verbs (III)............................................................................. 12

1.2. Question Tags ...................................................................................................... 12

1.3. How to write a successful CV ................................................................................. 14

2. Summary ................................................................................................................. 17

3. Conceptual map ........................................................................................................ 18

4. References ............................................................................................................... 19

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UD 4. Conditional sentences
In this unit, we will study the use of conditional sentences. The four types of conditional
sentences will be explained. You will also find an introduction to question tags mainly used in
conversation in order to confirm information. Finally, we will learn how to draft a CV in English.

As usual, you will find examples and exercises to improve new knowledge acquired.

Figure. If. Fuente: wikimedia.

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1. Content

1.1. Conditional Sentences

Play

Watch this video of a very famous song from the musical film Fiddler on the roof (1971). You
will find conditionals all along!

Conditionals are sentences that express conditions and hypothesis. They are divided into two
parts: a subordinate if – clause and a main clause.

If I were you, I would go to Russia.

conditional sentence main sentence

I would go to Russia, if I were you.

main clause conditional clause

There are four main types of Conditional Sentences in English.

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 Although if is the most common conjunction introducing Conditional Sentences in English,
other words and expressions are also possible: when, as soon as, in case, unless (= if not):

When you come to visit me, I will take you out for dinner.

As soon as they arrive, we will have dinner.

I will be back tomorrow unless there is a plane strike (if there is not).

1.1.1. Zero, First, Second, and Third Conditional

0. Zero Conditional: If you heat water, it boils.

1. First Conditional: If I have money, I will go to Turkey.

2. Second Conditional: If I had money, I would go to Turkey.

3. Third Conditional: If I had had money, I would have gone to Turkey.

Conditional Sentence Main Sentence

0. If + Present Tense Present Tense

1. If + Present Tense Will + Base form -- Infinitive

2. If + Past Tense Would + Base form -- Infinitive

3. If + Past Perfect Tense Would have + Past Participle

1.1.2. Uses of the Conditional

A) Zero Conditional

We use the zero conditional to talk about universal truths. The Present Simple is used in both
sentences:

When the sun goes down, it gets dark.

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 Figure. Sunset

B) First Conditional

We use the first conditional when we talk about real and possible present and future situations.
In First Conditional sentences, the structure is usually if + present simple / will + BASE FORM-
INFINITIVE. Any of the two clauses can be placed first:

If he is late, we will have to go without him. / We will have to go without him if he is late.

If my mother finds out about this, we will be in serious trouble. / We will be in serious trouble
if my mother finds out about this.

Take your umbrella in case it rains. (Remember that “in case” means “because of a possibility
of something happening, being needed, etc.”. A suitable translation would be “por si acaso”).

Uses of the Conditional (II)

C) Second Conditional

Note

Although many conditional sentences use will/would, other modal verbs can be used
instead, such as can/could, may or might.

If it snows tomorrow, I can go skiing.

The second conditional is used to talk about unreal, improbable or impossible things with
reference to the present or the future. The structure is usually if + past simple / would + BASE
FORM - INFINITIVE. As in first conditionals, the sentence may start with any of the two clauses.

If I won a lot of money, I’d buy a big house by the sea. (There are not many chances that I can
win a lot of money).

If you didn’t smoke so much, you’d feel much better. (There are not many chances that you
stop smoking).

Look at the difference between the First and Second Conditionals:

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  January in Burgos. The weather forecast has announced snow for the next couple of days.

If it snows tomorrow, I’ll go skiing. (Chances are that it will snow tomorrow).

 September in Burgos. The weather forecast has announced cold weather but clear skies.

If it snowed tomorrow, I’d go skiing. (It is highly unlikely that it will snow tomorrow).

- If I were…

Travel

Do you know Rudyard Kipling’s poem ‘If’? You can read it here, and listen to Michael Caine’s
recitation.

In the Second Conditional after if, were can be used instead of was (were is more formal than
was in this context). So you can say:

If I were you, I’d go to the party.

I’d go for a walk if it weren’t so cold.

If she weren’t so nervous, she’d pass all her exams.

- I wish/if only

Note

Do not use would have ... after I wish: The weather was cold when we were on holiday. I
wish it had been warmer. (NOT I wish it would have been…)

Both are used with the Past Simple to say that we regret something (a present regret), or that
something is not the way we would like it to be. The Past Tense emphasises that we are talking
about something ‘unreal’.

I wish Mary was here. (She is not here).

I wish I knew his phone number. (But I don’t know it and I regret it).

I wish I didn’t have to work tomorrow, but I do.

If only I had more time to study.

If only I knew what to do.

If only you were here.

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 Figure. Dog studying.

Uses of the Conditional (III)

D) Third Conditional and ‘Mixed’ conditionals

Third conditional sentences refer to the past. They describe impossible situations, something that
did not happen but might have happened differently given certain conditions. In Third Conditional
sentences, the structure is usually if + past perfect / would HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE (e.g. would
have done). Any of both clauses can come first as in First and Second Conditionals.

If I had studied harder at school, I would have gone to university. (He did not study very hard
and he did not go to university).

I would not have told your father about that party if you had warned me. (But you didn't,
and I have told him).

Third Conditional with “wish”

Note

In Conditional Sentences, will or would are not usually part of the if-clause (If it will rain
rains tomorrow, I won’t go out). The exception being to express willingness, as in
requests. In those cases, they can be used in if-clauses:

If you will come this way, the manager will see you now.

I would be grateful if you would give me a little help.

We use had + past participle in the same way after I wish.

I wish something had happened. (I am sorry that it didn't happen).

I wish I'd known that Andy was ill. I would have gone to visit him. (But I didn't know).

I feel sick. I wish I hadn't eaten so much cake. (I ate too much cake).

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 Figure. Children eating sweets.

Mixed conditionals are a special type of Conditional Sentences as they combine different verbal
tenses depending on what we want to convey.

If he had gone to university, he might have a better job.

He didn’t go to university. (Past).

He doesn’t have a very good job. (Present).

This sentence shows the present consequences of a past action.

If I’d won the competition, I’d be going to Florida next week.

She didn’t win the competition. (Past).

She isn’t going to Florida. (Future).

This sentence shows the future consequences of a past action.

Inversion of the Third Conditional

Note

Contracted negative forms are not possible when we invert the word order to talk about
an unreal or impossible situation in the past.

Had people not been informed, the situation would have been much worse. (NOT Hadn’t
people been informed, the situation would have been much worse.)

Of course, contracted negative forms are possible when we use normal word order.

If people hadn’t been informed, the situation would have been much worse.

There is a more formal structure you can use with Conditional Sentences: the inversion. With
the Third Conditional, it is formed by placing had before the subject and suppressing if...

Had I known the truth, I wouldn’t have told her anything. = If I had known the truth before,
I wouldn’t have told her anything.

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 Had she arrived sooner, she wouldn’t have missed the meeting. = If she had arrived sooner,
she wouldn’t have missed the meeting.

Figure. Question and exclamation signs.

1.1.3. Conditionals with Modal Verbs

You already know the standard form for the four conditionals. Now we’ll see that they can also
be used with modal verbs.

A) First Conditional with Modal Verbs

Figure. TV.

The First Conditional, used with Modals, expresses permission, advice, future possibilities,
obligation, etc.

Consider the following examples:

 If you finish your homework, you can watch TV.  Permission.

 If you don’t study now, you must (or: will have to) do it tomorrow.  Obligation.
 If you have a few hours to spare, you may visit the museum.  Advice.
 If I have time, I might make a cake.  Future possibility.
 If I arrive early, I might take a stroll around the park.  Future possibility.
 If you don’t feel well, you should consult a doctor.  Advice.
 If you ask Mary, she may/might be able to help you.  Future possibility.
 You can/may leave the room if you've finished the test.  Permission.
 If he doesn't come soon, we must (or: will have to) leave without him.  Obligation.
 If you ever go to Chicago, you should take a boat trip on the river.  Advice.

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Conditionals with Modal Verbs (II)
B) Second Conditional with Modal Verbs

Modals in the main clause

We can use modals other than would in the main clause of a sentence in the Second Conditional:

If no one was late, we could start the meeting on time.  Ability.

If you asked George, he might be able to help you.  Possibility.

Figure. Clock.

If-Clause

We can use could in the if-clause to express ability, possibility or permission:

I'd go to the beach with you if I could swim.  Ability.

If you could be a famous person, who would you be?  Possibility.
I wouldn't go to bars if people could smoke inside.  Permission.

Figure. Pipe.

Were to in the if-clause makes the condition even less likely:

If he were to propose to you now, what would you say?

We can use would in the if-clause to express requests. Sometimes, the main clause is omitted:

If you'd just fill in this form, please.

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Conditionals with Modal Verbs (III)
C) Third Conditional with Modal Verbs

Notice that the main clause can contain would, could or might:

If I had seen him at the meeting, I would have asked him. (But he wasn't there so I didn't).

If I had seen him at the meeting, I could have asked him. (But he wasn't there so it wasn't
possible).

If I had seen him at the meeting, I might have asked him. (But I'm not sure. Perhaps if the
opportunity had arisen).

Compare would (+ infinitive) and would have (+ past participle):

If I'd gone to the party last night, I would be tired now. (I am not tired now-present).

If I'd gone to the party last night, I would have met lots of people. (I didn't meet lots of people-
past).

Figure. Dancing.

1.2. Question Tags

Did you know…?

Question Tags are very commonly used by English-language speakers, particularly in spoken
language. However, they can be quite difficult to master as there is no grammatical equivalent
in Romance languages. In Spanish, we would translate these type of questions into ‘¿no?’,
‘¿sí?’ or ‘¿verdad?’

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 Note

The Question Tag for I am is aren’t I?: I’m the fastest, aren’t I?

Question Tags are short interrogative structures added to affirmative or negative statements.
They are used to confirm that the information contained in the previous statement is true.
Question Tags are always separated from the preceding statement by a comma.

You eat meat, don’t you?

Here you have the main rules on how to form Question Tags:

 Positive/negative statements.

If the sentence is positive, the Question Tag has to be negative:

John is a teacher, isn’t he?

But if the sentence is negative, the Question Tag has to be positive:

You haven’t met him, have you?

 With auxiliary or Modal Verbs.

The Question Tag has to take the same verb as the main sentence. If this is an auxiliary verb
(BE, HAVE, DO) or a MODAL VERB then the Question Tag is made with this verb:

They’ve gone to London for a few days, haven’t they?

Mary had met him before, hadn’t she?

This car isn’t working, is it?

You won’t tell anyone, will you?

They couldn’t hear me, could they?

Figure. Questions.

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 Travel

You can watch this video entitled How to form question tags? which can be of great help for
you to reinforce the knowledge acquired in this section.

 Without auxiliary verbs.

If the sentence does not have an auxiliary verb, the Question Tag uses the appropriate form of
DO:

You said that, didn’t you?

You don’t like me, do you?

He eats meat, doesn’t he?

 With the structure LET’S… we should use the positive Question Tag SHALL WE?

Let’s go to the cinema, shall we?

 With an imperative in the main sentence we should use the positive Question Tag WILL
YOU?

Give me a hand with the washing up, will you?

1.3. How to write a successful CV

What is a CV?

CV is the abbreviation for the Latin expression Curriculum Vitae. It is the outline of a person's
qualifications and career, usually prepared for job applications. Another possible name for a CV
in US English is résumé.

Watch this video about how to write a successful CV:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0JAfqEak2c

Layout

There are many formats available for you to choose from when drafting your CV. You can either
create your own template or you can follow a pre-established one. A very popular CV template in
Europe is Europass, which you can download here in different languages.

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 Figure. Career start.

If you decide to create your own CV, do not forget to include the following sections:

 A recent photo (it is optional but it is advisable to include one).

 Date of birth.
 Contact details: name, surnames, gender, birth date, address, phone number, fax number,
email, etc.
 Your profession or professional area, or a summarised description of your professional
profile (it must not exceed five lines).
 Description or name of the job you are applying for (if you are applying for a specific
position).
 Work experience.
 Education and training (include qualifications if they are relevant).
 Personal skills: computing, languages (level must be specified), driving license, etc.
 Interests: you can reduce this section to a list of personal interests. When preparing a CV
for English-speaking countries, don’t forget about this section as employers appreciate
their future workers having a wide range of personal interests.
 References (normally included just if requested by the employers).

Figure. CV.

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 Travel

The University of Kent provides a great number of examples of good versus bad CVs. They
are commented critically and this can also provide you with clues for your own successful CV.

General tips to write a successful CV

A CV, together with a cover letter, are the most flexible and convenient ways to apply for a job.
It is “a marketing document” in which you are “selling” yourself and your abilities, skills and
experience. Here you have some tips to create an effective CV based on the general advice given
in the BBC News article “How to Write a Successful CV”:

 Adapt your CV to a specific job: it is essential to ensure your CV is relevant to each job
application, rather than sending the same generic CV to every position.
 Keep it simple and clear: it should be easy to read, two pages are enough for an
effective CV to make a good impression.
 Include key information rather than incidental details.
 Showcase achievements: offer evidence of how your targets were achieved, but always
be honest. Do not include false information.
 Check your CV once finished: avoid errors, typos and ask for a second opinion if
necessary.

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2. Summary
By the end of this unit you should have learnt how to express conditions and hypothesis in English
when referring to the past, present or future. You should by now also be familiar with question
tags, used to confirm information in spoken English. Finally, you should have developed the
necessary skills to write a successful CV (both in Spanish and in English).

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3. Conceptual map

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4. References

Main resources

Aarts, B. (2011). Oxford Modern English Grammar. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Fleetwood, H. (1974). Conditional Sentence. Hamilton.

Murphy, R. (2012). English Grammar in Use. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Teng, S. A. (2013). English Grammar: The Verb Tenses. Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Sam Ang
Teng Editor.

Thomson, A. J. and Martinet A.V. (1996). A Practical English Grammar. Oxford: Oxford
University Press.

Additional resources

Pearson Longman (2007). Longman English Business Dictionary. London: Pearson.

Cambridge University. (2012). Cambridge Essential English Dictionary. Cambridge: Cambridge

University Press.

Collins Dictionaries. (2012). Collins Gem. Diccionario inglés: (español-inglés, inglés- español).
Barcelona: Grijalbo.

Collins Dictionaries. (2014). Collins English Dictionary. London: HarperCollins.

Other resources

BBC Learning English. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/>

BBC News. How to Write a Successful CV <http://www.bbc.com/news/business-15573447>

British Council: Learn English. <http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/>

University of Kent. Examples of Good and Bad CVs.

<http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/goodbadCV.htm>

Oxford Language Dictionaries Online. <https://www.oxforddictionaries.com/>

If I were a rich man… <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBHZFYpQ6nc>

How to Form Question Tags? <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beCqCLgbrnc>

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