CONDITIONALS

ZERO CONDITIONAL (general truths)

If + present ------------------------ present
If we heat ice, it melts

FIRST CONDITIONAL: (Real situations, a condition we believe is possible)

If + present --------------------------- future

present
imperative
If you fall, I won’t be able to catch you.
Leave me and I’ll die of a broken heart.

SECOND CONDITIONAL: (Unreal situations, imaginary condition,which we believe to

be impossible or improbable)

If + past ------------------------- conditional

(Would + infinitive)
If you fell, you would hurt yourself.

THIRD CONDITIONAL: ( Impossible situations, we use this to talk about past events
which cannto be changed, so we know that the condition is impossible.)

If + Past Perfect ----------------------- Conditional Perfect

(Had + p.p.) (Would + have + p.p.)

If you had tried harder, you would have succeeded.

 Unless = a menos que ( equivale a una frase de if + not) it is used with the present
tense to talk about the future.
We’re going unless the weather gets much worse. (=if the weather doesn’t get
much worse)
 Provided/providing that and as/so long as= siempre que, con tal de que
These expressions are used with a present tense to talk about the future
As long as we all stay together, we’ll have a great time

 I wish and If only (I wish means the same as if only. If only is less common.

Wish and If only + past simple is used to express a wish (ojalá)

I wish you loved me (=but you don’t love me)
I wish I Knew the answer (=but I don’t know the answer)
We use were instead of was after I ,he, she, it: I wish I were clever like you

Wish/if only+ past perfect is used when we express a wish or a regret about the
past, It’s like the third conditional- the event can’t be changed.
She wishes she’d never met him (=but she met him)

Wish/if only + would is used when we express a wish (for something to happen
now or in the future, for someone to do something (often when we are annoyed)
I wish you would stay longer
I wish the waiter would hurry up
Choose the most suitable tense:

a) If the machine stops/will stop, you press/will press this button.

b) If you help me /helped me with this exercise, I will do/ would do the same for you one
day.
c) According to the timetable, if the train leaves/left on time we will/would arrive at 5:30.
d) If it is / it will be fine tomorrow, we go/ will go to the coast.
e) If we find/ found a taxi, we will get / would get there before the play starts.
f) It’s quite simple really. If you take/ will take / took these tablets every day, then you lose/
will lose /lost /would lose weight.

COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES:

a. If the weather is fine, we............................................. on a picnic.

b. If you have a toothache, ......................................... the dentist!
c. Plants would die if you .......................................... them water.
d. If it keeps on snowing, the buses.............................................. running.
e. Unless you .......................................... from me by six o’clock, take the train.
f. If you want peace and quiet, .............................................. in the library.
g. If we ............................................ ,we’ll take a holiday.
h. If we had any spare time, we...............................................
i. If I were you, I..............................................
j. I ........................................ more weight if I had gone on a diet sooner.
k. They .............................................. us if they had had enough time.
l. You could get a better mark if ..................................................
m. If you had been here on time, ..................................................

SUPPLY THE CORRECT TENSE:

1.- I ......................................... (watch) the film if it were interesting.

2.- You will catch the plane if you ............................................. (take) a taxi.
3.- I ..........................................(drink) my coke if it had not been so cold.
4.- Go and see him if you ............................................ (have) time.
5.- If you ......................................... (be) less shy, you would make more progress.
6.- If you drink too much, you ....................................... (be) ill.
7.- There would not have been a war if both countries .................................................... (not
be) so proud.
8.- If you give him the parcel he .......................................... (post) it.
9.- If you ........................................ (work) harder you would pass your exam.
10.- If you phone him, ......................................... (tell) him to come.

FINISH THESE SENTENCES:

1. I would go for a walk if .................................................................................................

2. If she does that again, I ...................................................................................................
3. If you had done as I told you, you ...................................................................................
4. If she became a great painter, she.....................................................................................
5. If I were you, I ..................................................................................................................
6. He would have arrived on time if .....................................................................................
7. Will you promise to help me if I .....................................................................................?