MEETING 3

Conditional if
 There are four main types of 'if' sentences in English:

1. The 'zero' conditional, where the tense in both parts of

the sentence is the simple present:
'IF' CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE

If you heat ice it melts.

If it rains you get wet

In these sentences, the time is now or always and the

situation is real and possible. They are often used to
refer to general truths.
2. The Type 1 conditional, where the tense in the 'if
clause is the simple present, and the tense in the
main clause is the simple future.

'IF' CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE

If it rains you will get wet

If you don't hurry we will miss the train.

In these sentences, the time is the present or future

and the situation is real (The Present Real
Conditional). They refer to a possible condition.
3. The Type 2 conditional, where the tense in the 'if'
clause is the simple past, and the tense in the main
clause is the present conditional:

'IF' CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE

If it rained you would get wet

If you went to bed earlier you wouldn't be
so tired.

In these sentences, the time is now or any time, and

the situation is unreal (The Present Unreal
Conditional). They are not based on fact, and they
refer to an unlikely or hypothetical condition.
Example of the type 2 conditional:
1. If I owned a car, I would drive to work. But I don't own a
car.
2. She would travel around the world if she had more
money. But she doesn't have much money.
3. I would read more if I didn't watch so much TV. Mary
would move to Japan if she spoke Japanese.
4. If they worked harder, they would earn more money.
5. A: What would you do if you won the lottery?
B: I would buy a house.
6. A: Where would you live if you moved to the U.S.?
B: I would live in Seattle.
4. The Type 3 conditional, where the tense in the 'if' clause
is the past perfect, and the tense in the main clause is the
perfect conditional:

'IF' CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE

If it had rained you would have got wet

If you had worked harder you would have passed the
exam.

In these sentences, the time is past, and the situation is

contrary to reality. The facts they are based on are the
opposite of what is expressed, and they refer to an unreal
past condition. The Past Unreal Conditional is used to talk
about imaginary situations in the past. You can describe
what you would have done differently or how something
could have happened differently if circumstances had been
different.
The example of type 3 conditional:

1. If I had owned a car, I would have driven to work. But I

didn't own one, so I took the bus.
2. She would have traveled around the world if she had
had more money. But she didn't have much money, so
she never traveled.
3. If Jack had worked harder, he would have earned
more money. Unfortunately, he was lazy and he didn't
earn much.
 Mix and Match
1. If I knew his number
2. She would do it
3. I wouldn’t do that
4. If we lived in the country
5. If there were last car in the
world
6. If I had more spare time
7. If the weather was good
8. If we had enough money
9. You would get better result
10. You would meet more
people
a. I would give him a call
b. We would go to the beach
c. We would need a second car
d. If you went out more often
e. There would be less pollution
f. If I were you
g. We would travel more often
h. If you worked harder for your
exam
I If she could
j. I would join the sport club
 Put the verb into the correct form!

1. If you took more exercise, you …..better. (feel).

2. If I …. his number, I would phone him. (know).
3. I didn’t know you were in hospital. If
…..(I/know). ……(I/go) to visit you.
4. I wasn’t tired last night. If ….(I/be) tired, I would
have gone home earlier.
5. We would need a car if we…..in the country.
(live)
6. If somebody ….in here with a gun, I’d be very
frightened. (walk).
7. I’m sure Sue …..if you explained the situation to
her. (understand).
8. If I were you, I …..(not/wait). I …..now. (go).
9. If I sold my car, I ….. much money for it.
(not/get).
10. If we had the choice, we …. in the country.
(live).
 Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the
appropriate conditional form!

Did you hear about that guy who won 180 million dollars in the lottery? If I
(win)…… that much money, I (quit)..……. my job the next day. I (travel)
around the world and (stay)…….. in the most luxurious hotels. If I (want)
.........anything, I (buy)…..… it. If I (see)…..…… a beautiful Mercedes that I
wanted, I (buy)…….. it. If I wanted to stay in a beautiful hotel and the hotel
(be)……. full, I (buy) ……….the hotel and make them give me a room. I
(can)………… do anything in the world if I had 180 million dollars. Oh, I am
starting to sound a little materialistic. Well,, I (do)……… good things with the
money as well. If anybody (need)…….. help, I (give) ……them some money
to help them out. I (donate) ……money to charities. I (give) ……..money to
help support the arts. If I (win)…… that much money, I wouldn't keep it all for
myself. I (help) ……..as many people as possible.
 Answer Key of the exercise

Did you hear about that guy who won 180 million dollars in the lottery?
If I won that much money, I would quit my job the next day. I would
travel around the world and stay in the most luxurious hotels. If I
wanted anything, I would buy it. If I saw a beautiful Mercedes that I
wanted, I would buy it. If I wanted to stay in a beautiful hotel and the
hotel were full, I would buy the hotel and make them give me a room. I
could do anything in the world if I had 180 million dollars ... Oh, I am
starting to sound a little materialistic... Well... I would do good things
with the money as well. If anybody needed help, I would give them
some money to help them out. I would donate money to charities. I
would give money to help support the arts. If I won that much money, I
wouldn't keep it all for myself. I would help as many people as
possible.