What is a conditional?

A conditional is a sentence or part of a sentence that expresses a condition. It usually begins

with the words "when," "if" and "unless."

A condition is what must happen before something else can happen.

Examples of conditionals (note that the conditions are in italics):

I will come if I have enough time.

(I am not sure that I will come. It depends on something else.)

She would tell me if she knew.

(She doesn't know.)

Unless she agrees to pay us we will not take the job.
(She must agree to pay before we take the job.)

They will come when I call them.

(They will not come before I call them.)

There are four basic conditionals in English, or in other words: there are four ways to express
that something is dependent on something else.

Note: in the examples below the conditions are in GREEN, and the results are in BROWN.

The First Conditional

"If he catches a fish, he will be very happy."

We use first conditional when talking about possible future events.

Structure:

If + Simple Present, + Will

OR

Will + If + Simple Present

Examples:

 Lisa will be very happy if she wins the prize.

 If it rains, then we will stay at home.

 You will always be able to take another test if you fail.

  If I see Sam, I will ask him to give you a call.

Note:
You can use these modal verbs instead of will:
shall, can, may.

Examples:

 If you fail, you can always try again.

 If you finish everything on time, you may go home earlier.

 We shall meet on Sunday, if it's alright with you.

The Second Conditional

"If I met a genie, I would ask for infinite wealth..."

We use the second conditional when talking about future events that are not likely to

happen.

Structure :

If + Simple Past, + Would + Base Form

OR

Would + Base Form + If + Simple Past

Examples:

 If I won a million dollars, I would travel around the world.

(There is a small possibility that I would actually win.)

 If I met him again, I would tell him the truth.

(There is a small possibility that I would actually meet him again.)

 She would quit school if her parents agreed.

(It is unlikely that her parents agree.)

 I would be surprised if I saw pigs in the sky.

(It is very unlikely for me to see pigs in the sky.)

We also use the second conditional when talking about things which are contrary to the
present facts.
"If I had any money, I would give you some."
Examples:

 If she worked less, she wouldn't be so tired.

(In reality she doesn't work less, so she is tired.)

 You would see John if you were here now.

(In reality you are not here now, so you don't see John.)

 If things were different, we would be happy.

(In reality things are not different, and we are not happy.)

 We would be good friends if she were nicer.

(In reality she is not nice, and we are not good friends.)

Note:
You can use these modal verbs instead of would:
should, could, might.

Examples:

 If she didn't have her job, she could come with us to the North Pole.

 If they wanted to move, they could sell the house to us.

Note:
The short form of would is 'd.
For example: If Kathleen were at home, she'd pick up the phone.

The verb BE
The verb BE has a special rule in this case.

Usually we say: I was, he was, she was, it was, we were, you were, they were.

However, in these cases, we use:

I were, he were, she were, it were, we were, you were, they were.

In other words: "were" is the only form.

Examples:

If I were you I would apologize.

(In reality I am not you.)
I would fight back, if I were you.
(In reality I am not you.)

The Third Conditional

"If I had paid more attention, I wouldn't have hit myself..."

We use the third conditional when talking about things which are contrary to the past facts.
In other words: events that did not happen in the past.

Structure :

If + Past Perfect, + Would have + V3

OR

Would have + V3 + If + Past Perfect

Examples:

 If I had woken up on time, I would have taken the bus.

(What really happened was that I didn't wake up on time, and so I didn't take the bus.)

 Tom would have helped us if he had known we were there.

(What really happened was that he didn't know we were there, and so he didn't help
us.)

 If I had told Sarah the truth, I would have felt much better.
(What really happened was that I didn't tell Sarah the truth, and so I didn't feel so
good.)

 If it hadn't rained yesterday, we would have enjoyed a nice picnic.

(What really happened was that it rained yesterday, and we didn't go for a picnic.) 

Note #1:
The short form of had is 'd.
For example: If he'd passed his exams, he would have gotten a diploma.

Note #2:
You can use these modal verbs instead of would have:
should have, could have, might have.

Examples:
  Jessica might have gotten the job if she hadn't been so nervous.

 You could have arrived on time if you had used a map.

 If she had known what to do, she should have told us.

The Zero Conditional

"If the sun sets, it becomes night."

We use the zero conditional when talking about things which are always true, or generally 

true.

Structure
If + Simple Present, + Simple Present

OR

Simple Present + If + Simple Present

Examples:

 If you boil an egg, it becomes solid.

 If you heat something, it becomes hotter.

 I always listen to music if I jog.

Note:
We can use "when" instead of "if."

Examples:

 When I see Karen I always feel better.

 When she feels sick she lies in bed.

 He starts yelling only when he gets really desperate.

 English Conditionals Summary Table

Conditional Time Frame Probability Example

First If I meet Helen, I will
Future Possible
Conditional invite her to the party.
Second If I won the lottery,
Future Unlikely
Conditional I would help the world.
Second Unreal/ If I had the money,
Present
Conditional Imaginary I would lend it to you.
 Third If I had studied French,
Past Impossible
Conditional I would have known it.
Zero If you drop something,
Always/Generally Certain
Conditional it falls.

Story Weekend Plans

Christine and Margaret are friends. They are both busy because the work and study! But on
Wednesday they meet for coffee.

"What are you going to do this weekend?" asks Margaret.

"Well, I have a big project to finish for my design class. But if I can finish it by Friday, I'll do
something fun as a treat," says Christine.

"That sounds great!" replies Margaret. "I think the ballet is coming to town. If it isn't too
expensive, I'm going to buy tickets. Would you like to come?"

"Well, I don't really like ballet very much. If you want to go to the ballet in the evening, let's
do something in the morning," says Christine.

"All right. If you have the energy, let's go swimming!" suggests Margaret.

"That sounds great! If I don't call you on Friday, send me an email at work," agrees Christine.
"And if I don't answer, call me again. And if I don't pick up… oh, let's just make plans now!
I'm too busy to plan later!"

THE END
Activity
Some friends are planning a party. Everybody wants to party, but nobody's really keen on
preparing and organising the party. So everybody comes up with a few conditions, just to
make sure that the others will also do something.
Complete the Conditional Sentences Type I.
1. If Caroline and Sue prepare the salad, Phil will decorate  the house.
2. If Sue cuts the onions for the salad, Caroline will peel  the mushrooms.
3. Jane will hoover the sitting room if Aaron and Tim move  the furniture.
4. If Bob tidies up the kitchen, Anita will clean  the toilet.
5. Elaine will buy the drinks if somebody helps  her carry the bottles.
6. If Alan and Rebecca organise the food, Mary and Conor will make  the sandwiches.
7. If Bob looks after the barbecue, Sue will let  the guests in.
8. Frank will play the DJ if the others bring  along their CDs.
9. Alan will mix the drinks if Jane gives  him some of her cocktail recipes.
10. If they all do their best, the party will be great
Activity 2 Janine is a daydreamer. She imagines what would happen if she won the lottery.
Complete the Conditional Sentences Type II.
1. If I played the lottery, I would have  a chance to hit the jackpot.
2. If I hit the jackpot, I would be  rich.
3. If I were rich, my life would change  completely.
4. I would buy a lonely island if I found  a nice one.
5. If I owned a lonely island, I would build  a huge house by the beach.
6. I would invite all my friends if I had  a house by the beach.
7. I would pick my friends up in my yacht if they wanted  to spend their holidays on my
island.
8. We would have great parties if my friends came  to my island.
9. If we liked to go shopping in a big city, we would charter  a helicopter.
10. But if my friends' holidays were over, I would feel  very lonely on my lonely island.
Activity 3
What a match – your favourite team has lost again! So after the game, the supporters discuss
what could have been different.
Complete the Conditional Sentences Type III.
1. If the midfielders had passed the ball more exactly, our team would have had  more
chances to attack.
2. If the forwards had run faster, they would have scored  more goals.
3. Their motivation would have improved if they had kicked  a goal during the first
half.
4. The fullbacks would have prevented one or the other goal if they had marked  their
opponents.
5. If the goalie had jumped up, he would have caught  the ball.
6. If the referee had seen the foul, he would have awarded  a penalty kick to our team.
7. Our team would have been in better form if they had trained  harder the weeks
before.
8. The game would have become better if the trainer had sent  a substitute in during the
second half.
9. If it had been a home game, our team would have won  the match.
10. If our team had won the match, they would have moved  up in the league.

Activity 4
Complete the Conditional Sentences. Decide whether to use Type I, II or III.
1. If I had time, I would go  shopping with you.
2. If you speak  English, you will get along with them perfectly.
3. If they had gone for a walk, they would have turned  the lights off.
4. If she comes  to see us, we will go to the zoo.
5. I would have told you, if I had seen  him.
6. Would you mind if I opened  the window?
7. If they had invited  me, I wouldn't have said no.
8. My friend will meet  me at the station if he gets the afternoon off.
9. If I didn't do  it, nobody would do it.
10. If my father doesn't pick  me up, I'll take the bus home.