Conditionals.

What are the conditionals?

 A conditional sentence is based on the world “if”.

 A conditional sentence has two parts.

Cause or condition (if) + consequence or result
Example: If it rains, I’ll stay at home

 You can invert the two parts of a conditional.

Example: You won’t wait for me if I’m late

 There are four types of conditional sentences: Zero conditional, First conditional, Second
conditional and Third conditional.
Zero conditional.
If + present simple + present simple
If you heat ice, it melts
Uses: Permanent truths (facts, general habits)
Here are some examples, define if they are facts or habits:

 If you heat water to 100°, it boils. FACT

 If you eat a lot, you put on weight.
 If it doesn’t rain for a long time, the earth gets very dry.
 If we go out with friends, we normally go to a restaurant.
 If I’m tired, I go to bed early.
Write.
0. If you ask me, I answer.
1. __________ (she / arrive), please call me.
2. __________ (my mum / be) busy, I help her.
3. I can't run __________ (I / eat too much).
4. __________ (it / be) hot, I drink water.
5. We wait for you __________ (you / come) with us.
First conditional.
If + present simple + future or modal + verb

If you study, you will pass the exam

If I study, I will know the answers
If we travel to Medellin, we can take the metro
If he doesn’t call, you should tell me immediately
Uses: A possible or likely situation in the future.
Here are some examples:

 If you’re free later, we can go for a walk.

 If they’re hungry, I’ll make some sandwiches.
 If you’re not back by 5pm, give me a ring.
 If he studies hard, he’ll do well in the exam.
 If we arrive late, we must get a taxi.
 He’ll call if he needs help.
 Take a break if you’re tired
Write.
0. If we (travel/will travel) to Spain, we (will visit, visit) Granada.
1. She (play/will play) with us if she (will come/comes) early.
2. If you (will cook/cook) dinner, I (wash/will wash) the dishes.
3. I (will buy/buy) a new car if I (get/will get) a good job.
4. If (have/will have) you a cold, you (will stay/stay) in bed.
5. She (is/will be) very happy if you (will give/give) her some flowers.
 Second conditional.
If + past simple + could/would + verb
If I won the lottery, I would travel a lot
If I had a little more money, I could buy a car.
Uses: Hypothetical or unlikely situations.
Here are some examples:

 If I had more time, I’d exercise more. (But I don’t have more time so I don’t.)
 If I were rich, I’d spend all my time travelling. (But I’m not rich so I can’t.)
 If she saw a snake, she’d be terrified.
 If he didn’t have to work late, he could go out with his girlfriend.
 What would you do if you were offered a job in Canada?
 You wouldn’t have to walk everywhere if you bought a bike.
A common expression used to give advice has the second conditional structure. The expression is
‘If I were you, I’d...’, meaning ‘in your situation, this is what I would do’.
For example:
A: I’ve got a headache.
B: If I were you, I’d take an aspirin.
A: I don’t understand this.
B: If I were you, I’d ask your teacher for help.
A: This order won’t be delivered on time.
B: If I were you, I’d phone the customer to let them know.
If I were...
Note that with the verb To Be we use IF + I / HE / SHE / IT + WERE
The reason we use WERE instead of WAS is because the sentence is in the Subjunctive mood.

 If I were not in debt, I would quit my job.

 If he were taller, he'd be accepted into the team.
 She would still be correcting my grammar if she were still alive.
Write
0. If I were you, I would do it.
1. If I _____(have) enough money, I _____ (buy) a yacht.
2. He _____ (be) happy if you _____ (dance) with him.
3. If they _____ (drink) something, they _____ (drink) a beer.
4. If she _____ (have) a bike, she _____ (travel) to Galicia.
5. If you _____ (ring) the bell, somebody _____ (answer).
6. It _____ (be) nice if you _____ (love) me.
Things to remember

 We do not use will or would in the if-part of a conditional sentence:

If it will rain rains, I’ll stay at home.
 The if-part of the sentence can go at the beginning or at the end:
If it rains, I’ll stay at home. I’ll stay at home if it rains.
 In the second conditional we use if + past (if I did, if I didn’t, etc.), but the meaning is not
past. In this type of structure, the past tense refers to an imaginary or hypothetical situation,
such as finding a lot of money in the street:
What would you do if you found a lot of money in the street?
 In a first conditional sentence, we can use when instead of if for things that we are sure
will happen:
When she comes, I’ll call you.
Zero conditional exercises
1. You can sit here __________ (you / want).
2. Correct me __________ (I / be wrong).
3. What happens __________ (I / press) the button?
4. We don't know __________ (we / can) do that.
5. What do you eat __________ (you / be) hungry?

First conditional exercises

A. Complete the first conditional sentences about giving advice with the words from the box. Use
the correct form of the verb in the sentences. You can use each word only once.

Report Do Explain Help Hire

Might (not) tell (not) want Should Blame
a. She'll be able to ....................... more at work if she an assistant.
b. If you ....................... the crime to the police, they will you.
c. He ....................... understand if she why she has to leave.
d. If you ....................... to go with them, you tell them.
e. If you ....................... your boss, he might someone else for the mistake.
B. Put the words in the correct order to make first conditional sentences about giving advice. Add
punctuation and capitalization where needed.
a. survive / take / be able to / extra water / you / will / with you / if / in the desert /
you ..................................................................................................................................
b. much tidier / keep / look / in the wardrobe / you / if / your clothes / your room /
will ..................................................................................................................................
c. you / saving / decide / to Australia / if / money now / you / should / to go /
start ..................................................................................................................................
d. should / 8 o'clock / if / the train / take / get / you / to London / you /
before ..................................................................................................................................

e. we / hurry / arrive before / have to / we / the storm / want to / if /

starts ..................................................................................................................................

Second conditional exercises

1. If he _______ (to have) time, he _______ (to go) to the gym.
2. If they _______ (to be) young and healthy, they _______ (to play) football.
3. Andrew _______ (to call) Lilly if he _______ (to know) her telephone number.
4. We _______ (to go) outside if the weather _______ (to be) warm today.
5. He _______ (to achieve) his goal much faster if he _______ (to work) harder.
6. If Alice _______ (to do) sports regularly, she _______ (to feel) much better.
7. If I _______ (to be) a famous actor, I _______ (to earn) a lot of money.
8. Anna _______ (to buy) that dress if it _______ (to be) money with her.
9. If he _______ (to live) near his schools, it _______ (to take) him 10 minutes to get to it.