CONDITIONALS

(ZERO, FIRST,
SECOND)

Istvan J. Sliger
WHAT IS A CONDITIONAL?

Is a compound sentence, made of two

simple sentences called "clauses"
One clause is called the cause clause
(starts with if) and the other one is
called the consequence clause

The conditional sentence can be

written in two different forms: cause -
consequence or consequence cause
 STRUCTURE OF
CONDITIONALS
Conditionals follow these two structures, the only difference between them are the
modal verbs, auxiliary verbs, and action verbs writing.
STRUCTURE #1: IF + SUBJECT + AUXILIARY VERB (IF NEEDED) +ACTION VERB +
COMPLEMENT + COMMA (TO SEPARATE CLAUSES) + SUBJECT + AUXILIARY VERB (IF
NEEDED) + ACTION VERB + COMPLEMENT.
STRUCTURE #2: SUBJECT +AUXILIARY VERB (I.N) + ACTION VERB + IF + SUBJECT +
AUX. VERB (I.N) + ACTION VERB + COMPLEMENT
 ZERO CONDITIONAL
We can make a zero conditional sentence with two present simple verbs (one
in the 'if clause' and one in the “main clause”.
This conditional is used when the result will always happen. So, if water
reaches 100 degrees, it always boils. It's a fact. When we are talking in general,
not about one particular situation. The result of the 'if clause' is always the
main (consequence )clause.
The 'if' in this conditional can usually be replaced by 'when' without changing
the meaning.
STRUCTURE:
If + subject +action verb (present simple) + , (comma) + subject + action verb
(present simple) + complement.
Examples:
If you freeze water, it becomes a solid.
Plants die if they don't get enough water
 FIRST CONDITIONAL
We use the first conditional when we talk about real and possible situations.
In first conditional sentences, the structure is usually IF + PRESENT SIMPLE and WILL +
ACTION VERB (BASIC FORM). It’s not important which clause comes first.
Modal auxiliary verb WILL be replaced by other modal verbs if you want to give a more
specific sense to your sentence. You can use MIGHT, MAY, SHOULD, and even semi-
modals like be able to
EXAMPLES:
If it’s a nice day tomorrow, we will go to the beach.
If you drop that glass, it might break.
I may finish that letter if I have time.
If he calls you, you should go
 SECOND CONDITIONAL

When we are thinking about a situation in the present or future that is hypothetical,
unlikely, or impossible, we use the second conditional, remember the structure is based
on compound sentences, so the cause clause and the consequence clause can be inverted.
AFFIRMATIVE STRUCTURE:
·IF + SUBJECT + ACTION VERB (PAST SIMPLE) + COMPLEMENT + COMMA (,) +
SUBJECT + CONDITIONAL VERB (WOULD) + ACTION VERB (BASIC FORM) +
COMPLEMENT
Example: If I knew his name, I would tell you
INVERTED FORM:
·SUBJECT + CONDITIONAL VERB (WOULD) + ACTION VERB (BASIC FORM) +
COMPLEMENT + IF + SUBJECT + ACTION VERB (PAST SIMPLE) + COMPLEMENT
Example: I would tell you if I knew his name
 SECOND CONDITIONAL

(SECOND PART)

NOTE 2: When we use the verb to be in second conditional in the cause clause, we use
the plural form in past simple (If I WERE) because the sentence is in the subjunctive
mood.
NEGATIVE STRUCTURE:
·IF + SUBJECT + DIDN´T (OPTIONAL) + VERB (BASIC FORM) + COMPLEMENT + COMMA
(,) + SUBJECT + CONDITIONAL VERB (WOULD) + NOT (OPTIONAL) + ACTION VERB
(BASIC FORM) + COMPLEMENT
Note: In the clauses, you can omit one of the negative auxiliaries but making sense in
the sentence is important