CONDITIONAL CLAUSES

Laura GP
• When/ How do you use them?
• Structure
• Songs and ads
When/ How do you use them?
 linking words
• If

• Unless (=if not)

• Provided/providing that
• On condition that
• As long as
 0 conditional:
if + Simple Present, + Simple Present
• Used for scientific / general truth.

• If you heat butter, it melts.

• If you don’t drink water, you dehydrate (it doesn’t

mean “you” but a general “you”. If humans don’t drink,
they dehydrate)
 1st conditional (a)
if + Simple Present + will (Future)

• If you train you will be able to run the half marathon.

• If you study hard you will pass the exam.
• You will pass the exam if you study hard.
 1st conditional (a)
if + Simple Present + will (Future)

• If I have time, I will help you.

• If you text her now, she will reply straight away.
• If I find your ring, I will give it back to you
• Lola will go shopping if she has time in the afternoon
• Simon will travel to London next week if he gets a cheap flight
 1st conditional (a)
if + Simple Present + will (Future)

• If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea, I'll sail the
world to find you.
• If you ever need a helping hand I'll be there on the double, just as
fast as I can
 Unless (=if not)
• If she doesn’t text me soon, I’ll get angry.
• Unless she texts me soon, I’ll get angry.

• He will be late if he doesn’t hurry up

• He will be late unless he hurries up.
 1st conditional (b)
if + Simple Present + imperative

• If you have any problems, call me

• If you see her, don’t tell her I was here.

• * If you should have any problems, phone me/let me know

• *Should you have any problems, phone me/let me know
 1st conditional (c)
if + Simple Present + can / may / might

• If it is hot today, we may go swimming

• If you want, we can go to the cinema.
2nd conditional

SPECULATE
PRESENT/
FUTURE
unreal
very difficult/impossible
unlikely
 2nd conditional
SPECULATE
PRESENT/FUTURE
unreal
impossible
unlikely

• [If +subj+ past simple] + [subj + would INF]

 2nd conditional
SPECULATE
PRESENT/FUTURE
unreal
impossible
unlikely

• If he studied more, he would pass all his subjects.

• She would buy a bike if she had more money.
• If I lived in New York, I would live in a skyscraper.
 2nd conditional
SPECULATE
PRESENT/FUTURE
unreal
impossible
unlikely

• If I were a boy I would turn off my phone

• If I were a boy (I think) I could understand
• Would you know my name if I saw you in heaven?
• If I got me a wealthy man I wouldn't have to work at all, I'd fool around
and have a ball
• If I were a very rich man I'd build a big tall house with rooms by the dozen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXzshOu8s58&pp=ygUPSUYgSSBXRVJFIEEgQk9Z
/
 2nd conditional- giving advice

• What would you do (if you were in my situation/if you

were me?)
• If I were you I would call the doctor.
 3rd conditional

SPECULATE
PAST
unreal
impossible
(it has already happened,
you can’t change it)
 3rd conditional

• [If +subj+ past perfect] + [subj + would have+ past participle]

• If you had texted me on my birthday I would have been happy.
• If I hadn’t missed my bus I would have arrived on time.
 3rd conditional
• If you had kept the receipt they would have given you a
refund.

• If I had known you liked chocolate cake, I would have

baked one for you.
 Specsavers ads

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDwK_AUk0FI
 3rd conditional
• If he had gone to the optician’s, he would
have seen the real cat/he wouldn’t have
mistaken the hat for a cat.
• If she had gone to the optician’s, she would
have seen her boyfriend behind the man/she
wouldn’t have mistaken the man for her
boyfriend/she wouldn’t have kissed the wrong
man.
• If he had gone to the optician’s, he would
have seen it was the kitchen/ he wouldn’t
have gone into the kitchen thinking it was a
sauna.