Conditional Forms

By Kenneth Beare, About.com Guide (esl.about.com)

Listed below are examples, uses and formation of Conditionals followed by a quiz. Conditional 0 Situations that are always true if something happens. NOTE This use is similiar to, and can usually be replaced by, a time clause using 'when' (example: When I am late, my father takes me to school.) If I am late, my father takes me to school. She doesn't worry if Jack stays out after school. Conditional 0 is formed by the use of the present simple in the if clause followed by a comma the present simple in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first without using a comma between the clauses. If he comes to town, we have dinner. OR We have dinner if he comes to town. Conditional 1 Often called the "real" conditional because it is used for real - or possible - situations. These situations take place if a certain condition is met. NOTE In the conditional 1 we often use unless which means 'if ... not'. In other words, '...unless he hurries up.' could also be written, '...if he doesn't hurry up.'. If it rains, we will stay at home. He will arrive late unless he hurries up. Peter will buy a new car, if he gets his raise. Conditional 1 is formed by the use of the present simple in the if clause followed by a comma will verb (base form) in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first without using a comma between the clauses. If he finishes on time, we will go to the movies. OR We will go to the movies if he finishes on time. Conditional 2 Often called the "unreal" conditional because it is used for unreal - impossible or improbable - situations. This conditional provides an imaginary result for a given situation.

NOTE The verb 'to be', when used in the 2nd conditional, is always conjugated as 'were'. If he studied more, he would pass the exam. I would lower taxes if I were the President. They would buy a new house if they had more money. Conditional 2 is formed by the use of the past simple in the if clause followed by a comma would verb (base form) in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first without using a comma between the clauses. If they had more money, they would buy a new house. OR They would buy a new house if they had more money. Conditional 3 Often referred to as the "past" conditional because it concerns only past situations with hypothetical results. Used to express a hypothetical result to a past given situation. If he had known that, he would have decided differently. Jane would have found a new job if she had stayed in Boston. Conditional 3 is formed by the use of the past perfect in the if clause followed by a comma would have past participle in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first without using a comma between the clauses. If Alice had won the competition, life would have changed OR Life would have changed if Alice had won the competition. Conditional Statements - Reviewing the First and Second Conditional Making conditional statements are an important part of fluency. This lesson focuses on helping students improve their recognition of the structure and use it in conversation. Aim: Improve recognition of the first and second conditional forms used in conditional statements, while inductively reviewing the structures. Activity: Reading Short prepared text with first and second conditional forms included, Speaking Replying to student generated conditional questions, Writing Developing structurally correct questions using the first and second conditionals Level: Intermediate Outline:

Ask students to imagine the following situation: Youve arrived home late at night and you find that the door is open to your apartment. What would you do? - Refresh students awareness of the conditional in this relaxed introductory portion of the lesson. Have students read prepared extract using conditionals. Ask students to underline all conditional structures. In groups, students complete fill-in activity based on previous reading.

Correct worksheets in small groups. Move about the room helping students with their corrections. Go over corrections as a class. Answer any questions they may have on first and second conditional structure at this point. In groups, have students prepare two What if situations on a separate piece of paper. Ask students to employ first and second conditionals. Ask students to exchange their prepared situations with another group. Students in each group discuss the "what if..." situations. Move about the class and help students - especially concentrating on the correct production of the first and second conditional forms.

Exercise 1: Emergency Procedures Directions: Underline all conditional structures with either 1 (first conditional) or 2 (second conditional) If you take a look at the handout, youll find all the telephone numbers, addresses and other necessary information. If Tom were here, he'd help me with this presentation. Unfortunately, he couldn't make it today. OK, let's get started: Todays subject is helping guests with emergency situations. We'd certainly have a worse reputation if we didn't handle these situations well. That's why we like to review these procedures every year. If a guest looses his passport, call the consulate immediately. If the consulate isnt nearby, youll have to help the guest get to the appropriate consulate. It would be great if we had some more consulates here. However, there are also a few in Boston. Next, if a guest has an accident which is not so serious, youll find the first-aid kit under the reception desk. If the accident is serious, call an ambulance. Sometimes guests need to return home unexpectedly. If this happens, the guest might need your help making travel arrangements, re-scheduling appointments, etc. Do everything you can to make this situation as easy to cope with as possible. If there is a problem, the guest will expect us to be able to handle any situation. Its our responsibility to make sure ahead of time that we can. Exercise 2: Check Your Understanding Directions: Fill in the blanks with the correct missing half of the sentence youll have to help the guest get to the appropriate consulate youll find all the telephone numbers, addresses and other necessary information the guest will expect us to be able to handle any situation if we didn't handle these situations well If Tom were here If this happens If a guest looses his passport call an ambulance If you take a look at the handout, _____. _____, he'd help me with this presentation. Unfortunately, he couldn't make it today. OK, let's get started: Todays subject is helping guests with emergency situations. We'd certainly have a worse reputation _____. That's why we like to review these procedures every year. _____, call the consulate immediately. If the consulate isnt nearby, _____. It would be great if we had some more consulates here. However, there are also a few in Boston. Next, if a guest has an accident which is not so serious, youll find the first-aid kit under the reception desk. If the accident is serious, _____.

Sometimes guests need to return home unexpectedly. ______, the guest might need your help making travel arrangements, re-scheduling appointments, etc. Do everything you can to make this situation as easy to cope with as possible. If there is a problem, _____. Its our responsibility to make sure ahead of time that we can.