18.

2 first conditioanl
The meaning of the first conditional is still quite similar to the zero conditional.

[00:00:04] However, the first conditional is focused on a particular person or event and not
generally focused like the zero conditional. Let's start by looking at the differences between the
0 and first conditional.

[00:00:16] How to form the first conditional.

[00:00:18] For the first conditional, the if clause is the same. If plus present simple. So the
dependent clause is exactly the same, but now and for the second and third conditionals as well,
we cannot use when. We only use when to replace if in the zero conditional. In the zero
conditional you can use when or if, it's completely your choice.

[00:00:41] For the independent clause we use the future simple will, followed by our main verb
in the infinitive.

[00:00:48] If it rains, you get wet.

[00:00:50] That's what we said for the zero conditional. This means when there is rain outside,
when it's raining and you go outside, you will get wet. At least a little bit, maybe a lot. But it's
impossible to avoid getting at least a little wet. We are not talking about a specific day or time of
the year that it rains. We are saying that whenever it rains, you get wet.

[00:01:10] If it rains, you will get wet.

[00:01:13] This is now the first conditional. And the biggest difference is that we are talking
about a specific situation. That's what will tells us. We need more context to really show you the
difference. And that's also what we can do now with the first conditional. Add more specific
detail for specific moments.

[00:01:30] If it rains tonight, you will get wet.

[00:01:33] You see the difference even more now? I'm talking about what can happen tonight.
We are still saying if it rains, that means it is not a 100% certainty that it will rain. Maybe it's a
lower chance, or maybe it's a higher chance. We don't know in this example. All we know, is that
tonight a specific moment in time. I will get wet if it rains.

[00:01:54] You get a sunburn if you stay in the sun too long.

[00:01:58] This was our zero conditional example. It's a fact, especially for me. Because I very
pale skin. So I always need to wear sunscreen. It doesn't change. Maybe it's not a fact for
someone with darker skin, but for me it is.

[00:02:11] You will get a sunburn if you stay in the sun too long.
[00:02:14] Now, we're in the first conditional. You will get a sunburn. So maybe we are planning
to go to the beach later today. It's a beautiful sunny day. This is basically a warning from my
friend telling me to be careful today, because the sun is very bright and there is a risk of getting
burned. But my friend is only talking about today. This specific trip to the beach and what is
possible to happen, though not a certainty.

[00:02:37] For example, if the sky is cloudy tomorrow, my friend probably won't give me the
same warning. In fact instead, he might say, you won't get a sunburn if the sky is cloudy.

[00:02:47] When you have fun, time seems to pass quickly.

[00:02:49] We're back to the zero conditional. We're not talking about a specific event. This is a
general truth, that everyone knows and experiences. When you have fun, time flies. When you
have no fun, time seems stuck and eternal.

[00:03:02] If you have fun, time will go quickly.

[00:03:05] Back to the first conditional now. First we can't use when, remember? So we use if
and because we're using the first conditional, we must be talking about a specific event. So we
can add some more specific detail if we want. Let's do that now to this sentence.

[00:03:21] If you have fun at the party, time will go quickly.

[00:03:24] Okay still not a super common statement, but it works and we're trying to compare it
to the zero conditional. Let's imagine. I don't want to go to this party, but if I go and don't try to
have fun, the party will seem to last forever.

[00:03:37] However, if I go to the party and at least try to have fun, it will seem to end sooner.
With the first conditional we're now talking about a specific event and what might happen in the
future related to it. It's not guaranteed I'll have fun, but we're talking about what will likely
happen if I try to have fun. With the first conditional things aren't guaranteed, but they do have
a fairly high probability of happening.