Conditionals

Zero Conditionals
• The zero conditional is a
structure used to talk about
general truths - things which
always happen under certain
conditions.
The structure of a zero
conditional sentence
• A zero conditional sentence consists of
two clauses, an "if" clause and a main
clause
If clause+ main clause:

If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.

• If the "if" clause comes first, a comma is usually
used.

• if clause: if +subject + present simple

• main clause: subject + present simple

Water boils if you heat it to 100 degrees.

Let’s Practice:
• Use the conditions and results in the box to complete the phrases below.

Conditions: you've got a headache, you don't wear a crash helmet, you heat it
to 100 ºc, she comes home very late, you leave gates open in the country,
you add sugar
Results: you get pink, A dog bites, the DVD player comes on, Butter melts, it
scratches you, You have more chance of being killed

1. Water boils if __________________________________

2. If you mix red and white _________________________________
3. ____________________________________ if you leave it in the sun.
4. If ____________________________________ , take an aspirin.
5. If _____________________________________ , it tastes sweet.
6. __________________________ if you go near its food when it's eating.
7. If you pull a cat's tail, _______________________________ .
8. _______________if you don't wear a seat belt.
9. You can end up brain damaged if ______________________________
10. If you press this switch, ____________________________________
11. If ____________________________________ , her folks get very angry.
12. Farmers get very angry if _______________________________________
 The First Conditional

The first conditional (also called

conditional type 1) is a structure
used to talk about possibilities in
the present or in the future
 The structure of a first
conditional sentence
• A first conditional sentence consists of two
clauses, an "if" clause and a main clause:

if clause + main clause

If you study hard , you will pass the test.

:
• if clause: if + subject + present
simple

• main clause: subject + future

simple (will)/ imperative/can.
If you leave now,you will arrive in
time
( future simple )
If you are hungry, eat something
(imperative)
If you need help, you can ask the
teacher .(can)
(
Let’s Practice:
• If Clare ________   late again, the hockey trainer will be furious. (to arrive)
• You'll be sorry if you ___________________  for your exams. (to revise)

•
We ___________________  if the weather's good. (to go)
• They _____________  you if you wear a wig and dark glasses. (to recognize)
• If the bus ________________ on time, I won't miss the football. (to be)
• If you ____________ your homework now, you'll be free all tomorrow. (to do)
• We___________________  out if there's no food at home. (to eat)

•
You'll find life much easier if you ____________ more often. (to smile)

•
If it's hot, we___________________  for a swim. (to go)

•
You'll do it better if you ___________________ more time over it. (to take)

•
If she ___________________ practicing, she'll get better. (to keep)

•
I___________________  so happy if I pass the exam. (to be)
• You'll be really tired tomorrow if you ___________________  to bed soon.
(to go)
 Second Conditional

The second conditional (also called

conditional type 2) is a structure
used to talk about unreal situations
in the present or in the future .
• If clause + main clause

If I had a million dollars , I would buy

a mansion
We use different verb forms in each part of a
second conditional:

• if clause: if + subject + simple past

• main clause: subject + would + verb
+could + verb
+ might +verb

Note that this "simple past" form is slightly

different from usual in the case of the verb BE.
Whatever the subject, the verb form is "were",
not "was": If I were rich, I'd buy a big house.
Let’s Practice:

• If Joe……….. (be) here, he …………(catch) some fish

for supper.
2. It …………(be) nice if the rain………… (stop)!
3. I ………….(sing) you a song if I ……..(have) my
guitar.
4. If I …………(have) a better sleeping bag, I……….
(not feel) so cold.
5. If this tent….. (be) smaller, one of us ..(have to
sleep) outside!
• 6. I ………………………(go ) to the doctor if I………( be)
you.
7. If I ………(not be) so hungry, I (share)…… my
beans with you.
 Third Conditional

• The third conditional (also called

conditional type 3) is a structure
used to talk about unreal
situations in the past.
 If clause + main clause
If I had studied harder, I would
have passed the exam.
Explanation:
• I failed the exam, because I didn't
study hard enough.
if clause: if + subject + past perfect
main clause :subject + would / could,/ might +have
+ past participle

*The past perfect is formed with the auxiliary verb "had", and the
past participle (or third form) of the verb.
had been( hubiera sido o estado )/ had studied( hubiera
estudiado)
*The perfect conditional is formed with would+have+ past
participle
Would have been( habría sido) would have arrived( habría llegado)
The third conditional is used to talk
about things which DID NOT
HAPPEN in the past.
• If you had driven more carefully,
you would not have had an
accident.
( You had an accident because you
didn't drive carefully enough)
Let’s Practice:
• 1.He crashed his car, because he fell asleep while driving.
If he ……………asleep while driving, he……………….. his car.
2. We couldn't go to the concert, because we didn't have enough
money.
If we……………. enough money, we…………….. to the concert.
3. I lost my job because I was late for work.
I……………………. my job if I………………. late for work.
4. The wind was so strong that the bridge collapsed.
If the wind ………………so strong, the bridge…………………… .
5. I couldn't call Sally because I had lost her number.
I …………………..Sally if I…………………… her number.
 OTHER WAYS OF SAYING IF
Unless ( if………..not)
I´ll take the job unless the pay is too low.
I´ll take the job if the pay isn´t too low.

Unless you leave now,you will miss the train

You will miss the train if you don´t leave now
 Suppose /supposing
Suppose/supposing he comes tomorrow,
will you meet him?
As long as/so long as
You can go out tonight,as/so long as you
come back by midnight
 On (the) condition that
She agreed to come on (the) condition
that she could bring her dog.
Provided/providing that
He could have recovered provided that he
had followed the doctor´s orders
 In case
Take an umbrella in case it rains.
In case of + noun
In case of accident,notify the police
Otherwise
You´d better hurry.Otherwise,you´ll be
late for your appointment