CONDITIONAL

S
What are conditionals in English grammar?
Sometimes we call them 'if clauses'. They describe the result of something that
might happen (in the present or future) or might have happened but didn't (in the
past) . They are made using different English verb tenses.
 THE 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'):
 If + present simple, .... present simple.

This conditional is used when the result will always happen. So, if water reaches 100 degrees, it always boils.
It's a fact. The result of the 'if clause' is always the main clause.
 The 'if' in this conditional can usually be replaced by 'when' without changing the meaning.

For example:
-When the wáter reaches 100 degrees, it boils.
-If water reaches 100 degrees, it boils. (It is always true, there can't be a different result sometimes).
-If I eat peanuts, I am sick. (This is true only for me, maybe, not for everyone, but it's still true that I'm sick
every time I eat peanuts)
 EXAMPLES

•If people eat too much, they get fat.

•If you touch a fire, you get burned.
•People die if they don't eat.
•You get water if you mix hydrogen and oxygen.
•Snakes bite if they are scared
•If babies are hungry, they cry.
(When babies are hungry, they cry.)
•If you do exercise, you feel better.
•If you study a lot, you get good grades.
 EXERCISES

I. Write sentences with the zero conditional.

For example:
(not / rain / the flowers / die)
If it doesn’t rain, the flowers die.
 
 
1. (my husband / cook / he / burn the food)
 
2. (Julie / not wear a hat / she / get sunstroke)
 
3. (children / not eat well / they / not be healthy)
 
4. (people / eat / too many sweets / they / get fat)
 
5. (you / heat ice / it / melt)
 
6. (I / speak to John / he / get annoyed)
 FUTURE
We normally use WILL to speak about the future. It is always combined with another verb.

Since WILL is classified as a modal verb (like can, would, could, should) it has the same
characteristics:

-It does not change in the third person (i.e. he, she, it)
-It is always combined with another verb in the base form (i.e. without 'to')
-We don't use it with 'Do' in questions or negatives.

Examples of Will:

1) I will go to the cinema tonight.

2) He will play tennis tomorrow.
3) She will be happy with her exam results.
4) They will take the bus to the South next week.
1. For things that we decide to do now. (Rapid Decisions) 3. To make an offer, a promise or a threat.
EXAMPLES
 This is when you make a decision at that moment, in a
spontaneous way.
-You look tired. I'll finish the dishes for you.
EXAMPLES
-I will do my best to help you.
-I'll call a taxi for you.
-If you say anything I will kill you!
-I think we'll go right now. (I just decided this right now)
-I will have it ready by tomorrow.
-Which one? Um, I will have the chicken sandwich please.
-Don't worry, I won't tell anyone.
4. For a habit that is a predictable behavior
2. When we think or believe something about the future.
(Prediction)
-My daughter will fall asleep as soon as she is put into bed.
EXAMPLES
-He will give up if he starts losing. He always does that.
-This can be based on personal judgement or opinion.
-The President will not be re-elected at the next election.
5. You use WON'T when someone refuses to do something.
.I think it will rain later so take an umbrella with you.
-I think you will find the movie interesting.
-I told him to clean his room but he won't do it.
-She won't listen to anything I say.
NEGATIVE FORM CONTRACTIONS
It is possible to use contractions in both positive and
negative sentences.
In the negative, we add NOT to the
end of WILL and not to the main
verb. (= will not) With positive contractions WILL becomes 'LL and is joined
to the subject:

Examples:

1. I will not be in the office tomorrow.

(correct)

I will be not in the office tomorrow.

(Incorrect)
2. They will not stay here. (correct)

They will stay not here. (Incorrect)

 QUESTIONS
To form a question using WILL, we
reverse the order of the subject and
WILL:

EXAMPLES:

1. Will they win the cup?

- Yes, they will.
- No, they won't.
2. Will you tell him the truth?
- Yes, I will.
- No, I won't.
3. Will she get angry?
- Yes, she will.
- No, she won't.
 EXERCISES

I. I. Write will or won’t

1. Don't get up, I___ answer the phone.

2. Don't stay out too late, you _____get up on time.

3. Go to bed and you_____ feel better tomorrow.

4. It's Mary's birthday next month. She ____be 18.

5. They are on holiday for two weeks so they______ be here tomorrow.

6. ______they want dinner?

7. If the weather is ok, the plane ______leave on time.

 THE FIRST CONDITIONAL

The first conditional has the present simple after 'if', then the future simple in the other clause:

if + present simple, ... will + infinitive

It's used to talk about things which might happen in the future. Of course, we can't know what will happen in
the future, but this describes possible things, which could easily come true.
EXAMPLES
1. If it rains, I won't go to the park.
2. If I study today, I'll go to the party tonight.
3. If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes.
4. She'll be late if the train is delayed.
5. She'll miss the bus if she doesn't leave soon.
6. If I see her, I'll tell her.
 FIRST CONDITIONAL VS ZERO FIRST CONDITIONAL VS SECOND
CONDITIONAL CONDITIONAL
The first conditional describes a particular The first conditional describes things that I think are
situation, whereas the zero conditional describes likely to happen in the future, whereas the second
what happens in general. conditional talks about things that I don't think will
really happen. It's subjective; it depends on my point of
view.
For example: For example:
(zero conditional):
(first conditional):
-if you sit in the sun, you get burned (here I'm
If she studies harder, she'll pass the exam (I think it's
talking about every time a person sits in the sun -
possible she will study harder and so she'll pass)
the burning is a natural consequence of the sitting)
But (first conditional):
But (second conditional):
-if you sit in the sun, you'll get burned (here I'm
talking about what will happen today, another day -If she studied harder, she would pass the exam (I think
might be different) that she won't study harder, or it's very unlikely, and so
she won't pass)
 EXERCISE

I. Put the verb into the correct first conditional form:

FOR EXAMPLE:

 
 
-If I go_ (go) out tonight, I will go (go) to the cinema.
If she goes

-If you get (get) back late, I will be (be) angry.

-If we don’t see (not / see) each other tomorrow, we

 
will see (see) each other next week.
 EXERCISE 2

II. Re-order these words to make First Conditional sentences.

EXAMPLE

I.  , / it's / cold / put / on / if / new / . / coat / tomorrow / freezing / your / winter

If its freezing cold tomorrow, put on your new winter coat.

1. , / tell / I'll / tomorrow / him / you / him / Brian / call / see / if / .

2. if / , / dry / very / too / you / it / long / this / . / meat / be / for / cook / will

3. it / call / to / will / , / dog / come / the / . / you / if / you

4. the / be / leave / to / . / get / now / we / if / able / train / , / we / early / will

5. , / never / money / . / your / you'll / you / new / car / if / afford / all / keep / a / spending
 THE SECOND CONDITIONAL

The second conditional uses the past simple after if, then 'would' and the infinitive:

if + past simple, ...would + infinitive

(We can use 'were' instead of 'was' with 'I' and 'he/she/it'. This is mostly done in formal writing).
It has two uses.

1. we can use it to talk about things in the future that are probably not going to be true. Maybe I'm imagining some
dream for example.
EXAMPLES:
- If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house.(I probably won't win the lottery)
- If I met the Queen of England, I would say hello.
- She would travel all over the world if she were rich.
- She would pass the exam if she ever studied.(She never studies, so this won't happen)
 THE SECOND CONDITIONAL

2. we can use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible, because it's not true. Is that clear? Have a look at
the examples:

EXAMPLES
 If I had his number, I would call him. (I don't have his number now, so it's impossible for me to call him).
 f I were you, I wouldn't go out with that man.

-How is this different from the first conditional?

This kind of conditional sentence is different from the first conditional because this is a lot more unlikely.
For example:
- (second conditional): If I had enough money I would buy a house with twenty bedrooms
and a swimming pool (I'm probably not going to have this much money, it's just a dream, not very real)
But (first conditional):
-If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes (It's much more likely that I'll have enough money to buy some shoes)