conditionals

forms
 Let’s take a closer look at the different
conditional structures.

The simple conditional structures are zero, first, second and third.
1. When do we use them?
2. How do we form sentences in these structures?

When do we use
conditional structures?
 Function: When do we use them?

To talk about things that are Describing possible future Unlikely/unreal situations in Unreal situations in the
generally true. situations. the present or future. past.

To talk about the Making suggestions and Giving advice.

consequence of a situation. giving advice.

Making threats.

Making promises.

1)
9)
5)
2) I’ll
3)
4)
6)
7)
8) If you
If had
ISophie
visit
were
don’t
call left
you
you,
read
you ifearlier,
anext
lived
sleep
don’t likeI’d
Ilot, I would
initspeak
summer
your
New
here,
enough,
get
behave, to
I if
I’llYork,
back you
call
have
your
you
she’d
should
get caught
finish
boss
vocabulary
earn
grumpy.
early.
your move.
parents. the bus.
renovating.
first.
more.
improves.

Look at the uses and

match the examples.
 Function: When do we use them?
zero conditional first conditional
To talk about things Describing possible
that are generally true. future situations.
If you read a lot, your I’ll call you if I get back
vocabulary improves. early.
To talk about the Making suggestions and
consequence of a giving advice.
situation If you don’t like it here,
If I don’t sleep enough, I you should move.
get grumpy.
Making threats.
If you don’t behave, I’ll call
your parents.
Making promises.
I’ll visit you next summer
if you
A full conditional sentence finish
has two renovating.
clauses: the If hypothetical clause and the result of that
hypothetical. Look…
If Sophie lived in New York, she’d earn more.
hypothetical
second conditional
Unlikely/unreal
situations in the present
or future.
If Sophie lived in New
York, she’d earn more.
Giving advice.
If I were you, I’d speak to
your boss first.
result
third conditional
Unreal situations in the
past. This is unreal in the
If I had left earlier, I would past because it’s
have caught the bus. impossible to change
(it’s already happened).
When giving advice
using the 2nd
conditional, we usually
start with If I were you…
This is unreal in the
present/future because
it implies If Sophie lived
in New York now…
Although this is
conditional, there is a
possibility it could
happen in the future.
How do we form these
structures?
 Form: How do we form these structures?
zero conditional FORM: If + present simple, present simple

If you read a lot, your vocabulary improves.

first conditional FORM: If + present simple/continuous, future/modal verb

(can/could/may/might/should) + infinitive

If I get back early, I’ll call you.

Look at the example

second conditional FORM: If + past simple/continuous, would/could/might + infinitive for zero conditional.
Now try to work out
the structures for the
If Sophie lived in New York, she’d earn more. other three
conditionals.

third conditional FORM: If + past perfect, would + have + past participle

If I had left earlier, I would have caught the bus.

 Form: How do we form these structures?
zero conditional FORM: If + present simple, present simple

If you read a lot, your vocabulary improves. Your vocabulary improves if you read a
lot.
first conditional FORM: If + present simple/continuous, future/modal verb
(can/could/may/might/should) + infinitive The second result
clause can go first, but
If I get back early, I’ll call you. If I get back early, should I call? / call me! then you don’t use a
comma. Look…

second conditional FORM: If + past simple/continuous, would/could/might + infinitive

You can use modal
verbs or infinitive
If Sophie lived in New York, she’d earn more. If I were you, I’d speak to your boss. structures here as well
as the future. Look...
third conditional FORM: If + past perfect, would + have + past participle
With the verb to be in
the second conditional,
If I had left earlier, I would have caught the bus. it’s more common to
use If I/he/she/it were
rather than If I/he/she/it
We commonly use contractions was.
in these structures. E.g. I’ll, I’d,
She’d.
Let’s practise!