Conditionals

Conditionals

First conditional

Structure of first conditional

If I see him, I'll (I will) tell him.

If you don't hurry, you'll miss the bus.

What will you do if there is a problem?

First conditional - common mistakes

Common mistakes Correct version Why?

If you will go to England, you will improve your English.

If you go to England, you will improve your English. We use present simple in the if-clause.

If I find his address, I send him the letter.

If I find his address, I will send him the letter.

The main clause has will, which expresses certainty in the future.

I'll tell him as soon as I will see him.

I'll tell him as soon as I see him.

We use present simple in the if-clause.

Second conditional

Structure of second conditional

If I had more time, I'd (I would) travel more.

I wouldn't (would not) refuse if you offered me $10,000.

What would you say if you met Queen Elizabeth?

Second conditional - common mistakes


If I would have enough money, I would buy a new computer.

If I had enough money, I would buy a new computer.

We use the past simple (I had) in the if-clause when we are talking about something which is unlikely to happen or an imaginary situation.

If you didn't hurry so much, you will feel more relaxed.

If you didn't hurry so much, you would feel more relaxed.

The main clause has would + infinitive.

Third conditional

Structure of third conditional

If I'd (I had) known you were coming, I would've (would have) waited for you.

If she hadn't been ill, she would have gone to the cinema.

Would you have done it if you'd (you had) known earlier?

Third conditional - common mistakes


If I would have asked him, he would have helped me.

If I had asked him, he would have helped me.

In the if-clause we use the past perfect (had + past participle).

If you had spoken to my mother, she would tell you where I was.

If you had spoken to my mother, she would have told you where I was.

The main clause has would + have + past participle.

Zero conditional sentences

Structure of zero conditional

If/when you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.

If/when you don't heat water to 100 degrees, it doesn't boil.

What happens if/when you heat water to 100 degrees?

Zero conditional - common mistakes


If/when you eat too much, you will get fat.Water boils when it will reach 100°C.

If/when you eat too much, you get fat.Water boils when it reaches 100°C.

We use the present simple in both clauses and it means that the condition can be true at any time (it is a fact).If means the same as when in a zero conditional sentence.

True in the Present

If clause Independent clause

True as habit or fact

If + subject + present tense subject + present tense

If Judita works hard, She gets good grades.

True as one-time future event

If + subject + present tense subject + future tense

If Judita hands in her paper early tomorrow, she'll probably get an A.

Possibly true in the future

If + subject + present tense subject + modal + base form

If Judita hands in her paper early tomorrow, she may/might/could/should get an A.

Untrue in the Present


If + subject + past tense subject + would/could/might + simple form of verb

If Judita worked this hard in all her courses, She would/could/might get on the Dean's List.

If + subject + to be verb subject + would/could/might + simple form of verb

If Judita were president of her class, She could work to reform the grading policy.

Untrue in the Past


If + subject + past perfect tense subject + modal + have + past participle

If Judita had worked this hard in all her courses,

She would not have failed this semester.

Summary

probability conditional example time

100% zero conditional If you heat ice, it melts. any time

50% first conditional If it rains, I will stay at home. future

10% second conditional If I won the lottery, I would buy a car. future

0% third conditional If I had won the lottery, I would have bought a car.

past

Conditionals

Documents

Transcript of Conditionals