CONDITIONALS

►The Zero Conditional

►The First Conditional

►The Second Conditional

►The Third Conditional

►The Mixed Conditionals

The Zero Conditional (Structure)
The Zero Conditional sentence, like all other conditionals,
consists of two clauses, an "if clause" and a "main clause".

We use the same verb form in each clause of a zero conditional:

the present simple tense:
■ If Clause: If + Subject + Present Simple
■ Main Clause: Subject + Present Simple
If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.
The Zero Conditional (Uses)

The Zero Conditional is used to talk about things which are

always or usually true ―scientific facts, general truths, etc.:
►Example: If you cross an international dateline, the time
changes.
Explanation: This always happens every time you cross a
dateline.
► Example: If you dive 10 meters under water, the pressure
increases to two atmospheres.
Explanation: This is basically always true ―the pressure of
10 meters of water equals one atmosphere.
► Example: Phosphorus burns if you expose it to air.
Explanation: This is a scientific fact ―you can test it in a lab.
The Zero Conditional (Using When)

(note that MOST Zero Conditional sentences will mean the

same if "when" is used instead of "if"):
● If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.
● When you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.
But
● If When you get this exercise right, you have a good brain.
If proves that you have a good brain.
When will make you have a good brain.
Comma?! ▬This Rule Applies to All Conditionals

► When the "if" clause comes first, a Comma is used:

If clause + , + main clause.

If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.

► When the "if" clause comes second, a Comma is NOT

used:
Main clause + if clause. (No Comma)
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 100º C, she comes home very late,
you leave gates open in the country, you add sugar
Results: you get pink, A dog bites, Butter melts,
the DVD player comes on, it scratches you,
You have more chance of being killed
you heat it to 100 ºc
1. Water boils if _______________________________.

2. If you get pink

you mix red and white, _______________________________.
Butter melts
3. _______________________________ if you leave it in the sun.
4. If _______________________________,
you've got a headache take an aspirin.
5. If _______________________________,
you add sugar it tastes sweet.
A dog bites
6. _______________________________ if you go near its food when it's eating.
7. Ifyou pull a cat's tail, _______________________________.
it scratches you
You have more chance of being killed if you don't wear a seat belt.
8. _______________________________

9. the DVD player comes on

If you press this button, _______________________________.
10. Farmers get very angry if _______________________________.
you leave gates open in the country
The First Conditional (Structure)

The First Conditional sentence consists of two clauses,

an "if clause" and a "main clause":

We use the present simple with the If clause

Will + Infinitive with the main clause:
► If Clause: If + Subject + Present Simple
► Main Clause: Subject + Will + V. Infinitive

If clause + , + main clause.

If it rains, we will stay indoors.
NB: You may use Will, Can, Shall, or May.
The First Conditional (Uses)

The First Conditional is used to talk about things which are

possible in the present or the future ―things which may
happen:
►Example: If it's sunny, we'll go to the park.
Explanation: Maybe it will be sunny ―that's possible.

► Example: Paula will be sad if Juan leaves.

Explanation: Maybe Juan will leave ― that's possible.
 Let’s Practice:
1. arrives
If Jack ______________ late again, his trainer will be furious. (to arrive)
2. You'll be sorry if you ______________
do not revise for your exams. (to revise)
3. will go
We ______________ if the weather's good. (to go)
4. is
If the bus ______________ on time, I won't miss the football match. (to be)
5. do
If you ______________ your homework now, you'll be free tomorrow. (to do)
6. We ______________
will eat out if there's no food at home. (to eat)
7. You'll find life much easier if you ______________
smile more often. (to smile)
8. will go
If it's hot, we ______________ for a swim. (to go)
9. take
You'll do it better if you ______________ more time over it. (to take)
keeps
10. If she ______________ practicing, she'll get better. (to keep)
11. I ______________
will be so happy if I pass the exam. (to be)
12. You'll do not go
be really tired tomorrow if you ______________ to bed soon. (to go)
The Second Conditional (Structure)

The Second Conditional sentence consists of two clauses,

an "if clause" and a "main clause":
We use the past simple with the If clause
Would + Infinitive with the main clause:
► If Clause: If + Subject + Past Simple
► Main Clause: Subject + Would + V. Infinitive

If clause + , + main clause.

If it rained, we should stay indoors.
NB: You may use Would, Could, Should, or Might.
The Second Conditional (Uses)

The Second Conditional is used to talk about things which

are unreal (not true or not possible) in the present or the
future ―things which don't or won't happen:
►Example: If I were you, I would drive more carefully.
(I am not you ―this is unreal)

►Example: Mariam would be sad if Rana left.

(Rana won’t leave ―that's not going to happen)

►Example: If cats had wings, they would be able to fly.

(Cats don't have wings ―that's impossible)
The Second Conditional (with Verb to BE)

Note that the "Past Simple" form is slightly different from usual in
the case of Verb to BE.

When there is an impossibility, we use "were" instead of "was"

with any subject whether singular or plural.

►If I were rich, I'd buy a big house.

= unlikely to be rich

►If he were here, he wouldn’t allow that.

= he is not here; he is somewhere else
The Second Conditional (Inverted Structure)

One very important structure is omitting “If” and inverting the

structure to take the interrogative (question) form.

Normal: If + Subject + Past Simple + Complement

Subject + Would + V. Infinitive
Example: If I were you, I would study harder.

Inverted: Were + Subject + Complement

Subject + Would + V. Infinitive
Example:Were I you, I would study harder.
 Let’s Practice:

were
1. If Joe ___________ would catch (catch) some fish for supper.
(be) here, he ___________

stopped (stop)!
would be (be) nice if the rain ___________
2. It ___________

could give (give) you a chocolate if I ___________

3. I ___________ had (have) any.

had
4. If I ___________ (have) a better sleeping bag, I would not feel (not feel) so cold.
___________

were
5. If this tent ___________ would sleep (have to sleep)
(be) any smaller, one of us ___________
outside!

would look (look) out for bears if I ___________

6. I ___________ were (be) you!

were not
7. If I ___________ could share (share) my beans with you.
(not be) so hungry, I ___________

Were
8. ___________ could / would help
(be) I here, I ______________________ (help) you.
 The Third Conditional (Structure)

Like all conditionals, the Third Conditional sentence consists of

two clauses, an "if clause" and a "main clause":
We use the Past Perfect Simple with the If clause
Would Have + Past Participle with the main clause:
► If Clause: If + Subject + Past Perfect Simple
► Main Clause: Subject + Would Have + V. PP

If clause + , + main clause.

■If it hadn’t rained, we could have gone out.
■It could have been nice if you had come on Saturday.
NB: You may use Would, Could, Should, or Might.
The Third Conditional (Uses)

The Third Conditional is used to talk about unreal situations

in the past ▬things which DID NOT HAPPEN in the past. It is
often used to express Criticism or Regret:

►Example: If you had driven more carefully, you would not

have had an accident.
Criticism: You had an accident because you didn't drive
carefully enough.

►Example: If it hadn’t snowed, we could have gone skiing.

Regret: It snowed, so we couldn't go skiing.
The Third Conditional (Inverted Structure)

One very important structure is omitting “If” and inverting the

structure to take the interrogative (question) form.

Normal: If + Subject + Had + Past Participle

Subject + Would Have + Past Participle
Example:
If I had studied harder, I could have passed the exam.

Inverted: Had + Subject + Past Participle

Subject + Would Have + Past Participle
Example:
Had I studied harder, I could have passed the exam.
 Let’s Practice:
1. He crashed his car, because he fell asleep while driving.
hadn’t fallen
If he ______________ wouldn’t have crashed his car.
asleep while driving, he ______________________
2. We could go to the show, because we had enough money.
hadn’t had
If we ______________ couldn’t have gone
enough money, we _______________________ to the show.
3. I lost my job because I was late for work.
shouldn’t have lost
I _______________________ hadn’t been late for work.
my job if I ______________
4. The wind was so strong that the bridge collapsed.
hadn’t been
If the wind ______________ couldn’t have collapsed
so strong, the bridge _______________________.
5. I couldn't call Sally because I had lost her number.
could have called
I _______________________ hadn’t lost
Sally if I ______________ her number.
6. I couldn't tell Talha because I had not met him. (start with Had)
Had
_________ met
I _________ could have
Talha, I _______________________ told him.
7. I would have come on time If my car hadn’t broken down. (start with Had)
Hadn’t my car broken down, I would have come.
___________________________________________________________________.
 Mixed Conditional —1 (Structure)
We use the Past Perfect Simple with the If clause (3rd Cond.)
Would + Infinitive with the main clause (2nd Cond.)
► If Clause: If + Subject + Past Perfect Simple (Third Cond.)
► Main Clause: Subject + Would + Inf. (Second Cond.)

If clause (3rd Cond) + , + main clause (2 nd Cond).

■If Vince had taken my advice, he wouldn’t be in trouble now.

Vince did not take my advice in the Past.
He is in trouble NOW.
NB: You may use Would, Could, Should, or Might.
Mixed Conditional —1 (Uses)
The Mixed Conditional 1 is used to talk about conditions in
the Past ▬things which did NOT HAPPEN in the Past and
have the results in the Present:

►Example: If you had driven more carefully, you would not

had this accident.
Explanation: You had this accident now because you didn't
drive carefully in the past.
 Mixed Conditional —2 (Structure)
We use the Past Simple with the If clause (2nd Cond.)
Would Have + Past Participle with the main clause (3rd Cond.)
► If Clause: If + Subject + Past Simple (Second Cond.)
► Main Clause: Subject + Would Have + V. PP (Third Cond.)

If clause (2nd Cond) + , + main clause (3 rd Cond).

■If Vince were a good student, he would have studied for the
exam yesterday.
Vince is not a good student NOW.
He did not study for the exam in the Past.
NB: You may use Would, Could, Should, or Might.
Mixed Conditional —2 (Uses)
The Mixed Conditional 2 is used to talk about conditions in
the Present ▬things which are UNTRUE in the Present and
have the results in the Past:

►Example: If I were smart, I would have studied for the exam

yesterday.
Explanation: You are not smart now because you didn't
study in the past.
 CONDITIONALS
Overview of Basic Verb Forms Used in Conditional Sentences
Situation If Clause Main Clause Example

0 Facts and Truths present simple If I have enough time,

present simple I read every evening.

1 True in the Present / Future present simple If I have enough time,

will + infinitive I will read tonight.

2 Untrue in the Present / Future past simple If I had enough time,

would + infinitive I would read now or later.

3 Untrue in the Past past perfect simple If I had had enough time,
would + have + pp I would have read yesterday.

M Untrue in the Past past perfect simple If I had had breakfast,

Result in Present would + infinitive I would not be hungry now.