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Understanding Conditional Sentences

The document discusses different types of conditionals in English: 1. The zero conditional describes rules and situations where one event always follows another using the structure "if + present, present". 2. The first conditional talks about possible future events using the structure "if + present, will/won't + infinitive". 3. The second conditional talks about imagined, impossible, or unlikely future situations using the structure "if + past simple, would/could/might + infinitive". 4. The third conditional talks about past situations that did not happen using the structure "if + past perfect, would have + past participle".

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151 views3 pages

Understanding Conditional Sentences

The document discusses different types of conditionals in English: 1. The zero conditional describes rules and situations where one event always follows another using the structure "if + present, present". 2. The first conditional talks about possible future events using the structure "if + present, will/won't + infinitive". 3. The second conditional talks about imagined, impossible, or unlikely future situations using the structure "if + past simple, would/could/might + infinitive". 4. The third conditional talks about past situations that did not happen using the structure "if + past perfect, would have + past participle".

Uploaded by

Vera Atanasova
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

CONDITIONALS

ZERO CONDITIONAL

1. We use the Zero Conditional to describe rules and situations where one event always follow
the other:
If you freeze water, it turns to ice.
If you are kind to others, they are kind to you.
If you eat a lot of chocolate, you put on weight.

In these sentences if=when

If clause / condition main clause / consequence


If + Present Simple Present Simple

The if clause can come at the beginning of the sentence or after the main clause. When it comes at
the beginning, we put a comma (,)

If you eat a lot of chocolate, you put on weight.

You put on weight, if you eat a lot of chocolate.

FIRST CONDITIONAL

1. We use the First Conditional:


a) To talk about possible future events which depend on other future events.
If the rain stops, the match will begin.
If you go to the Science Museum, you will see a lot of interesting exhibitions.
If clause / condition main clause / consequence
If + Present Simple Will / won’t + infinitive without to

The if clause can come at the beginning of the sentence or after the main clause. When it
comes at the beginning, we put a comma (,)

If the rain stops, the match will begin.

The match will begin, if the rain stops.

!!!!!!! OTHER PATTERNS ARE POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY USING MODAL VERBS:

If you have time, we can go for a walk this evening.


b) To give someone advice or an order, and to make a suggestion or a request:
If you feel sleepy, go to bed.
If you see Peter, tell him to phone me.
If clause main clause
If + Present Simple imperative

He doesn’t wear a tie unless he has to.

SECOND CONDITIONAL

1. To talk about imagined, impossible of unlikely situations and events in the future.
If I became an, I’d fight for animal rights
If the sun stopped shining, the plants would disapper.
2. To talk about impossible present situation:
If I lived closer to school, I wouldn’t have to get up so early. (the situation is unreal and
the sentence refers to the present.)

If I had more time, I wouldn’t eat fast food.

3. We can use if I were you to give advice:

If I were you, I would tell you the true.

If clause / condition main clause, consequen


If+ past simple would, could, maight + infinitive

THIRD CONDITIONAL

It talks about the past. It's used to describe a situation that didn't happen, and
to imagine the result of this situation.

 if + past perfect, ...would + have + past participle



 if she had studied, she would have passed the exam (but, really we know she didn't study and
so she didn't pass)
 If I hadn't eaten so much, I wouldn't have felt sick (but I did eat a lot, and so I did feel sick).
 If we had taken a taxi, we wouldn't have missed the plane
 She wouldn't have been tired if she had gone to bed earlier
 She would have become a teacher if she had gone to university
 He would have been on time for the interview if he had left the house at nine

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