CONDITIONALS


ZERO CONDITIONAL: express something that is certain, real and always happens such as general facts
and universal truths.


e.g.          If water reaches 100 degrees Celsius, it boils. (This is a
fact.)

  If you cut a man, he bleeds. (This is a fact.)

  If I exercise, I feel good. (This always
happens.)


Form:


IF + PRESENT TENSE, PRESENT TENSE



FIRST CONDITIONAL: express something that is probable, real and will probably happen in the future.


e.g.          If she studies, she will get good grades. (It’s possible that this will happen.)

  If it rains, I will stay at home. (It will probably rain.)

  If I fail the exam, I will be sad. (I think I might fail it.)


Form:


IF + PRESENT TENSE, WILL + INFINITIVE



SECOND CONDITIONAL: expresses something that is improbable, unreal and not likely to happen in the
future.


e.g.          If I had the money, I would buy a new car. (I don’t have the money so I can’t buy a
new car.)

  If I were you, I would ask her for help. (I’m not you.)

  If I won a million dollars, I would travel round the world. (I don’t have a million dollars.)


Form:


IF + PAST TENSE, WOULD + INFINITIVE



THIRD CONDITIONAL: expresses something that was improbable, unreal and not likely to happen in the
past.


e.g.          If I had had the money, I would have bought a new car. (I didn’t have the money so I
didn’t buy a new car.)

  If she had called me, I would have come. (She didn’t call so I didn’t come.)

  If I had been in the accident, I would have died there. (I wasn’t in the accident.)


Form:


IF + PAST PERFECT TENSE, WOULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE


Alternative to IF

unless

negative (if not)

I’ll go unless you stop me – I’ll go if you don’t stop me

provided that,

on the condition that

necessary (only if)

We will deliver tomorrow provided that all the bills are paid

suppose, what if

imaginary what if?

Suppose he asked you to go to the cinema, would you go?

in case


I’ll come in case you are there (I don’t know whether you’ll be there)

even if

unexpected

Even if they do all the tasks, they won’t be paid in time

when


I’ll tell you when I have all the information



I. Zero conditional – complete the sentences:

1. If you boil water, it ____________________________.

2. If you freeze water, it _____________________________.

3. If you heat metal, it _____________________________.

4. If you don’t sleep, you _____________________________.

5. If you heat water to 100 degrees Celsius, it _______________________.


                     TIRED                      EXPAND               TURN INTO


II. First conditional – complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

a. If we (not go) now, we (miss) the bus.

b. You (be) tired if you (not sleep).
c. If the Spanish team (get) to the final match, they (be) the World Champions.

d. If you (help) me, I (give) you a lot of money.

e. If we (sing) some carols, they (be) happy.
f. They (read) the whole essay if they (like) it.


III. Second conditional – paraphrase the following sentences

1- I won’t buy it because I don’t have enough money.

If…………………………………………………………………………….

2- I won’t make my bed because I’m in a hurry.

If …………………………………………………………………………

3- He won’t go to the movies because he doesn’t like American films.

If …………………………………………………………………………………………

4- I never do my homework – that’s why the teacher is always angry with me.

If …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

5- I don’t have a car so I have to take the bus.

If ………………………………………………………………………………


IV. Third conditional – rewrite the following sentences.

1.       He didn´t get the job because he forgot to come to the interview.

If _____________________________________________________________________

2.       I didn´t do any part-time jobs while I was at school, so I gained no work experience.

If _____________________________________________________________________

3.       William broke into a house and went to prison.

If ______________________________________________________________________

4.       It was more expensive because you didn´t go by bus.

___________________________if ___________________________________________

5.       She didn´t get better because she refused to go to the doctor.

If ______________________________________________________________________

6.       We didn´t pass the test because we didn´t study.

___________________________if ___________________________________________

7.       He didn´t go out with us because he broke his leg.

If ______________________________________________________________________

8.       He broke his leg because he fell.

___________________________if ___________________________________________