CONDITIONALS

There are four basic types of conditional sentences:


Zero conditional: I take my umbrella if it rains.

First conditional: I'll call you if I work late.

Second conditional: If the bus didn't arrive on time, I would drive you to the airport.

Third conditional: She wouldn't have come if I hadn't invited her.

Zero conditional

USE:

The zero conditional describes situations that are always true; we use it to state general truths.

If has the same meaning as when (or whenever).


If I go to school, I get up at seven. (Whenever I go to school I get up at the same time.)

If you park your car on double yellow lines, you pay a fine. (Whenever you park illegally, you pay
a fine.)

If we heat ice, it melts. = Ice melts if we heat it.


FORM:

We use the present simple tense in both the main clause and the if clause.

If + present tense, present tense.

First conditional

USE:

The first conditional refers to the present or future. The first conditional sentences are used to
speculate about possible situations that can really happen.

We do not use “will” in an if clause to describe future activities (compare it to time clauses).


If he studies hard, he'll pass the exams.

If we catch the 10.15 train, we will arrive on time.

If you don't get the ticket, what will you do?


FORM:

If + present tense, will + infinitive of verb

Second conditional

USE:

The second conditional also refers to the present or future. In second conditional sentences we
speculate about situations that will probably never happen.

If I had more time, I would help you. (But I am not free at the moment. I can't help you).

If I won a million dollars, I would start a business of my own. (But I know that it is not
realistic.)


Form

If + past tense, would + infinitive of verb


Note: the verb to be can have a specific form in the if clause.

If I were rich, I wouldn't work. If he were younger, he would marry her.

(But was is also possible: If I was rich, I wouldn't work. If he was younger, he would marry her.)

But: If I were you, I wouldn't do it. (In this expression, were is much more usual than was.)




EXERCISES:



First conditional

1.       If you __________ (send) this letter now, she _____________ (receive) it tomorrow.

2.       If I ___________ (do) this test, I ____________ (improve) my English.

3.       If I ______________ (find) your ring, I ___________ (give) it back to you.

4.       Peggy __________ (go) shopping if she _____________ (have) time in the afternoon.

5.       Simon ___________ (go) to London next week if he _________ (get) a cheap flight.

6.       If her boyfriend ______________ (phone / not) today, she ___________ (leave) him.

7.       If they _____________ (study / not) harder, they ______________ (pass / not) the exam.


Second conditional

1.       If we _____________ (have) a yacht, we __________ (sail) the seven seas.

2.       If he ___________ (have) more time, he _____________ (learn) karate.

3.       If they ____________ (tell) their father, he ____________ (be) very angry.

4.       She _________ (spend) a year in the USA if it __________ (be) easier to get a green card.

5.       My brother _____________ (buy) a sports car if he ____________ (have) the money.

6.       If I _____________ (feel) better, I _____________ (go) to the cinema with you.

7.       If you ____________ (go) by bike more often, you _______________ (be / not) so flabby.

(adapted from http://www.ego4u.com)