First Conditional

first conditional

what's it?

It's used to talk about things which might happen in the future. Of course, we can't know what will happen in the future, but this describes possible things, which could easily come true.

Structure

If + present simple, will + verb

• If my father doesn’t buy me a bike for my birthday, I will be very unhappy.(I think there is a real possibility that my father won’t buy me a bike. In this condition, I will be unhappy)

You can change the order of the clauses

• My mom will be angry if I’m late tonight.

• You’ll be late for work if you don’t hurry.

Negative and Question form

You can use questions in the result-clause.

• What are you going to do if it rains tomorrow?
• If you can’t drive to work, how will you get there?
• If you are sick tomorrow, will someone else be able to do your work?

You can make one or both clauses negative.

• If you don’t put your toys away, you won’t get any dessert.
• If you don’t study, you won’t get into a good university.
• If I go out tonight, I won’t go out tomorrow night.

Structure

LET'S GO TO PRACTICE

let’s focus on when to use it.

Predictions

Superstitions

• You can use the first conditional sentence structure to say what you think will happen in a specific situation or when a specific event happens.
• If you eat too much chocolate cake, you’ll get fat!
• If I win the lottery, I’ll buy a new house!

• A superstition is a belief that an event or situation will bring good luck or bad luck.
• If you break a mirror, you will have 7 years of bad luck!
• If you find a four-leaf clover, you will have good luck!

Future plans

Warnings and threats

You can use the first conditional sentence structure to make plans for the future if an event or situation happens first.

• If you go shopping tomorrow, I’ll go with you!
• If I see Ken later today, I will tell him to call you.

A warning is a statement about a possible problem or danger. A threat is a statement that someone will harm your or cause problems for you if you don’t do what they want you to do.

• If you don’t come to my birthday party, I’ll never speak to you again.

Other modal verbs can be used in place of WILL

• If you ask George, he may/might be able to help you. (possibility)
• You can/may leave the room if you've finished the test. (permission)
• If he doesn't come soon, we must /have to leave without him. (obligation)
• If you ever go to Chicago, you should take a boat trip on the river. (suggestion)
• If you don't watch your steps, you are going to fall over. (prediction)