Conditionals

Grammar

Conditionals

By Constanza Calva

start

Index

Introduction

Video 0&1

Type 0

Video 2nd

Type 1

videos 0-1-2

Type 2

VIDEO 3rd

Type 3

VIDEO REVIEW

Type 4

Conditional clauses consist of two parts

Introduction

IF clause

(condition)

Main clause

(result)

• When the clause comes before the clause we use a comma (,) between them
• If you don't leave now, you'll miss the bus

IF

MAIN

MAIN

• When the clause comes before the clause NO comma (,) is necessary
• You'll miss the bus IF you don't leave now

IF

00

FACTS

ZERO CONDITIONAL

STRUCTURE

Present simple

Present simple

IF

FUNCTIONS

• To talk about general truths or laws of nature
• If you heat ice, it melts.
• To talk about something that always happens
• I can't sleep at night if I drink too much coffee
• We can use WHEN instead of IF
• When the sun goes down, it gets dark.

Exercise

FILL IN THE BLANKS

drop

dropped

would drop

Be careful with the vase. If you it, it

drop

might break

break

breaks

breaks

choose the correct option for each gap

FILL IN THE BLANKS

get

got

am

I always get bored on trains, I so travel-sick If I at my phone, so I've to stare at the window all the time.

get

looked

look

looks

look

choose the correct option for each gap

FILL IN THE BLANKS

's

was

has

will be

was

is

She always mad she hungry.

's

when

is

When

because

IFF

choose the correct option for each gap

01

POSSIBLE

FIRST CONDITIONAL

STRUCTURE

WILL can must

Present simple

IF

INF.

FUNCTIONS

Play

• To talk about a real or very probable situation in the PRESENT or FUTURE
• If it rains, I won't go to the park.
• When I finish work, I'll call you
• We can use unless, as long as, as soon as or in case instead of if.
• You won't go to the party unless you clean your room.

Link

Link

FILL IN THE BLANKS

will finish

finish

'll go

go

end

would go

If I my work by friday, I hiking on Saturday.

'll go

finish

choose the correct option for each gap

FILL IN THE BLANKS

have

will have

migh have

You a good chance to go to University you having good grades

will have

as soon as

unless

as long as

as long as

keep on

Keep on

'll keep

kept on

choose the correct option for each gap

FILL IN THE BLANKS

call

Unless

As soon as

will call

might call

As long as

we land I you.

'll call

As soon as

comma

period

semicolon

choose the correct option for each gap

Zero & First conditionals

SUM-up

• We use the zero conditional to talk about things that are generally true.

• We use the first conditional when we talk about future possible situations.

Imaginary situations

Second

conditional

STRUCTURE

We can use were for all persons in the IF clause

would could

Past simple

IF

INF

FUNCTIONS

Play

• To talk about an unlikely/ impossible or imaginary situation in the PRESENT or FUTURE
• If I had a car, I could go on a road trip holiday.
• He'd read more if he were a teacher.
• To give advice
• I wouldn't worry too much if I were you.

Link

Link

FILL IN THE BLANKS

is

was

would

was

were

were

If she prime minister, she invest more money in schools.

were

was

would

choose the correct option for each gap

FILL IN THE BLANKS

had

have

has

would

can

could

We have a greenhouse if we a garden

had

could

When

because

IFF

choose the correct option for each gap

Second conditional

SUM-up

The second conditional is used to imagine present or future situations that are impossible or unlikely

Which one shall I use?

zero for facts

First and second conditional compared

When we use the first conditional, we think the imagined situation is more likely to happen than when we use the second conditional.

Zero & first

First vs second

rd

Conditional

Unreal past

STRUCTURE

would've

Past perfect

Would have + past participle

IF

FUNCTIONS

• To talk about an imaginary situation in the past
• If I had saved enough money, I would have travelled to Rome.
• To express regret or criticism
• If You had studied more, You would have been accepted at UNAM

Exercise

FILL IN THE BLANKS

had

hadn't

haven't

If she bought the flight tickets, we hiked in the Andes.

hadn't

wouldn't have

would have

would

wouldn't have

choose the correct option for each gap

FILL IN THE BLANKS

had had

would've

had have

You missed your flight if we hadn't you to the airport.

would've

driven

driven

drived

drove

choose the correct option for each gap

FILL IN THE BLANKS

third conditional

SUM-up

The third conditional is used to imagine past situations that are impossible

04

2nd vs 3rd conditional

would could

Past perfect

Would have + past participle

IF

Past simple

IF

INF

• To talk about an unlikely/ impossible or imaginary situation in the PRESENT or FUTURE
• If I had a car, I could go on a road trip holiday.

• To give advice
• I wouldn't worry too much if I were you.

• To talk about an imaginary situation in the past
• If I had saved enough money, I would have travelled to Rome.
• To express regret or criticism
• If You had studied more, You would have been accepted at UNAM

Which one shall I use?

First for very probable situation

zero for facts

second for imaginary situations

third for regrets

Third conditional

All conditionals a review

‘If it rains, I will take my umbrella with me.’ This is an example of a first conditional sentence. We mainly use first conditionals to talk about possible future situations, and their results

We use the second conditional in English to talk about unreal, imaginary or unlikely situations (like going on a dream holiday)