1st Conditional

Developed byIvan Seneviratne

Conditional sentences have at least two clauses: If clauses and

Then clauses.

Examples:

If I go into town tomorrow, then I will see a movie.

If he spoke Chinese, then he would work as a guide in China.

If they had been faster, then they would have won the race.

If and Then Clauses

If clauses present the condition.

Examples:If I go into town

tomorrow…

If he spoke Chinese…

If they had been faster…

If Clauses (the condition)

Then clauses present the results.

Examples: … then I will see a movie.

… then he would work as a guide in China.

… then they would have won the race.

Then Clauses (the results)

The word “then” is optional, but the clause is still the result of the condition. So it is a “then” clause, without the word “then.”

There are special rules for leaving out the word “if ”. We will learn them later.

If and Then Clauses

The four words that NEVER (well, almost never) appear in the If clause are:

will, won’t, would, wouldn’t

Example:If we will see it, we will be angry.

Never use a future tense twice in a conditional sentence.

Example: This is not correct: If it will rains, I will stay home

Remember

When something is possible now or in the future

Form: If V(present tense) then will V(infinitive).

Example: If she studies, she will pass the geography test.

(It is possible !!)

Conditional I(a real possibility)

Unless = if not

Example: If we don’t finish soon, we will miss the train.

Unless we finish soon, we will miss the train.

Unless

Temporals are time expressions. (Examples: before, until, after, by the time, etc.)

When they refer to the future, they are like Conditional I.

Temporal (present tense), will V(infinitive).

Examples:Until he arrives, I will read a book.

They will make a cake before they go.

Temporal

Is the situation possible or impossible?

Is the situation in the past or in the present/future?

Just Remember

The four words that NEVER appear in the If clause: will, won’t, would, wouldn’t

Conditional Form Usage Example1st

conditionalif + present

simple, will + infinitive

used to talk about possible

situations

If it's sunny tomorrow, I'll

go to the seaside.

2nd conditional

if + past simple, would + infinitive

used to talk about

hypothetical situations

If I became rich, I would

buy an expensive villa

in France.

3rd conditional

if + past perfect, would + have + past

participle

used to talk about

hypothetical situations in the

past

If I hadn't gone to Egypt, I

wouldn't have seen the pyramidsConditionals are usually expressed with the if clause first and the future

clause second but the order isn't important. Both of these sentences are equally correct.

This presentation is developed by Ivan Seneviratne © 2007 purely for personal use.ivanthexplorer@yahoo.co.uk