CONDITIONALSCONDITIONALS

Zero ConditionalZero Conditional

We useWe use

If + Present Simple + Present SimpleIf + Present Simple + Present Simple

for facts that are generally true.for facts that are generally true.

““If you If you wantwant to become an engineer, you to become an engineer, you havehave to to study hard.”study hard.”

““If you If you areare a vegetarian, you a vegetarian, you don’tdon’t eateat meat.”meat.”

First ConditionalFirst Conditional

We useWe use

If + Present Simple + will / won’t + bare If + Present Simple + will / won’t + bare infinitiveinfinitive

to talk about things that may happen in the to talk about things that may happen in the future.future.

““If I’If I’mm late, my parents late, my parents will be will be angry.”angry.”

““If we If we don’tdon’t hurry, we hurry, we won’t finishwon’t finish.”.”

We use the We use the present tensepresent tense in the in the if clauseif clause and and will / won’twill / won’t in the other. in the other.

““If you If you sendsend me a card, I’ me a card, I’llll be very happy.” be very happy.”

Don’tDon’t use will / won’t in both clauses.use will / won’t in both clauses.

““If it will be sunny, we’ll have a barbecue.”If it will be sunny, we’ll have a barbecue.”

We can reverse the two clauses of a first We can reverse the two clauses of a first conditional sentence without changing the conditional sentence without changing the meaning.meaning.

If it rainsIf it rains,, we’ll stay ay home.we’ll stay ay home.We’ll stay at home if it rains.We’ll stay at home if it rains.

When the When the if clauseif clause comes first, we put a comes first, we put a comma between the two clauses. We don’t comma between the two clauses. We don’t need one if it comes second.need one if it comes second.

Second ConditionalSecond Conditional

We useWe use

If + Simple past + would + bare infinitiveIf + Simple past + would + bare infinitive

“ “If she If she knewknew the answer, she the answer, she would tell would tell us.” us.”

to talk about unreal situations in the present.to talk about unreal situations in the present. “ “If we If we hadhad lots of time, we’lots of time, we’d traveld travel.”.”

to talk about ulikely events in the future.

“If I saw a ghost, I would speak to it.”

“If I won the lottery, I’d travel around the world.”

After IF we can use After IF we can use werewere instead of was in all instead of was in all persons but it is more formal.persons but it is more formal.

If he If he werewere / was younger, he would get the job. / was younger, he would get the job.

WasWas is mainly used in spoken English. is mainly used in spoken English.

We can use We can use If I were you...If I were you... to give advice. to give advice.

If I If I werewere you I would go to the doctor’s. you I would go to the doctor’s.

Third ConditionalThird Conditional

We use.We use.

If + Past Perfect + would + have + past participleIf + Past Perfect + would + have + past participle

“ “If I If I had knownhad known, I , I would have toldwould have told them.”them.”

to talk about things that have already happened in to talk about things that have already happened in the past and their unreal past results. the past and their unreal past results.

We can use COULD and MIGHT instead of WOULD depending on their meaning.

“If you had eaten three pizzas, you might have been sick.”

“If my parents had told me they were coming, I could have cooked a nice meal.”

The third conditional is the only conditional that refers to the past.

“If I had had a toothache, I would have gone to the dentist.”

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tenses.

If I see him, I ___________ (give) him a lift. If I had a record player I ____________ (record) it myself. If I ___________ (know) her e-mail address, I’d give it to you. If I had known that your father was in hospital, I ________ (visit) him. If you __________(arrive) ten minutes earlier you would have got a seat. He __________ (look) a lot better if he shaved more often. The chair will collapse if you ___________ (stand) on it. If he ___________ (eat) all that, he will be ill. If he had asked you, ______________ (you / accept)? If you had left that wasp alone, it __________ (not sting) you. If I were sent to prison, _______________ (you / visit) me? Someone ___________ (steal) your car if you leave it unlocked. What will happen if my parachute _____________(not open)? If he knew that it was going to be boring he____________ (not come). I_________ (be) ruined if I bought her everything she asked for.