CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

What are conditionals in English grammar?

Sometimes we call them 'if clauses'. They describe the result of something that might happen (in the present or future) or might have happened but didn't (in the past) . They are made using different English verb tenses.

ZERO CONDITIONAL

We can make a zero conditional sentence with two present simple verbs (one in the 'if clause' and one in the 'main clause'):

This conditional is used when the result will always happen.

• If water reaches 100 degrees, it boils. (It is always true, there can't be a different result sometimes). 

• If I eat peanuts, I am sick. (This is true only for me, maybe, not for everyone, but it's still true that I'm sick every time I eat peanuts)

MORE EXAMPLES:

• If people eat too much, they get fat.

• If you touch a fire, you get burned.

• You get water if you mix hydrogen and oxygen.

• Snakes bite if they are scared

• If babies are hungry, they cry

THE FIRST CONDITIONAL

The first conditional has the present simple after 'if', then the future simple in the other clause:

if + present simple, ... will + infinitive

This conditional is used to talk about things that might happen in the future.

• If it rains, I won't go to the park.

• If I study today, I'll go to the party tonight.

• She'll miss the bus if she doesn't leave soon.

Multiple Choice

If you _______ (heat) ice, it _________ (melt).

• heats/melts

• heat/melts

• heat/melt

• heats/will melt

Multiple Choice

The river ___________(freeze) if it _____________(be) very cold.

• freezes/is

• freeze/will be

• will freeze/will be

• freezes/will be

Multiple Choice

If he __________________ (come), I __________________ (be) surprised.

• will come/will be

• comes/am

• comes/will be

• will come/am

Multiple Choice

If we __________________ (go) on holiday this summer, we __________________ (go) to Spain.

• go/will go

• goes/will go

• go/go

• will go/will go

Multiple Choice

If you __________________ (not / want) to go out, I __________________ (cook) dinner at home.

• want not/ will cook

• don't want/will cook

• don't want/cook

• won't want/will cook

Multiple Choice

She __________________ (stay) in London if she __________________ (get) a job.

• will stay/get

• will stay/gets

• stay/gets

• will get/will stay

Multiple Choice

I __________________ (buy) a new dress if I __________________ (have) enough money.

• buy/have

• buys/will have

• will buy/have

• will buy/will have

Multiple Choice

He __________________ (not / get) a better job if he __________________ (not / pass) that exam

• won't get/doesn't pass

• won't get/pass

• get/doesn't pass

• won't get/don't pass