Conditionals

Conditionals

What are conditionals in English grammar?

Sometimes we call them 'if clauses'.

They describe the result of something that might occur.

Might happen in the present or future or might have happened but didn't in the past.

Notice we can put 'if' at the beginning, or in the middle. It doesn't matter at all.

Zero Conditional

• Formula: (if + present simple, ... present simple)

• Example: If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.

• This conditional is used when the result will always happen.

• The 'if' in this conditional can usually be replaced by 'when' without changing the meaning.

Poll

Choose the Zero Conditional example

• If people eat too much, they get fat.

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

First Conditional

• Formula: (if + present simple, ... will + infinitive)

• Example: If it rains tomorrow, we'll go to the cinema.

• Example: If it rains tomorrow, we won't go running.

• It's used to talk about things which might happen in the future.

• The first conditional describes a particular situation, whereas the zero conditional describes what happens in general.

Poll

Choose the First Conditional

• If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes.

• If I see her, I'll tell her.

Second Conditional

• Formula: (if + past simple, ... would + infinitive)

• Example: If I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world.

• We can use 'were' instead of 'was' with 'I' and 'he/she/it'. This is mostly done in formal writing.

• We can use it to talk about things in the future that are probably not going to be true.

• We can use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible, because it's not true.

Poll

Choose an example for the Second Conditional

• If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes

• If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house.

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

Third Conditional

• Formula: (if + past perfect, ... would + have + past participle)

• Example: If I had gone to bed early, I would have caught the train.

• It's used to describe a situation that didn't happen, and to imagine the result of this situation.

• If I hadn't eaten so much, I wouldn't have felt sick (but I did eat a lot, and so I did feel sick).

• If she had studied, she would have passed the exam (but, really we know she didn't study and so she didn't pass)

Poll

Choose the Third Conditional Example.

• She would travel all over the world if she were rich.

• He would have been on time for the interview if he had left the house at nine

• She'll be late if the train is delayed.