Conditionals

Conditional clauses

By isabel fonseca

Conditional clauses, also known as If-clauses, introduce a condition under the conjunction If / When and its result or consequence.

There are Type 0, Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 conditional clauses.​

• ​If you drop this glass, it breaks.

• ​When you lose a game, show your fairplay.

By isabel fonseca​

​Examples:

Let's analyse the examples presented.

By isabel fonseca​

• ​If you drop this glass, it breaks.

  ​

  condition​ result/consequence

​

• ​When you lose a game, show your fairplay.

  ​

  condition​ result/consequence

​A conditional clause Type 0 always expresses a general truth or a fact and it's followed by the logical or natural consequence of that condition.

​Structure

Type 0 = If + Present Simple + , + Present Simple/ Imperative

​

• If you heat an ice cube, it melts.

  ​=

• ​An ice cube melts if you heat it.

By isabel fonseca​

Multiple Choice

If you ____________ water, it boils at 100ºC.

• heated

• heats

• will heat

• heat

​A conditional clause Type 1 always expresses a possible condition and it's followed by the logical or natural consequence of that condition.

​Structure

Type 1​ = If + Present Simple + , + Future Simple / Modal verb

​

• If you drop that bottle , it will break.

  =

• ​That bottle will break if you drop it.

By isabel fonseca​

​NOTICE

​We can change the order of the sentences without changing their meaning.

In this case the two clauses are not separated by a comma.​

​

By isabel fonseca​

Multiple Choice

You _______ the exam if you work hard.

• pass

• will pass

• passed

• would pass

​A conditional clause Type 2 always expresses a improbable condition and it's followed by the logical or natural consequence of that condition.

​Structure

Type 2​ = If + Past Simple + , + Conditional Simple

​

If Jane trained harder, she would be a better athlete.​

​

• ​Note: A forma do conjuntivo do verbo “ser” (se ela fosse) é normalmente “were” em todas as pessoas.

• This is the most used form in Type 2.

By isabel fonseca​

​A conditional clause Type 3 always refer to a past situation that in fact didn't happen; it is followed by what would have happenned if things had been different and that condition had been met.

​Structure

Type 3 = If + Past Perfect + , + Conditional Perfect

​

If Jane had trained harder, she would have been a better athlete.​

​

Condition (in fact Jane didn't get to train more)

Consequence (but if she had trained more, she would have been a better athlete)

​

​

By isabel fonseca​

​LET'S PRACTICE

By isabel fonseca​

Poll

Select the sentences that are examples of Conditional clauses - Type 0 and Type 2.

• If we all help, we'll make a difference

• John would have been very happy if he had got a medal.

• If you're late for dinner, they start eating without you.

• Our boss would fire us if we arrived late all the time.

Multiple Select

Martha would not have to ride the bus

• if she had a car.

• if she has a car.

• If she will have a car.

Multiple Select

Call your doctor

• if she feels sick.

• if you will feel sick.

• if you feel sick.

Multiple Choice

Conditional clause is the same as conditional sentence

• Yes

• No

Poll

    

Match the numbers to the corresponding letters in order to form correct conditional causes.

1. If it’s sunny, ...

   2. They'll need an umbrella ...                                       3. If the sky is clear, ...    

        4. If the sea is clean, ...   5. If we get cold, ...                             

   

• a) we'll be able to see the stars.

• b) we'll sit outside.

• c) you'll make a fire.

• d) we'll go swimming.

• e) if it rains.

Open Ended

Write an example of a Type 3 conditional clause.

Multiple Choice

If it's cold tomorrow, I'll wear my new boots.

• zero conditional
• first conditional
• second conditional

Open Ended

answer using the conditional

Multiple Choice

How many types of conditionals are there?

• 3

• 4

• 2

• 5