CONDITIONALS

UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CHIMBORAZO 

Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación, Humanas y Tecnologías

Carrera de Ingles

       

WHAT IS CONDITIONALS?

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.

"Condition" means "situation or circumstance". If a particular condition is true, then a particular result happens:

• if y = 10 then 2y = 20
• if y = 3 then 2y = 6

 we will look at the three basic conditionals as well as the so-called zero conditional.






There are four kinds:

• The Zero Conditional:
  (if + present simple, ... present simple)
  If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.
  
• The First Conditional:
  (if + present simple, ... will + infinitive)
  If it rains tomorrow, we'll go to the cinema.
  
• The Second Conditional:
  (if + past simple, ... would + infinitive)
  If I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world.
  
• The Third Conditional
  (if + past perfect, ... would + have + past participle)
  If I had gone to bed early, I would have caught the train.

WE WILL LOOK FOR EACH CONDITIONAL BELONG THIS PAGE HOPE THIS EACH SUMMARIES WILL HELP YOU TO IMPROVE THE USES OF IT.

FIRST CONDITIONAL

UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CHIMBORAZO 

Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación, Humanas y Tecnologías

Carrera de Ingles

       

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

It's used to talk about things which might happen in the future. Of course, we can't know what will happen in the future, but this describes possible things, which could easily come true.

• If it rains, I won't go to the park.
• If I study today, I'll go to the party tonight.
• If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes.
• She'll be late if the train is delayed.
• She'll miss the bus if she doesn't leave soon.
• If I see her, I'll tell her.

'If' - How to use the First Conditional

• Grammar

The first conditional is a structure we use when we want to talk about possibilities in the present or in the future. In this lesson we will learn how the first conditional is formed and when we use it.

The structure of the first conditional

"If" Clause	Main Clause
If + present simple + comma	Subject + will/other modal + base verb.
If it rains,	I will stay home

If we put the main clause first then we don't need the comma.

Main Clause	"If" Clause
Subject + will/other modal + base verb	If + present simple.
I will stay home	if it rains

Using the first conditional

We use the first conditional to talk about real possibilities in the future.

Example	Explanation
If it is sunny tomorrow, I will have a picnic.	It is possible that it will be sunny tomorrow. In this condition I will have a picnic..
If you come to the party, I will be very happy.	It is possible that you will come to the party. In this condition I will be very happy.
If I win the lottery, I will buy a car!	It is possible that I will win the lottery. In this condition        I will buy a car.
I will be sad if my football team loses the match.	It is possible that my team will lose the match. In this condition I will be sad.
I will stay home if it rains tomorrow.	It is possible that it will rain tomorrow. In this condition         I will stay home.

SECOND CONDITIONAL

UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CHIMBORAZO 

Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación, Humanas y Tecnologías

Carrera de Ingles

       

SECOND CONDITIONAL

Here we have a commedi pinture that describe how the Second Conditional works as an imaginary.

 

The second conditional
is called the present
unreal conditional. It is
for hypothetical
activities.

To learn more about the
second conditional, try
the lesson and tests
below. - See more at: http://www.learnenglish-online.com/grammar/secondconditional.html#sthash.B6ryQjFq.dpuf

 

The second conditional is called the present unreal conditional. It is for hypothetical activities.

To learn more about the second conditional, try the lesson and tests below.

     SECOND CONDITIONAL STRUCTURE
       If     +     Simple Past     +     Modal     +     Base Verb

Examples:

• If I had more money, I would buy a car.
• If he were 16, he could drive.

USES

Unreal situations in the present

• If I were the teacher, I would make class shorter.
• If I were an animal, I would be a lion.

• If I were rich, I would buy a private jet.
• I would sleep more if I had time.

Impossible present situations

• I would go to the party, if I didn't have to work.
• If I could play piano, I would play for you.

Was vs. Were
Use “were” for all subjects.

Examples:

• If I were rich, I would not work.
• If he were older, he would understand.

Second Conditional Questions

Here are some examples second conditional questions:

• What would you do if you were me?
• If you had $1,000, what would you buy?
• If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you
  want to live?
• Who would you like to meet, if you could meet anyone?

Notice that the questions are unreal situations. In the
examples, it is clear that it is impossible to live anywhere in the
world or meet anyone in the world.

The second conditional
is called the present
unreal conditional. It is
for hypothetical
activities.

To learn more about the
second conditional, try
the lesson and tests
below. - See more at: http://www.learnenglish-online.com/grammar/secondconditional.html#sthash.B6ryQjFq.dpuf

The second conditional
is called the present
unreal conditional. It is
for hypothetical
activities.

To learn more about the
second conditional, try
the lesson and tests
below. - See more at: http://www.learnenglish-online.com/grammar/secondconditional.html#sthash.B6ryQjFq.dpuf

The second conditional
is called the present
unreal conditional. It is
for hypothetical
activities.

To learn more about the
second conditional, try
the lesson and tests
below.

SECOND CONDITIONAL STRUCTUREIf     +     Simple Past     +     Modal     +     Base Verb

Examples:

• If I had more money, I would buy a car.
  
• If he were 16, he could drive.
  

USESUnreal situations in the present

• If I were the teacher, I would make class shorter.
  
• If I were an animal, I would be a lion.
  

Imagined events

• If I were rich, I would buy a private jet.
  
• I would sleep more if I had time.
  

Impossible present situations

• I would go to the party, if I didn't have to work.
  
• If I could play piano, I would play for you.
  

Was vs. WereUse “were” for all subjects.

Examples:

• If I were rich, I would not work.
  
• If he were older, he would understand.
  

Second Conditional QuestionsHere are some examples second conditional questions:

• What would you do if you were me?
  
• If you had $1,000, what would you buy?
  
• If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you want to live?
  
• Who would you like to meet, if you could meet anyone?
  

Notice that the questions are unreal situations. In the
examples, it is clear that it is impossible to live anywhere in the
world or meet anyone in the world.

- See more at: http://www.learnenglish-online.com/grammar/secondconditional.html#sthash.B6ryQjFq.dpuf

The second conditional
is called the present
unreal conditional. It is
for hypothetical
activities.

To learn more about the
second conditional, try
the lesson and tests
below. - See more at: http://www.learnenglish-online.com/grammar/secondconditional.html#sthash.B6ryQjFq.dpuf

The second conditional
is called the present
unreal conditional. It is
for hypothetical
activities.

To learn more about the
second conditional, try
the lesson and tests
below.

SECOND CONDITIONAL STRUCTUREIf     +     Simple Past     +     Modal     +     Base Verb

Examples:

• If I had more money, I would buy a car.
  
• If he were 16, he could drive.
  

USESUnreal situations in the present

• If I were the teacher, I would make class shorter.
  
• If I were an animal, I would be a lion.
  

Imagined events

• If I were rich, I would buy a private jet.
  
• I would sleep more if I had time.
  

Impossible present situations

• I would go to the party, if I didn't have to work.
  
• If I could play piano, I would play for you.
  

Was vs. WereUse “were” for all subjects.

Examples:

• If I were rich, I would not work.
  
• If he were older, he would understand.
  

Second Conditional QuestionsHere are some examples second conditional questions:

• What would you do if you were me?
  
• If you had $1,000, what would you buy?
  
• If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you want to live?
  
• Who would you like to meet, if you could meet anyone?
  

Notice that the questions are unreal situations. In the
examples, it is clear that it is impossible to live anywhere in the
world or meet anyone in the world.

- See more at: http://www.learnenglish-online.com/grammar/secondconditional.html#sthash.B6ryQjFq.dpuf

THIRD CONDITIONAL

UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CHIMBORAZO 

Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación, Humanas y Tecnologías

Carrera de Ingles

       

THIRD CONDITIONAL

 

The third conditional is called the past unreal conditional. It is for past actions.

THIRD CONDITIONAL STRUCTURE

If  +  Subject  +  Had  +  Past Participle, +  Subject  +  Modal  + Have + Past Participle

Examples:     

Could
If I had known about the party, I could have gone.

Should
If you had known about the party, you should have told me.

Might
If he had known about the party, he might have gone.

Would
If I had known about the party, I would have gone.


USES

Imaginary situations in the past
This includes actions that did not happen in the past.

Examples:  

• If I had gone to university, I would have studied medicine.
• If You had gone to the party, you would have met him.

Advice in the past
These sentences usually don't have an "if" clause, and can
often be more direct.

Examples:  

• You should have saved your money.
• You should not have gone with him.

Describes what you would have done differently

Example:  

• If I had been you, I would not have bought those shoes.
• If I had thought about it, I wouldn't have eaten so much.

Questions

Here are some examples of questions with the 3rd conditional:

• What would you have done if you had been me?
• Would you have finished if you had had more time?
• Would you have bought something cheaper?
• Should we have paid more attention in class?

The third conditional is
called the past unreal
conditional. It is for past
actions.

To learn more about the
third conditional, try the
lesson and tests below.

THIRD CONDITIONAL STRUCTUREIf  +  Subject  +  Had  +  Past Participle,
+  Subject  +  Modal  + Have + Past Participle


Examples:       CouldIf I had known about the party, I could have gone.ShouldIf you had known about the party, you should have told me.MightIf he had known about the party, he might have gone.WouldIf I had known about the party, I would have gone.USESImaginary situations in the pastThis includes actions that did not happen in the past.

Examples:  

• If I had gone to university, I would have studied medicine.
  
• If You had gone to the party, you would have met him.
  

Advice in the pastThese sentences usually don't have an "if" clause, and can
often be more direct.

Examples:  

• You should have saved your money.
  
• You should not have gone with him.
  

Describes what you would have done differentlyExample:  

• If I had been you, I would not have bought those shoes.
  
• If I had thought about it, I wouldn't have eaten so much.
  

QuestionsHere are some examples of questions with the 3rd conditional:

• What would you have done if you had been me?
  
• Would you have finished if you had had more time?
  
• Would you have bought something cheaper?
  
• Should we have paid more attention in class?

- See more at: http://www.learnenglish-online.com/grammar/thirdconditional.html#sthash.DTgud4Zs.dpuf

ZERO CONDITIONAL

UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE CHIMBORAZO 

Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación, Humanas y Tecnologías

Carrera de Ingles

        

ZERO CONDITIONAL 
 

 

The conditional 0 is used to express general truths and facts (often things based on scientific fact).

STRUCTURE

if + present tense | present tense
if + past tense | past tense

The zero conditional expresses that something is (or was) always true or that one action is (or was) always followed by another:

EXAMPLE:

If you heat water to 100 degrees Celsius, it boils.
If John is cursing, it means that he is very angry.

If I got home late, my mom scolded me.
If she was sad, she just stared into the distance without saying a word.

In this type of conditional, we can use when instead of if:

If/When John is cursing, it means that he is very angry.

The conditional 0 is used to express general truths and facts (often things based on scientific fact). Uses the simple present tense:-
- See more at: http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/conditional0.html#sthash.YhL6Pskx.dpuf