B2.
1 - UNIT 7
GRAMMAR
CONDITIONALS
We use conditional sentences to talk about possible situations or actions and the
possible result of those situations and actions. For example:
If I run for an hour, I will be tired.
(situation) (result)
The result can also be described before the situation. For example:
I’ll be angry if you don’t do the laundry.
(result) (situation)
As you can see, when the situation comes first, a comma is used. When the result
comes first, no comma is needed.
In English, conditionals are divided into different types. In this unit you are going to
study zero, first, second and third conditionals.
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ZERO CONDITIONAL (Type 0)
USE
The zero conditional is used to state simple facts and truths (things which are always
or generally true):
If you press that button, the alarm sounds. (= it happens every time you do it)
FORM
If + present tense, + present tense
If you wake up late, you don’t have time to have breakfast.
OR
Present tense + if + present tense
My dog is happy if I take him to the beach.
FIRST CONDITIONAL (Type 1)
USE
We use the first conditional to talk about a real possibility in the future.
If our basketball team wins this match, we’ll win $10,000. (= we can win)
2
FORM
+ future tense
If + present tense, we will go with you as well.
If you go there,
+ imperative
tell her that I miss her.
OR
Future tense
I won’t be surprised
+ if + present tense
Imperative if you arrive home earlier than me.
Cook dinner
SECOND CONDITIONAL (Type 2)
USE
We use the second conditional:
● When we imagine a situation that will probably not happen.
If I won the lottery, I would buy a mansion.
● When we are giving advice or making polite suggestions:
If I were you, I would tell him the truth.
If you went to bed earlier, you wouldn’t be so tired in the morning.
3
Watch out! We normally say ‘If I (also he/she/it) were…’ instead of ‘If I (also
he/she/it) was....’. It’s an exception to the rule. It sounds better in English.
If I were you, I wouldn’t buy it.
If she were nicer, we would get on better.
FORM
As you have seen in the examples above, to form the second conditional you need to
use WOULD (WOULDN’T) + infinitive. In these types of sentences, would is the
auxiliary verb that indicates we are imagining a situation or action.
If + past simple, + would + infinitive
If we went to New York, we would visit the Empire State Building.
OR
would + infinitive + if + past simple
I would live in Germany if I knew some German.
THIRD CONDITIONAL (Type 3)
USE
We use the third conditional to talk about the ‘unreal’ past. It is used when we refer to
events that are in the past - so nothing can be done to change them - and we
imagine what the opposite might have been.
If I had seen him yesterday, I would have given him his books back.
If they had been nicer, we would have got on well together.
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FORM
If + past perfect, + would + have + past participle
If I had gone to New York last year, I would have visited your American friend.
OR
would + have + past participle + if + past perfect
I wouldn’t have arrived late if you had given me a lift this morning.
would = ’d
would not = wouldn’t
had = ’d
When native speakers use the third conditional, they usually include contractions:
If you’d told her what I said to you, she wouldn’t have been angry.
Now, this is very important:
You can use could or might instead of would. For example:
If Rafa had played better, his team could have won the match. (= he had the
ability to win the match, but he didn’t, because he didn’t play well enough)
If it hadn’t rained, we might have gone for a walk. (= going for a walk was a
possibility)
WHEN / UNLESS
Apart from if, it is very common to see when and unless in zero and first conditional
sentences. Study their uses:
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● We use WHEN for things we are sure will happen:
When I get home, I’ll have a nice cup of tea. (= As soon as I get home, I’ll have a
nice cup of tea.)
She will take you to Disneyland when she saves some money. (= As soon as
she saves some money, she will take you to Disneyland.)
● UNLESS usually replaces ‘if… not’ and means ‘except if’ (in Spanish, a no ser
que, a menos que):
Unless it rains, I will go to Benidorm. (= If it doesn’t rain, I will go to Benidorm.)
You won’t go out unless you pass all your exams. (= You won’t go out if you
don’t pass all your exams.)
Remember also this useful word!
If you want to give the idea of ‘if… (or not)’, use whether instead of if. For example:
I don’t know if this is true or not. → I don’t know whether this is true or not.
He doesn’t know if he will be here on time (or not). → He doesn’t know whether he
will be here on time (or not).
WISH / IF ONLY
Wish and if only are both used to express a desire, a wish. They both mean the same,
but if only is less common and is normally stronger.
● We write a past simple sentence after wish and if only even though we are
talking about the present.
I wish I could go back in time.
If only I could go back in time.
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I wish we had sushi for lunch today.
If only we had sushi for lunch today.
● We normally use were after I/he/she/it.
I wish I were taller.
If only she were my girlfriend.
● We use wish / if only + past perfect when we express a wish or regret about
the past - when the event can’t be changed.
I wish I hadn’t said anything.
If only we had been honest with each other.
