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Conditionals

A conditional sentence consists of two parts: one beginning with 'if' to describe a possible situation and the other describing the consequence. There are four types of conditional sentences: zero, first, second, and third, each serving different purposes from stating facts to expressing hypothetical situations. Mixed conditionals combine elements of the second and third conditionals to discuss past hypotheses with present consequences.

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15 views5 pages

Conditionals

A conditional sentence consists of two parts: one beginning with 'if' to describe a possible situation and the other describing the consequence. There are four types of conditional sentences: zero, first, second, and third, each serving different purposes from stating facts to expressing hypothetical situations. Mixed conditionals combine elements of the second and third conditionals to discuss past hypotheses with present consequences.

Uploaded by

sandalidemel
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Conditionals

What is a Conditional Sentence?


A conditional sentence is based on the word ‘if’. There are always two parts to a conditional
sentence – one part beginning with ‘if’ to describe a possible situation, and the second part
which describes the consequence. For example:
If it rains, we’ll get wet.
There are four types of conditional sentences:
0 – The zero conditional
1 – The first conditional
2 – The second conditional
3 – The third conditional
The Zero Conditional
We use the zero conditional to talk about permanent truths, such as scientific facts, and
general habits. The structure is simple:

Here are some examples:


If you heat water to 100°, it boils.
If you eat a lot, you put on weight.
If it doesn’t rain for a long time, the earth gets very dry.
If we go out with friends, we normally go to a restaurant.
If I’m tired, I go to bed early.

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The First Conditional
We use the first conditional to talk about a realistic situation in the present or future. The
structure of the first conditional is as follows

Here are some examples:


If you’re free later, we can go for a walk.
If they’re hungry, I’ll make some sandwiches.
If you’re not back by 5pm, give me a ring.
If he studies hard, he’ll do well in the exam.
If we arrive late, we must get a taxi.
He’ll call if he needs help.
Take a break if you’re tired.
Another way to make first conditional sentences is to use ‘unless’ which means ‘only if’ or
‘except’. As with ‘if’, the word ‘unless’ can never be followed by ‘will’ but only by the
present simple. For example:
Unless you hurry up, you won’t catch the bus.
I’ll carry on doing this work, unless my boss tells me to do something else.
We’ll stay at home unless the weather improves.
The Second Conditional
We use the second conditional to talk about improbable or impossible situations in the
present or future. Here is the structure:
For example:
If I had more time, I’d exercise more. (But I don’t have more time so I don’t.)
If I were rich, I’d spend all my time travelling. (But I’m not rich so I can’t.)
If she saw a snake, she’d be terrified.
If he didn’t have to work late, he could go out with his girlfriend.
What would you do if you were offered a job in Canada?
You wouldn’t have to walk everywhere if you bought a bike.

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A common expression used to give advice has the second conditional structure. The
expression is ‘If I were you, I’d..’, meaning ‘in your situation, this is what I would do’. For
example:
A: I’ve got a headache.
B: If I were you, I’d take an aspirin.
A: I don’t understand this.
B: If I were you, I’d ask your teacher for help.
A: This order won’t be delivered on time.
B: If I were you, I’d phone the customer to let them know.
The Third Conditional
We use the third conditional to talk about impossible situations, as in the second conditional,
in the past. We often use the third conditional to describe regrets. The structure is:

Here are some examples:


If we had left earlier, we would have arrived on time.
If you hadn’t forgotten her birthday, she wouldn’t have been upset.
If they had booked earlier, they could have found better seats.
If I hadn’t learnt English, I wouldn’t have got this job.
What would you have studied if you hadn’t done engineering?
They wouldn’t have hired you if you hadn’t had some experience abroad.
You could have helped me if you’d stayed later.
Mixed Conditionals
It’s possible to combine the second and third conditional in one sentence when we want to
make a hypothesis about the past that has a consequence in the present. In this case, the
structure is:

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Here are some examples:
If you’d studied harder, you’d be at a higher level now.
We’d be lying on a beach now if we hadn’t missed the plane.
They’d have much more confidence if they hadn’t lost so many matches.
What would you be doing now if you hadn’t decided to study?
Exercise 1
Complete the Conditional Sentences (Type I ) by putting the verbs into the correct form.
1. If you (send) …………………….this letter now, she
(receive)………………………………… . it tomorrow .
2. If I (do)……………………… this test, I (improve ) ………………………………. my
English.
3. Peggy (go ) …………………………… shopping if she (have) ………………………….
time in the afternoon.
4. Simon (go) ……………………………. to London next week if he (get )
……………………… a cheap flight.
5. If they (study / not ) ………………………..harder, they (pass / not )
…………………………... the exam.
6. If it (rain ) ……………………. tomorrow, I (have to / not )
………………………………water the plant
Exercise 2
Complete the Conditional Sentences (Type II ) by putting the verbs into the correct form.
1.If I ( be ) ……………………… rich, my life ( change ) ……………………… completely.
2.I ( invite ) …………………………..all my friends if ( have ) ……………………….. a
house by the beach.
3.If we (have) …………………… a yacht, we (sail) ………………………… the seven seas.
4.If they (tell) ………………………… their father, he (be) ………………………very
angry.
5.We (help ) ………………………… you if we (know ) …………………………..how.

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6.My brother (buy ) ………………………….a sports car if he (have )
……………………the money.

Exercise 3
 Complete the Conditional Sentences (Type III ) by putting the verbs into the correct
form.
1. If you (study ) ………………………… for the test, you (pass )
……………………………it.
2. If you (ask ) …………………………me, I (help )
……………………………………you.
3. If you (speak ) …………………………… English, she (understand)
……………………… ………………… .
4. I (write ) …………………………………………....you a postcard if I (have )
…………………………….. your address.
5. If it (not/ start ) …………………………… to rain, we (walk )
………………………………..to the museum.
6. If she (take ) …………………………. the bus, she (not / arrive )
……………………………… ……………… on time.

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