El uso del condicional significa que una accin depende de otra.

Los condicionales se utilizan para

hablar sobre situaciones reales o irreales. En general, las frases condicionales llevan la palabra if
(si).
Ten en cuenta que no existe un tiempo verbal para el condicional en ingls como existe en espaol.
A la vez, se usa el verbo auxiliar would para formar el condicional en ingls.
Hay cuatro tipos de frases condicionales y el uso de uno u otro refleja la probabilidad de la accin.

Conditional Types
Zero Conditional (Tipo 0)
Se usa este tipo de condicional cuando la condicin y el resultado siempre es verdad, como por
ejemplo los hechos cientficos.

If

present simple

present simple

Ejemplos:
If you heat water to 100 C, it boils. / Water boils if you heat it to 100 C. (Si calientas agua a 100
C hierve.)

If I dont practice the piano everyday I play poorly. / I play the piano poorly if Idont
practice everyday. (Si no practico el piano cada da toco mal.)
Does your mom get mad if you dont call her? / If you dont call your
mom,does she get mad? (Si no llamas a tu madre, se enoja?)

Nota: Podemos cambiar el orden de las frases sin cambiar el significado. Tambin, en general con
este tipo de condicional, podemos sustituir if por when sin alterar el significado.

First Conditional (Tipo 1)

Este tipo de condicional se utiliza para el futuro y en los casos en que es muy probable que la
condicin pasar.

If

present simple

future simple (will)

Ejemplos:
If Bill studies, he will pass the exam. / Bill will pass the exam if he studies. (Si Bill estudia,
aprobar el examen.)

If it doesnt rain, we will go to the beach. / We will go to the beach if it doesnt rain. (Si no llueve,
iremos a la playa.)

Will you take the train if you miss the bus? If you miss the bus, will you takethe train? (Cogers
el tren si pierdes el bus?)

Nota: Se puede usar algunos verbos modales en vez de will para cambiar la probabilidad o
expresar una opinin. Para ms informacin, ver la leccin sobre los verbos modales.
Ejemplos:

If it doesnt rain, we may go to the beach. (Significado: Con el uso de may, el significado de
esta frase cambia. Ahora, el hablante reconoce que puede ir a la playa, pero no est tan seguro de si ir.)
If it doesnt rain, we should go to the beach. (Significado: En este caso, el uso de should
expresa la opinin del hablante.)
If it doesnt rain, we can go to the beach. (Significado: Can significa que es posible ir a la
playa, pero no indica la probabilidad.)

Second Conditional (Tipo 2)

Se utiliza el tipo 2 para expresar una posibilidad irreal en el presente, como un deseo o un sueo, o
para una accin en el futuro no tan probable.

If

past simple

would + infinitivo

Ejemplos:
If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world. / I would travel around the world if
I won the lottery. (Si ganara la lotera, viajara alrededor del mundo.)
If Rachel had more time, she would learn to play the guitar. / Rachel would learn to play the
guitar if she had more time. (Si Rachel tuviera ms tiempo, aprendera a tocar la guitarra.)
Would you be happy if you were to get married? / If you were to get
married,would you be happy? (Estaras feliz si te casaras?)

Nota: Como en el tipo 1, se pueden usar otros verbos modales en vez de would para cambiar el
significado y la posibilidad.

Third Conditional (Tipo 3)

A diferencia a los tipos 1 y 2, se utiliza el tercer tipo de condicional cuando hablamos de una
condicin en el pasado que no ha sucedido.

If

past perfect

would have + past participle

Ejemplos:
If I had known then what I know now, I would have done things differently. / Iwould have
done things differently if I had known then what I know now. (Si hubiera sabido en el pasado lo que
s ahora, hubiera hecho las cosas de manera diferente.)

Suzanne wouldnt have had the heart attack if she had gone on a diet as her doctor
recommended. / If Suzanne had gone on a diet as her doctor recommended she wouldnt have
had the heart attack. (Suzanne no hubiera tenido el infarto si hubiera hecho dieta como su mdico le
recomend.)

Would you have liked to go to university if you had been able to afford it? / If you had
been able to afford it, would you have liked to go to university? (Te hubiera gustado ir a la
universidad si te lo hubieras permitido pagar?)

Nota: Como en los tipos 1 y 2, se pueden usar otros verbos modales en vez de would para cambiar
el significado y la probabilidad.

Q1 of 8
If we spoke better English, we

(move) to the United States.

Q2 of 8
If it _____ (rain), we should go to the movies.
Q3 of 8
They _____ (wait, not) in the rain, had you called them to tell them you were going
to be late.
Q4 of 8
If Peter _____ (work) less, he would have more time to study.

Q5 of 8
It would have been a nice holiday, if I _____ (break, not) my leg.
Q6 of 8
_____ you _____ (go) to a different show if you can't get tickets to "Les
Miserables"?
Q7 of 8
If she were shorter, she _____ (wear) high heels more often.
Q8 of 8
_____ you _____ (be) angry if I hadn't called to tell you I would be late?

SOLUCIONS:

If we spoke better English, we would move to the United States.

If it rains , we should go to the movies.
They would not have waited / wouldn't have waited in the rain, had you called
them to tell them you were going to be late.
If Peter worked less, he would have more time to study.
It would have been a nice holiday, if I had not broken/ hadn't broken my leg.
Will you go to a different show if you can't get tickets to "Les Miserables"?
If she were shorter, she would wear high heels more often.
Would you have been angry if I hadn't called to tell you I would be late?