Conditional Sentences (Frases condicionales)

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 sobre otro refleja la probabilidad de la accin.

Conditional Types (Tipos de los condicionales)

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

Condition Present simple

Result Present simple

Ejemplos: If you heat water to 100 C, it boils. Play 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 don't practice the piano everyday I play poorly. Play If I don't practice the piano everyday I play poorly. / I play the piano poorly if I don't practice everyday. (Si no practico el piano cada da toco mal.)

Does your mom get mad if you don't call her? Play Does your mom get mad if you don't call her? / If you don't call your mom, does she get mad? (Si no la llamas a tu madre, se enoja?)

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

First Conditinal (Tipo 1)

Esto tipo del condicional se utiliza para el futuro y en los casos cuando es muy probable que la condicin pasar. IF If
y y

Condition Present simple

Result Future simple ("will")

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

If it doesn't rain, we will go to the beach. Play If it doesn't rain, we will go to the beach. / We will go to the beach if it doesn't rain. (Si no llueve, iremos a la playa.)

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

Nota: Se pueden 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.
y y

Ejemplos: If it doesn't rain, we may go to the beach. Play If it doesn't rain, we may go to the beach. (*Con el uso de "may", el significado de esta frase cambia. Ahora, el hablante reconoce que puede ir a la playa pero no esta tan seguro de si ir.)

If it doesn't rain we should go to the beach. Play If it doesn't rain we should go to the beach. (*En este caso, el uso de "should" expresa la opinin del hablante.)

If it doesn't rain we can go to the beach. Play If it doesn't rain we can go to the beach. ("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 If
y y

Condition Past simple

Result "Would" + infinitivo

Ejemplos: If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world. Play 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. Play 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? Play 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 del condicional cuando hablamos de una condicion en el pasado que no ha sucedidio. IF If
y y

Condition Past perfect

Result "Would have" + past participle

Ejemplos: If I had known then what I know now, I would have done things differently. Play If I had known then what I know now, I would have done things differently. / I would 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 wouldn't have had the heart attack if she had gone on a diet as her doctor recommended. Play Suzanne wouldn't 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 wouldn't 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? Play 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 los tipos 1 y 2, se puede usar otros verbos modales en vez de "would" para cambiar el significado y la probabilidad.