CONDITIONALS

ZERO
CONDITIONALS
 USE
• The conditional zero is used to
speak about things that are
always real, as scientific facts or
general truths
 FORM
The structure of the conditional zero consists of
two clauses, the clause of the "if" and the
principal prayer.
- Clause of the "if": if +subject + simple present
verb
- Main clause: subject + simple present verb.

Example:If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.

 COMMA

• If the "if" clause comes first, a

comma is usually used. If the "if"
clause comes second, there is no
need for a comma.
 LET´S PRACTICE
• 1. Water boils if you heat it to 100 ºc .
• 2. If you mix red and white you get orange .
• 3. Butter melts if you leave it in the sun.
• 4. If you've got a headache , take an aspirin.
• 5. If you add sugar , it tastes sweet.
• 6. A dog bites if you go near its food when it's eating.
• 7. If you pull a cat's tail, it scratches you .
• 8. You have more chance of being killed if you don't wear a
seat belt.
• 9. You can end up brain damaged if you don't wear a crash
helmet .
• 10. If you press this switch, the dvd player comes on .
• 11. If she comes home very late , her folks get very angry.
• 12. Farmers get very angry if you leave gates open in the
country.
 FIRST
CONDICIONALS
 USE

• The first conditional is used to

talk about things which are
possible in the present or the
future.
 FORM
As in the conditional zero, coast of the
clause "if" and of the principal clause.
• If clause: if + subject + simple present
verb
• Main clause: subject + will + verb

Example: If you study hard, you will pass the

test
 COMMA
• As in the zero, if " if " the
clause comes first, a comma in
general is secondhand. If " if "
the clause comes the second
one, there is no need of a
comma.
 LET´S PRCTICE
• If Clare arrives late again, the hockey trainer will be furious.
• You'll be sorry if you don't revise for your exams.
• We'll go if the weather's good.
• They won't recognise you if you wear a wig and dark glasses.
• If the bus is on time, I won't miss the football.
• If you do your homework now, you'll be free all tomorrow.
• We'll eat out if there's no food at home.
• You'll find life much easier if you smile more often.
• If it's hot, we'll go for a swim.
• You'll do it better if you take more time over it.
• If she keeps practising, she'll get better. (to get)
• Mum will be very sad if Jim forgets Mother's Day again. (to forget)
• I'll be so happy if I pass the exam. (to be)
• You'll be really tired tomorrow if you don't go to bed soon. (to go)
 SECOND
CONDITIONALS
 USE
• The second conditional is used
to talk about things which are
unreal (not true or not
possible) in the present or the
future.
 FORM
• It is clear of the same clauses that you
form the enteriores:
• If clause: if + subject + simple past verb
• Main clause: subject + would + verb

Note that this " simple past " form is slightly

different from usual in the case of the verb
BE. Whatever the subject, the verb form is
"were", not "was"
 COMMA
• If the "if" clause comes first, a
comma is usually used. If the
"if" clause comes second,
there is no need for a comma.
 LET´S PRACTICE
• If Joe were (be) here, he would catch (catch) some
fish for supper.
2. It would be (be) nice if the rain stopped (stop)!
3. I would sing (sing) you a song if I had(have) my
guitar.
4. If I had(have) a better sleeping bag, I wouldn't
feel (not feel) so cold.
5. If this tent were (be) any smaller, one of us
would have to sleep (have to sleep) outside!
6. I would look (look) out for bears if I were (be)
you!
7. If I weren´t(not be) so hungry, I (share) would
sharemy beans with you.
 THIRD
CONDICIONALS
 USE
• The third conditional is used to talk about
things which DID NOT HAPPEN in the
past. If your native language does not
have a similar construction, you may find
this a little strange, but it can be very
useful. It is often used to express criticism
or regret
 FORM
We use different verb forms in each part of a third conditional:
• if clause: if + subject + past perfect verb*
• main clause :subject + would (OR could, OR might) have +
past participle

• The past perfect is formed with the auxiliary verb "had", and
the past participle (or third form) of the verb.
• Note also that third conditional forms can be contracted:

• Full form: If I had studied harder, I probably would have

passed the exam.

• Contracted form :If I'd studied harder, I probably would've

passed the exam.
 COMMA

• If the "if" clause comes first, a

comma is usually used. If the
"if" clause comes second,
there is no need for a comma.
 LET´S PRACTICE

• He crashed his car, because he fell asleep while driving.

If he hadn't fallen asleep while driving, he wouldn't have crashed his
car.
2. We couldn't go to the concert, because we didn't have enough
money.
If we had had enough money, we could have gone to the concert.
3. I lost my job because I was late for work.
I wouldn't have lost my job if I hadn't been late for work.
4. The wind was so strong that the bridge collapsed.
If the wind hadn't been so strong, the bridge wouldn't have
collapsed
• 5. I couldn't call Sally because I had lost her number.
I could have called Sally if I hadn't lost her number.
GERMÁN MONTERO PANIAGUA