Thanks to visit codestin.com
Credit goes to www.scribd.com

Scribd
Upload
72 views3 pages

Conditionals

The document discusses different types of conditionals in English: - Zero conditional is used to talk about general truths using "if + present, present". - First conditional talks about possible future events using "if + present, will + infinitive". - Second conditional imagines unlikely present/future situations using "if + past, would + infinitive". - Third conditional imagines different pasts using "if + past perfect, would have + past participle". - Mixed conditionals combine elements of past and present in the if and result clauses.

Uploaded by

Sara Rios Broullon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
72 views3 pages

Conditionals

The document discusses different types of conditionals in English: - Zero conditional is used to talk about general truths using "if + present, present". - First conditional talks about possible future events using "if + present, will + infinitive". - Second conditional imagines unlikely present/future situations using "if + past, would + infinitive". - Third conditional imagines different pasts using "if + past perfect, would have + past participle". - Mixed conditionals combine elements of past and present in the if and result clauses.

Uploaded by

Sara Rios Broullon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

CONDITIONALS

- Zero Conditional
We use the zero conditional to talk about things that are generally true, especially for
laws and rules.

If I drink too much coffee, I can't sleep at night.


Ice melts if you heat it.
When the sun goes down, it gets dark.

The structure is: if/when + present simple >> present simple.

- First Conditional
We use the first conditional when we talk about future situations, we believe are real or
possible.

If it doesn't rain tomorrow, we'll go to the beach.


Arsenal will be top of the league if they win.
When I finish work, I'll call you.

In first conditional sentences, the structure is usually: if/when + present simple


>> will + infinitive. 

It is also common to use this structure with unless, as long as, as soon as or in
case instead of if.

I'll leave as soon as the babysitter arrives.


I don't want to stay in London unless I get a well-paid job.
I'll give you a key in case I'm not at home.
You can go to the party, as long as you're back by midnight.

- Second Conditional

The second conditional is used to imagine present or future situations that are
impossible or unlikely in reality.

If we had a garden, we could have a cat.


If I won a lot of money, I'd buy a big house in the country.
I wouldn't worry  if I were you.
The structure is usually: if + past simple >> + would + infinitive. 

When if is followed by the verb be, it is grammatically correct to say if I were, if he


were, if she were and if it were. However, it is also common to hear these structures
with was, especially in the he/she form.

If I were you, I wouldn't mention it.


If she was prime minister, she would invest more money in schools.
He would travel more if he was younger.

Third conditionals and mixed conditionals

Conditionals describe the result of a certain condition. The if clause tells you the
condition (If I hadn't been ill) and the main clause tells you the result (I would have gone
to the party). The order of the clauses does not change the meaning.

If I hadn't been ill, I would have gone to the party.


I would have gone to the party if I hadn't been ill.

- Third Conditional

The third conditional is used to imagine a different past. We imagine a change in a past
situation and the different result of that change.

If I had understood the instructions properly, I would have passed the exam.
We wouldn't have got lost if my phone hadn't run out of battery.

The structure is usually:

If + past perfect >> would have + past participle.

- Mixed Conditionals

We can use mixed conditionals when we imagine a past change with a result in the
present or a present change with a result in the past.

1. Past/Present 
Here's a sentence imagining how a change in a past situation would have a result in the
present.

If I hadn't got the job in Tokyo, I wouldn't be with my current partner. (Si no
hubiera conseguido trabajo en Tokio, no estaría con mi actual compañero)
So the structure is: If + past perfect >> would + infinitive.

2. Present/Past
Here's a sentence imagining how a different situation in the present would mean that
the past was different as well.

It's really important. If it wasn't, I wouldn't have called you on your holiday.

And the structure is:

If + past simple >> would have + past participle.

You might also like