TEACHER’S NOTES

ESL / EFL RESOURCES First Conditional Business

Activity Type Introduction

Reading, writing and This productive two-part worksheet activity can be used to teach
speaking activity Business English students about the first conditional.

Procedure
Language Focus
Give each student a copy of the two worksheets.
First conditional
Read through the introduction and explain how to use and form
Business vocabulary
the first conditional.

Students then complete a gap fill exercise using the first conditional
Aim structure.
To practice the first
conditional in a Business When the students have finished, go through the answers with
English setting. the class.

Answer key
Preparation 1. If you send your order by e-mail, we will deliver the goods
Make one copy of the today.
two worksheets for each
2. If you buy me lunch, I will help you with your presentation.
student.
3. We will cancel our order if you don't deliver the goods by
Friday.
Level
4. If your prices are competitive, we will place an order.
Intermediate
5. If you update your website, you will get more sales.

Time 6. If you wait a moment I will call him.

45 minutes 7. If you leave now, you will arrive at the meeting on time.

8. If he calls, will you take a message?

9. I will read the report if I have time.

10. If she gets the flu, she will call in sick.

Next, divide the students into pairs.

In pairs, the students create a situational dialogue where they

negotiate a production run and unit cost for a new product using
the first conditional.

The dialogues are then presented to the class and feedback is

given.

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 FIRST CONDITIONAL

ESL / EFL RESOURCES First Conditional Business

The first conditional is used to describe things that are likely to happen in the future. Of course,
we can't know what will happen in the future, but this describes possible things that could easily
come true.

The first conditional is formed by using 'if + present simple' in one clause, and 'will + base verb'
in another clause.

The 'If clause' may be placed first followed by a comma and the 'result' clause.

If you commit to buying 20,000 units, I will consider a larger discount.

If you put the 'result' clause first followed by the 'If' clause, then you do not use a comma.

I will consider a larger discount if you commit to buying 20,000 units.

A. Fill in the blank spaces using the first conditional structure.

Example:

If
________ do
you ________ will
this for me, you ________ get
________ a pay rise.
(do) (get)

1. ________ you ________ your order by e-mail, we ________ ________ the goods today.
(send) (deliver)

2. ________ you ________ me lunch, I ________ ________ you with your presentation.
(buy) (help)

3. We ________ ________ our order ________ you ________ ________ the goods by Friday.
(cancel) (not) (deliver)

4. ________ your prices ________ ________, we ________ ________ an order.

(be) (competitive) (place)

5. ________ you ________ your website, you ________ ________ more sales.
(update) (get)

6. ________ you ________ a moment, I ________ ________ him.

(wait) (call)

7. ________ you ________ now, you ________ ________ at the meeting on time.
(leave) (arrive)

8. ________ he ________, ________ you ________ a message?

(call) (take)

9. I ________ ________ the report ________ I ________ time.

(read) (have)

10. ________ she ________ the flu, she ________ ________ in sick.
(get) (call)

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 FIRST CONDITIONAL

ESL / EFL RESOURCES First Conditional Business

B. In pairs, create a dialogue using the information in the tables below.

Table 1 shows a company’s preferred production run and unit cost for a new product.

Table 2 shows a manufacturer’s preferred production run and unit cost for a new product.

One student represents the company and the other represents the manufacturer. Using the
tables, try to negotiate a production run and unit cost for a new product using the first conditional.

Example:

Manufacturer: If you agree to buy 20,000 units, I will offer you a price of $22.50 per unit.

Company: If your price is $22.50 per unit, we won't make any profit. Can you offer a discount?

Table 1 (company’s preferred production run and unit cost for a new product)

Production runs Preferred unit cost

20.000 units $20.00
30.000 units $19.00
40.000 units $17.00
50.000 units $15.00

Table 2 (manufacturer’s preferred production run and unit cost for a new product)

Production runs Preferred unit cost

20.000 units $22.50
30.000 units $21.50
40.000 units $19.50
50.000 units $17.50

Manufacturer: ..............................................................................................................
Company: ...................................................................................................................
Manufacturer: ..............................................................................................................
Company: ...................................................................................................................
Manufacturer: ..............................................................................................................
Company: ...................................................................................................................
Manufacturer: ..............................................................................................................
Company: ...................................................................................................................
Manufacturer: ..............................................................................................................
Company: ...................................................................................................................

C. Now, role-play your dialogue in front of the class.

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