Grammar Guide: Conditionals

1. Introduction : What are conditionals?

o Sentences with two parts: a condition (if-clause) and a result (main clause).

o Show cause and effect or hypothetical situations.

 Why use them?

o To talk about real situations, predictions, or imaginary scenarios.

o To express possibilities, consequences, and hypotheses.

2. Zero Conditional
Form: If/When + present simple, present simple
Function: Used for general truths or facts that are always true.

Common Uses and examples:

1. Facts: "If water reaches 100°C, it boils." Fact: You get green if you mix blue and
yellow.

2. Habits: "If I feel tired, I take a nap." Habit: I don’t eat breakfast when I wake up
late.

Practice:
Complete these sentences with the correct zero conditional:
1. When it rains, ___________________________.

2. If you heat ice, __________________________.

3. _________________________ if they eat too much food.

4. If you exercise regularly, ___________________________________________.

5. If plants don’t get enough sunlight, __________________________________________.

6. _____________________________________________________ if you press the red button.

7. If the fire alarm goes off, ________________________________________________.

8. If children eat too much candy, _________________________________________________.

3. First Conditional
Form: If + present simple, will + base verb
Function: Used for real or possible situations in the future.

Common Uses and examples:

 Predictions/possible future situations: "If we leave now, we’ll catch the bus."
You’ll miss the train if you don’t go now.

 Promises/Threats: "If you finish your homework, I’ll buy you ice cream."
You’ll pass the exam if you study hard.

Practice:
Rewrite these sentences using the first conditional:
1. If you _________________________(not / water) the plants, they _________________(die).

2. If she ______________________(get) a good job, she _________________________(move) to a

new city.

3. We _________________ (be) late if we ________________________ (not/leave) now.

4. If we _________________________(leave) early, we ___________________________(arrive) on

time.

5. If she ________________________________(not / study), she __________________________(fail)

the test.

6. We ___________________ (go) skiing if it ____________________ (snow) tomorrow)

7. I _____________________ (call) you if I _________________ (find) your phone.

8. If they ___________________________(invite) me to the party, I

(_____________________________go).
4. Second Conditional
Form: If + past simple, would + base verb
Function: Used for unreal or hypothetical situations in the present or future.

Common Uses and examples:

 Imaginary situations: "If I had a million dollars, I would travel the world."
I would visit the Eiffel Tower every day if I lived in Paris.

 Giving advice: "If I were you, I would talk to the teacher."

I’d apply for that job if I were you.

Practice:
Complete these sentences with the second conditional:
1. If I ________________(win) the lottery, I ________________________(buy) a big house.

2. If we ________________(have) more time, we _______________________(go) on holiday.

3. She ______________________ (play) basketball if she _____________ (be) taller.

4. If she _______________________(know) how to drive, she ____________________________(buy)

a car.

5. They ________________________ (go) out more often if they ______________________ (live) in

the city.

6. If we ____________________(live) closer to the beach, we ____________________(go)

swimming every day.

7. She _________________________(travel) all over the world if she won the lottery.

8. If you ___________________________(ask) for help, I __________________________(help) you.

5. Consolidation Exercise
Match each conditional type with its correct sentence: 0, 1 st or 2nd
1. If you freeze water, it turns into ice.
2. If I had a car, I would drive to work.
3. If it rains tomorrow, we’ll cancel the picnic.

Rewrite the sentences using the correct conditional form:

1. I don’t have enough money, so I can’t buy the new phone.

2. You don’t work hard, so you don’t get good grades.

3. It’s sunny tomorrow. We’ll go to the beach.

 Key Tips:
o Zero conditional: Always true. (If/When + present simple, present simple)

o First conditional: Real future. (if + present simple, will + base verb)

o Second conditional: Unreal or imaginary. (if + past simple, would + base verb)

 Write three sentences about these topics:

1. A fact using the zero conditional.
 2. A plan using the first conditional.

3. An imaginary situation using the second conditional.

IF or UNLESS
Unless = If not It is used with a positive verb (so that there is not a double
negative)

We will play the match if the weather isn’t terrible =

Rewrite these sentences using unless

1. If you don’t study, you won’t pass the exam.

2. If we don’t leave now, we’ll miss the train.

3. If she doesn’t apologize, they won’t forgive her.

4. If you don’t water the plants, they’ll die.

5. If he doesn’t set an alarm, he’ll oversleep.

6. If they don’t wear warm clothes, they’ll get cold.

7. If you don’t call me, I won’t know what time to meet.

8. If it doesn’t stop raining, we can’t play tennis.

9. If she doesn’t arrive on time, we’ll start without her.

10.If you don’t eat breakfast, you’ll feel tired later.

Complete the sentences by writing if or unless in the gaps.

1. I can’t help you __________________________ you tell me what the problem is.

2. We won’t play tennis outdoors tomorrow ____________________________ it rains.

3. _____________________________ we have time, we can go to a juice bar after school.

4. Don’t eat the egg sandwiches _____________________________ you like them.

5. I never go out in the evening _____________________________ I have homework to do.

6. You’ll fail the course _________________________ you don’t study.

 7. ________________________ you can read Russian, you won’t find out much from this

website.

8. Look, Ollie, you’re not feeling well. You won’t get better _________________ you take your

medicine.

OTHER CONDITIONAL STRUCTURES

Although many conditional sentences use if… + will/would,
Conditional sentences can also use other words instead of if.
For example:
 WHEN (cuando)– If it is sunny, I always feel happy =
_______________ it is sunny, I always feel happy.

 AS LONG AS (Siempre que / Con tal de que)- If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
=
______________________ you study hard, you will pass the exam.

 IN CASE (en caso de que)– I will wait to order a pizza if there is a chance that you are
late. =
I will wait to order a pizza _______________________ you are late.

Choose when, as long as, or in case to complete the conditional:

1. I’ll go for a walk ________________________ it stops raining.

2. You can borrow my car _____________________________ you return it by 6 p.m.

3. Please take your keys _____________________________ you get locked out.

4. We’ll have a picnic ______________________________ the weather is nice.

5. Don’t forget to pack a jacket ______________________________ it gets cold later.

6. I’ll help you with your homework ____________________________ you ask me.

7. You can stay at my house _______________________ you don’t make too much noise.

8. I’ll call you __________________________ I arrive at the airport.

9. __________________________________ you study hard, you’ll pass the exam.

 10.Take some cash _______________________________ you need it while we’re out.

Other modal verbs can be used instead of will/would.

CAN / COULD – usually to express that the result is able to happen.

 If the train is late, we will take the bus. (this is definite)

 If the train is late, we could take the bus. (this is something possible that we are able
to do)

MAY / MIGHT – usually to express that the result is possible

 If you like action films, you will like The Avengers. (this is definite)
 If you like action films, you might like The Avengers. (this is possible)

Choose the correct modal verb to complete the sentences

1. If you came to my book club, you ________________ enjoy it.

2. If I got a pay rise, I WOULD / MIGHT / COULD afford to buy a car.

3. If I wasn’t so unfit, I ______________ finish the race.

4. If Mark wanted to talk to Jane about careers in finance, he COULD / MIGHT / WOULD

call her to arrange a meeting.

5. If I didn’t go to the gym three times a week, I COULD / MIGHT / WOULD not be so fit.

6. If you need somewhere to stay when you first arrive, you MIGHT / WOULD / COULD stay

with us.

7. If you didn’t have to leave tomorrow, you COULD / MIGHT / WOULD stay out later.