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The conditionals

The document explains the four main types of conditionals in English: zero, first, second, and third conditionals, each with its own structure and usage. It also introduces mixed conditionals and provides examples and activities for practice. Additionally, there is a glossary for language learners to understand key terms related to conditionals.

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Ikram Benhamane
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6 views

The conditionals

The document explains the four main types of conditionals in English: zero, first, second, and third conditionals, each with its own structure and usage. It also introduces mixed conditionals and provides examples and activities for practice. Additionally, there is a glossary for language learners to understand key terms related to conditionals.

Uploaded by

Ikram Benhamane
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
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The conditionals

Conditionals are also known as if clauses, we use them to say that one thing depends on
something else. They can be used to talk about something that always happens, might happen or
might have happened as a result of another state, action or event.
Check out these four conditionals and how to use them in a sentence.

As you can see, the sentences are divided into two parts:
If clause (condition), + main clause (result)
These are separated by a comma, but they also function in the following order without one and
mean exactly the same thing:
Main clause (result) + if clause (condition)
Confused? Let’s take things back to basics.
1. Zero conditional
The zero conditional is used to talk about things that are certain, or always true. It is a real
condition that has an inevitable result. Think about how scientific facts are written or general
truths.
Structure & Examples
The structure of the zero conditional is: If + present simple…present simple

The message here is that if something happens there will always be a guaranteed consequence. If
you stand out in the rain, you’ll get wet. If you eat too much, you’ll put on weight. If you touch a
fire…well, then you’re asking for it.
‘When’ instead of ‘if’
We can also use the word when instead of if and the meaning stays the same.

Activity One
Got it? Good. Now try out this fun quiz from Get Grammarous to practise the zero conditional!
2. First conditional
Finished the quiz? Now, back to work! Let’s move on to the first conditional. We use this to talk
about things in the future that are likely to happen or have a real possibility of happening.
Structure & Examples
The structure of the first conditional is: If + present tense,…will/won’t + infinitive

Other connectors: when, as soon as, in case, etc.


We can use the following connectors instead of if:
When, as soon as, in case, unless, as long as, after. However, each of these connectors changes
the meaning of the sentence slightly.

Modal verbs or imperatives


We can use modal verbs instead of will/won’t:
May, might, shall, should, could or an imperative in the main clause. This changes the meaning, or
the likelihood of the result.

Activity Two
Want to try out your skills with the first conditional? Try this Grammar Gameshow from BBC
Learn English.

3. Second conditional
So you’re halfway through learning the conditionals. Well done you! The thing is, this is where
things get a bit more difficult.
Whereas the zero and first conditionals describe a real or possible situation, the second and third
are imaginary or hypothetical situations. Let’s start with the second conditional:
Structure & Examples
The structure of the second conditional is: If + past simple,… would/wouldn’t + infinitive
As you can see, in the if clause we use the past simple, and in the main clause we use the
conditional would. We can also use the word could to mean a hypothetical possibility.

The second conditional refers to the present or the future, and is used to talk about
anything unlikely to happen. Imagine meeting Lionel Messi, or finding a million dollars on the
floor. These things might not have happened to you, but you sure can dream!
Were’ instead of ‘was’
When there is the verb to be in the if clause, we can change it from was to were. This is because
we are talking about hypothetical situations, so we’re changing the mood of the verb from
indicative to subjunctive. Both options are correct, but were is often preferred.

Activity Three
Lots of songs contain the second conditional! Here are some great examples for you to sing along
with:

4. Third conditional
Last but not least, we have the third conditional. We use this structure to talk about an imagined
past. That’s right ladies and gentlemen, here’s where you can change the past. Well, at least
speculate how things could have been different.
Structure & Examples
The structure of the third conditional is: If + past perfect,…would/wouldn’t + have + past
participle.

As you can see, we often use the third conditional to talk about regrets, and it is based on an
unreal situation that cannot be changed.
Past participles
The third conditional is a little tricky, as there’s a lot to remember. So make sure you know your
past participles inside out first. Here’s a list of past participles for you to revise.
Activity Four
Watch this story about a surprise birthday party from The British Council to see third conditional
in use:

Bonus conditional: mixed conditional


And just when you thought the fun was about to end, we have another surprise conditional for
you…the mixed conditional. Don’t worry you’ve already learned the basis of the structure. It’s
just about em>meshing two conditionals together. The most common is to mix the third and the
second to create a present result of a past conditional. For example:

These sentences express that if something had been different in the past, something would be
different now in the present.
So that’s the end of our round up of the main conditionals! If you’re in the mood for some more
grammar, why not sign up for one of our General English classes? Or check out these blog posts
below:

 4 Present tenses and how to use them


 4 Past tenses and when to use them
 4 Future tenses and how to use them

Glossary for Language Learners


Find the following words in the article and then write down any new ones you didn’t know.
Pop up (pv): to appear suddenly.
Get the ball rolling (exp): to make a start or set an activity in motion.
Inevitable (adj): certain or unavoidable.
Asking for it (exp): behaving in a way that is going to get them into trouble.
Slightly (adv): a little.
Skills (n): abilities.
Unlikely (adj): not probable.
Regret (n): to feel sorry about a situation in the past, especially a mistake in the past.
Know something inside out (exp): to be really familiar with something, especially because you
have learned about it or you have a lot of experience.
Mesh (v): to fit or work together.
Key
pv = phrasal verb
exp = expression
adj = adjective
adv = adverb
n = noun
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