UNIT 6

BACK TO THE WALL

6.1. CONDITIONALS

There are several structures in English that we call conditionals or if conditionals. The
word "condition" means "situation or circumstance". If a particular condition is true,
then a particular result happens. In spanish, we use verb tenses such as “imperfectos”
or “subjuntivos” to create an improbable condition whereas in English , condition is
marked by structures and grammar order

Conditional sentences have two parts:

the if-clause (condition) and the main clause .

Example sentence: If it rains (if-clause), I will cancel the trip (main

clause).
USE:

Zero Conditional

● Used to state general truths, facts, or habits.

1st Conditional

● Used to predict future probabilities. The speaker believes the event is likely to happen or a real
possibility.

2nd Conditional

● Used for unlikely or impossible situations in the future

● Used for situations that are not true now: If I weren’t here, I would be at home sleeping.

3rd Conditional
● Often used to express regret or mistakes: If you had told me to bring an umbrella, I would have
brought one.
Type of conditional Verb Form Example

Present + Present If it rains, the streets get wet.

Zero Conditional
Present + imperative If you drink, don´t drive

If it rains tomorrow, I’ll bring my

1st Conditional IF Present + Future Simple
umbrella.

Past /
If I won a million dollars, I would buy
2nd Conditional would/could/might + base
a boat.
form

If I had gone to the party yesterday, I

3rd Conditional Past Perfect + Perfect Modal
would have met many people.
INTRODUCTORY WORDS Providing that

Unless Providing that means “a condición que”,

Unless means something similar to ‘if … not’ or ‘except if’. “con tal que”

● We’ll have to cancel the show unless we sell more tickets at Providing (that) is more common in
the last minute. (We’ll have to cancel the show if we do not sell speaking and less formal whereas
more tickets/except if we sell more tickets at the last minute.
provided (that) is more formal and more
common in written language:
As long as
You can get a senior citizen’s
As long as means that “siempre que”, “con tal que” reduction providing you’ve got a
railcard.
As long as is more common in speaking; whereas so long as and on
condition which are more formal and more common in writing:

● You can play in the living room as long as you don’t make a
mess.
EXERCISE

Which type of conditional is it: Zero, first, second, third?

second conditional
1. If I had known his break-up I would have not asked her about Matt.
________________________
2. His boss will be angry if John comes to work late again.
________________________
3. If my dog passed away, I would feel miserable.
first conditional
________________________
4. I wouldn't eat so much junk food if I were you. //
_________________________
5. If I had lost my wallet I would have gone to the nearest police station.
third conditional
_________________________
EXERCISE

Which type of conditional is it: Zero, first, second, third?

6. If I saw a black cat in the street I would cry out loud.

second conditional
__________________________
7. The teacher will be very angry if you don't hand in your homework on
time.
_________________________
8. If you had wanted to pass the subject, you would have studied more.
first conditional
__________________________
9. If you get up earlier, you will catch the bus.
__________________________
10. I would be very proud if she were/was my legal tutor.
third conditional
__________________________
Complete the gaps with the right tenses of each conditional

1. (First conditional) If I __________________ (not go) to bed soon, I __________________ (be)

sleepy in the morning.

2. (Third conditional) If the students __________________ (not be) late for the class again and
take notes, They __________________ (pass).

3. (Third conditional) If the weather __________________ (not be) so cold, we ___________ (go)
to the beach.

4. (Second conditional) If she __________________ (have) her smartphone with her, she
__________________ (email) me
Complete the gaps with the right tenses of each conditional

1. (Second conditional) If I____________ (have) enough time, I _________________

(travel) more.

2. (First conditional) If my sons _____don´t eat______ (not eat) soon, they _______eill
be________ (be) very grumpy

3. (Second conditional) If you ____weren´t ____ (not be) so bossy, we ________wouldn´t

have_________ (not have) so many arguments!

4. (First conditional) If Marc ________doesný quit__________ (not quit) her job soon, He
_____will get_____________ (get) depressed
Complete the condition

1. Your parents will be very angry if you _______don´t arrive_______(NOT ARRIVE) home before noon.

2. If you ____had wanted____ (WANT) to learn more, you would have attended more lessons.

3. If you ______ran_______(RUN) quickly you will catch the bus.

4. My mother would be very proud if she ____________ her daughter

5. I __________________(COME) to your party if I had finished my homework.

6. If you ___________________ the flowers, they won't survive. (NOT WATER)

7. The riverbank would be an ideal place for sunbathing if it _____________________(NOT BE) so dirty.

8. If she _____________________(READ) the instructions carefully, she would have known how to assemble

the shelf.

9. Be careful! If you touch this exposed wire you ________________(GET) a shock.

10. She could win the game if she _____________________. (TRY)

Write a conditional sentence.

Eg. I don't visit my granny very often because she lives so far away.
If you didn't live so far away, we'd visit you more often.

1. He doesn't explain very clearly - that's why students don't understand him

If he ____________________, students _______________.

2. This dress is so expensive, so I'm not going to buy it.

If the dress __________________, I ___________________ .

3. She doesn't eat out very often because she can't afford it.

If she __________________________________________ .

4. It's raining, so we can't play with the children in the garden.

If it _____________________________________________ .
5. I have to work tomorrow evening, so we can't meet

If I ______________________________________________

6. If you _____________ your wallet in the street, what would you do with it? (find)

If I _____________________________________________

7. I must hurry, I am late. My parents will be annoyed

if I ___________________________________ on time. (not/be)

8. I didn't know Martha that was in hospital.

If I ____________ he was in hospital, I would have gone to visit him. (know)

9. If the phone __________________, can you answer it? (ring)

If ______________________________________________
10. I can't decide what to do. What would you do if you ______ in my position? (be)

If I _____________________________________________

11. If you __ enough money to go anywhere in the world, where would you go? (have)

If I ____________________________________________

12. I'm glad we had google maps to get to your place.

I'm sure we would have got lost if we ____________ time. (not/have)

13. The crash was your fault.

If you _______more carefully, it wouldn't have happened.(drive)

14. I can’t take much weight because I don’t have enough strength.

If I __________________________________________________________.