CONDITIONALS

Conditional sentences are used to express that the action in the main clause (with no if) can only take place if a certain condition (in the clause with if) happens. They express possible or hypothetical situations. There are three main types of Conditional Sentences.

1st CONDITIONAL These sentences express a real possibility. They are used to talk about a possible present or future situation and its consequence. The action is likely to happen. IF + present simple, WILL + Infinitve IF it rains, I’ll stay at home The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, the comma is not used. I’ll stay at home IF it rains

Although the main form is: IF + present simple, Will + Infinitve IF it rains, I WILL stay at home other tenses are possible: IF + present simple, CAN + Infinitve IF it rains, I CAN go to the cinema IF + present simple, MAY + Infinitve IF it rains, I MAY go to the cinema IF + present simple, imperative IF it rains, TAKE an umbrella

FUTURE TIME CLAUSES We can use sentences with after, as soon as, before, until & when to talk about the future Clause or ConditionResult or Main Clause After As soon as Before Until When Present Simple WILL + Infinitive CAN/MAY + Infinitive IMPERATIVE After As soon as Before Until When you get to work, I get home, I leave, you tell me, I grow up, give me a call. I’ll cook dinner. I may mail you. I won’t do anything. I’ll be an astronaut. Although they are called Future Time Clauses, the verb is normally in the present.

2nd CONDITIONAL These sentences express an unreal possibility, you don’t expect the situation to happen. They are used to talk about an impossible, hypothetical or improbable present or future situation and its consequence. The action is possible but unlikely to happen. IF + past simple, WOULD + Infinitve IF I had money, I’d go to Hawaii on holiday The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, the comma is not used. I’d go to Hawaii IF I had money

Although the main form is: IF + past simple, WOULD + Infinitve IF I won the lottery, I’d travel round the world other tenses are possible: IF + past simple, COULD + Infinitve IF I won the lottery, I could stop working IF + past simple, MIGHT + Infinitve IF I won the lottery, I might buy a car In the IF clause, we usually use were even if the pronoun is I, he, she or it. If I were you, I would not do this We often use these expressions for advice.

3rd CONDITIONAL These sentences express a hypothetical situation in the past. It is impossible that the condition will happen because it refers to the past. IF + past perfect, WOULD have + Past Participle IF the team had played better,they would have won The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, the comma is not used. They would have won IF the team had played better

Although the main form is: IF + past perfect, WOULD have + Past Participle IF I had come, I would have visited you other tenses are possible: IF + past perfect, COULD have + Past Participle IF you had told me, I could have come IF + past perfect, MIGHT have + Past Participle IF you had told me, I might have come

Zero CONDITIONAL These sentences express general truths. They are used to talk about things that always happen in certain conditions (if clause). IF + present simple, present simple IF you freeze water, it turns into ice IF I work too much, I get tired The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, the comma is not used. I get tired IF I work too much

Let’s summarise IF Clause or ConditionResult or Main Clause 1st Conditional IF Present Simple If you come, WILL + Infinitive CAN/MAY + Infinitive IMPERATIVE we’ll go for a walk. 2nd Conditional IF Past Simple If you came, WOULD + Infinitive COULD/MIGHT + Infinitive we’d go for a walk. 3rd Conditional IF Past Perfect If you had come, WOULD have + Past Participle COULD/MIGHT have + Past Participle we would have gone for a walk Zero Conditional IF Present Simple If they come here, Present Simple they always bring a present.