Let’s talk about Conditionals? Grammar How to change fonts, how to position simple elements on the page, how to change Conditional Forms

Zero Conditional

1- If you press this button, an alarm goes off. 2- You put on weight if you eat too many sweets. These are things which always happen, and WHEN could be used instead of IF. 3- When you press this button, an alarm goes off. 4- You put on weight when you eat too many sweets.

FORM: If/ Unless + Present form  Present form or may/might/could + bare infinitive. If you go swimming off the Great Barrier Reef, you may see sharks. (=possible) Plants die unless you water them. This kind of conditional can also be used to give instructions. FORM: If + present form  Imperative If you are not ready for your test, put it off. If you have finished with this pen, give it back.

First Conditional

1- I’ll give you a ring if I need some advice. 2- If we don’t keep to the main road, we’ll lose our way. These are things which are possible and it’s quite probable that they will happen. FORM: If/Unless + present form  Will/Modal + bare infinitive 3- If you keep driving like that, you may have an accident. 4- I won’t interrupt you unless I have an important message to give you.

Zero Conditional vs First Conditional

Decide which of these things are ALWAYS TRUE and which are POSSIBLE: 1- If I go to Paris, I’ll go by train. POSSIBLE 2- Oil floats if you pour it on water. ALWAYS TRUE 3- If you mix blue with yellow, you get green. 4- Unless you rush, you’ll be late for school.

Conditional Linking Words

Some conditional linking words are: as long as, so long as, provided (that), providing (that), on condition that, even if Supply an appropriate verb form to complete the sentences: 1- As long as you don’t panic, you ________ well in the exam. 2- I’ll write to you every week, provided that you __________ to reply. 3- He’ll let you borrow his bike on condition that you _________ good care of it. will do promise take

Second Conditional

The second conditional is used for unreal events: 1- If I were you, I’d study harder. The if event is possible but much less probable than in a first conditional sentence. 2- If more people used recycled paper, fewer trees would be cut down. FORM: If + past  would/could/might + bare infinitive 3- If I had better qualifications, I could apply for that job.

Compare the first and second conditionals: 1 - If I have time, I’ll help you. 2 - If I had time, I’d help you. Which sentence means ... 1 - I haven’t got time, so I can’t help you. 2 - Maybe I’ll have time, then I’ll help you. In which sentence is the action unlikely to happen ? 2 1 2

Third Conditional

Study these sentences: 1- If I’d had a camera, I would have taken some photos. 2- If he’d been looking where he was going, he wouldn’t have walked into the wall. Do these sentences refer to the present or past ? PAST Is the if event possible ? NO Why not ? WE CAN’T CHANGE THE PAST

FORM: If + Past Perfect  WOULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE 1- If I had studied, I would have passed. If a result is not sure, we can express this element of doubt with WOULD PROBABLY, MIGHT and COULD. 1- If you had driven that car, you might have had an accident. 2- If he had applied for the job, he could have got it.

Transform the sentences using the third conditionals: 1- I was able to buy the car only because Todd lent me the money. 1- If Todd hadn’t lent me the money, I wouldn’t have been able to buy the car. 2- She wasn’t injured in the crash because she was wearing a seat belt. 2- If she hadn’t been wearing a seat belt, she would have been injured in the crash.

Supposing and Imagine

We can sometimes replace if in second and third conditional sentences with SUPPOSING and IMAGINE. In second conditional sentences: Supposing you won the lottery next week, what would you do with the money ? In third conditional sentences: Imagine you had met Julia Roberts in Hollywood, what would you have done ?

Omission of IF

We can replace IF with WERE to make sentences more formal. 1- If I were qualified, I’d apply for the job. Were I qualified, I’d apply for the job. We can do the same with HAD in third conditionals. 2- If I had known you were in hospital, I’d have gone to see you.  Had I known you were in hospital, I’d have visited you.

Mixed Conditionals

Compare these sentences: 1- If he hadn’t received the invitation, he would not have gone to the wedding. 2- If he hadn’t received the invitation, he wouldn’t be at the wedding. Which sentence ... ... means that he’s at the wedding now ? ... uses a mixed conditional ? 2 2

When we want to talk about the present result of a past event, we can use a mixed conditional. FORM: If + Past Perfect  Would + bare infinitive. I wouldn’t be surprised if he hadn’t passed. A mixed conditional like this is also possible. If I had a more reliable car, I would have driven to Natal. FORM: If +Past Tense  Would have + PP If I wasn’t so lazy, I would have walked.

Credits Teacher Wagner Junior Conditional Forms Grammar