1. IF CLAUSES: types 1 and 2 SWOOSH 9
Cláudia Regina Abreu | Cidália Sousa | Vanessa Reis Esteves

2. If I had a lot of money, I would donate food for hungry children.
What type of sentence is this?

3. I would donate food for hungry children. It’s a CONDITIONAL sentence.
If I had a lot of money,
I would donate food for hungry children.
It’s a CONDITIONAL sentence.

4. If clauses
The sentence has two parts:
If I had a lot of money, I would donate food for hungry children.
the condition
the result
The comma (,) separates the two clauses.

5. NO comma (,) is necessary when IF separates both clauses.
If clauses
Look, we can change the order of the clauses.
If I had a lot of money,
I had a lot of money
I’d help others
I’d help others. if .
NO comma (,) is necessary when
IF separates both clauses.

6. If clauses
There are different types of
if clauses.

7. If clauses: type 0 If the sun shines, the snow melts.
Used for general truths
(things which are always true)
If the sun shines, the snow melts.
If we mix blue and yellow, we get green. if +
Present Simple
Present Simple

8. (will / won’t + bare infinitive)
If clauses: type 1
For real / probable present or future situations
If we pollute the planet, it will die.
If we don’t save water, we won’t have enough in the future. if +
Present Simple ,
Future Simple
(will / won’t + bare infinitive)

9. would + bare infinitive
If clauses: type 2
For unreal/improbable present or future situations
If I heard a strange noise, I would call the police. if +
Past Simple ,
would + bare infinitive

10. NOTE: we always use WERE
If clauses: type 2
To give advice
If I were you, I would study more for the exam. if +
Past Simple
Would + bare infinitive
NOTE: we always use WERE

11. If clauses: types 1 and 2
When do we use the first or second conditional?
the first conditional describes things that we think are likely to happen in the future
the second conditional talks about things that we don’t think will happen (this is subjective; it depends on how we see things)

12. I think it’s possible she will study harder and so she’ll pass.
If clauses: types 1 and 2
the first conditional describes things that we think are likely to happen in the future
“If she studies harder, she’ll pass the year.”
I think it’s possible she will study harder and so she’ll pass.

13. If clauses: types 1 and 2
the second conditional talks about things that we don’t think or believe will happen (it’s subjective; it depends on how we see things)
“If she studied harder, she would pass the year.”
I think that she won’t study harder, or it’s very unlikely, and so she won’t pass.

14. Attention: The modal verbs: might could
can be used instead of would in the main clause.
e.g. If you did more exercise, you might feel healthier.

15. TIME to PRACTISE

16. Decide if the clauses are type 1 or type 2.
1. If I met a famous person, I’d ask for an autograph.
2. If you don’t help her, you will regret it.
3. If we all help, we’ll make a difference.
4. If I could speak Chinese, I’d like to visit China.
5. I’d go with you to the cinema if my mum let me.
6. If you donate your used clothes, you’ll feel good. T2 T1 T1 T2 T2 T1

17. Complete the sentences with type 2.
1. If I were you, I wouldn’t do that. 2. Would you change if you were president? 3. If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world. 4. If my parents earned more money, they would buy a new house. 5. I wouldn’t tell you the truth, even if I knew it.
(be)
(not do)
(be)
(win)
(travel)
(earn)
(buy)
(not tell)
(know)

19. If electricity hadn’t been invented yet, how would your life be different?
If a classmate asked you for help during an exam while the teacher was not looking, what would you do?
If the whole world were listening, what would you say?
If you could be an animal, what animal would you be?

20. If you were an English teacher, what would you do to help your students?
If you could be a famous person, who would you be?
If you could have a party, who would you invite (dead or alive)?
If you had to spend 100 days on a desert island, what five things would you take with you and why?

21. If you could be another person for a day, who would you be?
If you could spend a day with any celebrity, who would you choose and what would you talk about?
If you could go on holiday anywhere in the world, where would you go?
If you were the President of Portugal for a day, what would you do?

22. If you had an accident and had to stay at home to recover for a long time, what would you do to keep busy?
If you woke up suddenly because your house was on fire, which three things would you take with you?
If you could have any supernatural power (flying, being invisible), what would you choose? why?

23. To PRACTISE
some more…
Open your books on
page 57.