1. The Language Centre La Estrella
Conditionals C
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2. The other three are used to express:
Conditional sentences are also known as Conditional Clauses or If clauses. We use them to express that the action in the main clause (without if) can only take place if a certain condition (in the clause with if) is fulfilled. In reality there are four conditionals. The Zero conditional and types 1, 2 and 3.
The Zero conditional is used to express things that are permaneantly true.
Example: If ice is heated it will melt.
The other three are used to express:
Type 1: very real or probable situations in the present and the future.
Type 2. unreal or improbable situations in the present and the future, and to give advice.
Type 3. unreal or improbable situations in the past. It is also used to express regrets and criticism
Let’s look at the rules! C
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3. C Type 1 If - clause Main clause (result Use real present
If + Present Simple
Unless (= if not)
Future
Imperative
can/must/will etc.+ bare infinitive
Present Simple
real or very probable situation in the present or the future
If I go on a diet, I’ll lose weight. (positive idea)
Unless I go on a diet, I won’t lose weight (negative idea)
Type 2
If - clause
Main clause (result
Use
unreal
present
If + Past Simple
could/would/might
+ bare infinitive
improbable situation in the present or the future
If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house.
Problem - I don’t have a ticket so I can’t win. C
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4. C Type 3 If - clause Main clause (result) Use unreal past
If +Past Perfect
could/would/might
+have + past participle
unreal or improbable situation in the past
If he hadn’t climbed the ladder, he wouldn’t have broken his leg.
(But he did climb it – and he did break his leg)
1. We put a comma after the if clause when it comes first.
If I eat so much, I will put on weight
2. Unless means if not.
We’ll go to the beach unless it rains.
We’ll go to the beach if it doesn’t rain
3. After if, we can use were instead of was in all persons.
If I were you, I’d see a doctor.
We do not usually use will, would, can or should etc. in the if part of the conditional If we take a taxi, we won’t be late.
Not If we will take a taxi, we won’t be late.
However, we can use should after if when we are less certain about a possibility. If I see her, I will tell her. (Perhaps I will see her)
If I should see her, I will tell her (Perhaps I will see her but I’m less sure) C
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5. To best come to terms with the three types of conditional lets imagine a situation and then express it in the three types – 1,2, and 3.
Situation. Win lottery buy a big house.
Type 1. If I win the lottery, I will buy a big house (very possible situation) Why? Because I have a lottery ticket and I could win.
Type 2. If I won the lottery I would buy a big house (not possible) Why? Because I don’t have a lottery ticket so I can’t possibly win.
Type 3. If I had won the lottery I would have bought a big house (not possible - past) Why? Because I didn’t buy a lottery ticket, so I could never have won).
Now do the same with these situations. Remember to use the same structures
See Mary / Give her the good news
Go fishing / catch a fish.
Jump off bridge / Break leg.
Eat too much / Get fat C
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