1. Success Advanced Chapter 5
Conditionals
Success Advanced Chapter 5

2. Basic types: Zero conditional
Zero conditional describes situations which are always true
If + present simple, present simple
If I eat dairy products, I get a rash on my skin.
Now you try:
If it (rain), it (not freeze).
If it rains, it doesn’t freeze.

3. Basic types: First conditional
First conditional describes a possible situation in the future, something that can still happen.
If + present simple, will + infinitive.
If the potato spreads, it will poison everyone in the village.
Now you try:
If it (rain) this afternoon, I (take) my umbrella.
If it rains this afternoon, I will take my umbrella.

4. Basic types: Second conditional
Second conditional describes an unlikely or imaginary situation in the present or the future, something unlikely to happen.
If + past simple, would + infinitive.
If I had more time, I would cook a better meal
Now you try:
I (have) a look at today’s paper if I (be) you.
I would have a look at today’s paper if I were you.

5. Basic types: Third conditional
Third conditional describes an imaginary situation in the past, something that had a chance of happening but didn’t.
If + past perfect, would + have + past participle
If I had known, I would have come sooner.
Now you try:
I (pass) my exams if I (start) studying in time.
I would have passed my exams if I had started studying in time.

6. Now you try We (not go) to school, if the teachers (be) on strike.
We don’t go to school if the teachers are on strike. (zero conditional)
If my parents (marry), I (take) my father’s surname.
If my parents married, I would/could take my father’s surname. (second conditional)

7. And try again If I (study) at university, I (do) my best.
If I study at university, I will do my best. (first conditional)
The industrial revolution (happen) if Europeans (not start) eating potatoes?
Would the industrial revolution have happened if Europeans hadn’t started eating potatoes? (third contidional)

8. Other auxiliaries Instead of will you can use may
Instead of would you can use should, could, might
This depends on the meaning of the sentence.
If this situation continues, it may cause a problem.
If you were home early, you could give me a call.

9. Replacing if
If can be replaced by words or expressions with a similar meaning. The most common are:
as long as
assuming (that)
on condition (that)
on the assumption (that)
provided (that)
supposing (that)
Unless
with the condition (that)

10. Mixed conditionals (2nd and 3rd)
The consequences in the present of an imaginary situation in the past.
If + Past Perfect, would + infinitive.
(third) (second)
Would the USA still be a British colony if Americans hadn’t been so fond of tea?
(but they were fond of it, so the USA is no longer a colony)

11. Mixed conditionals (2nd and 3rd)
Something that didn’t happen in the past as a consequence of a present/ongoing situation.
If + Past simple, would + have + past participle
(second) (third)
If he cared more about his neighbours, he wouldn’t have planted that tree.
(he doesn’t care, so he did plant it).

12. Mixed conditionals Now you try:
Scott (be) behind in all subjects if he (have) a month off school.
Scott wouldn’t be behind in all subjects if he hadn’t had a month off school.
(but he took a month off so he is behind now)

13. Variations on 1st and 2nd cond.
We can add should to first conditionals to refer to a realistic but hypothetical situation in the future. The effect is more formal and it sounds less certain.
If + should + inf, will + inf.
If these trends should continue, there may be major consequences for our health .
(less certain, more formal)

14. Variations on 1st and 2nd cond.
We can add were to to Second Conditinoal sentences to refer to an unreal, hypothetical situation in the present/future. Again, this makes it less probable and more formal.
If + were to + infinitive, would + infinitive
If you were to drink leaded wine, you would end up with major health problems.
(less probable, more formal)

15. Inversion with conditionals
1. Conditional sentences with should
If is replaced by should
If these trends should continue, there may be major consequences to our health.
Should these trends continue, there may be major consequences to our health.

16. Inversion with conditionals
2. Conditionals with were to
if is replaced by were to
If you were to drink leaded wine, you would end up with major health problems.
Were you to drink leaded wine, you would end up with major health problems.

17. Inversion with conditionals
3. Conditional sentences with had
if is replaced by had
If the British had reacted to the famine, the independence movement might never have had so much influence.
Had the British reacted to the famine, the independence movement might never have had so much influence.