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Conditionals are sentences with two clauses an if clause and a

main clause

There are four basic types of conditional

sentence:

Zero conditional
First conditional
Second conditional
Third conditional

zero conditional
to express a simple statement of

fact or to talk about things that

are always true.
With zero conditional we express

a general truth or we give advice

zero conditional
For example:
If you dont water flowers,

they die.

If clause:

Main clause:

PRESENT SIMPLE

PRESENT SIMPLE
or IMPERATIVE

The present simple is used in both clauses

first conditional
The first conditional refers to the present and

future. It expresses a possible (real) condition and

its probable result in the future.
In first conditional sentences, the structure is

usually if + present simple and will +

infinitive. Its not important which clause comes
first.

first conditional
For example:
If the weather is nice,

we will go for a walk.

If clause:

Main clause:

PRESENT SIMPLE

FUTURE SIMPLE

We use the First Conditional to talk about future

events that are likely to happen.

What will happen if he eats too many hamburgers?

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If he eats too many hamburgers, he will get fat

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What will happen if you listen to loud music too much?

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What will happen if he drinks too much coffee?

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What will happen if you dont pass your exams?

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 If Clare ________ late again, the hockey trainer will be furious.

(arrive)
You'll be sorry if you ___________________ your exams. (fail)
We ___________________ if the weather's good. (go out)
If the bus ________________ on time, I won't miss the football. be)
If you ____________ your homework now, you'll be free all
tomorrow. (do)
We___________________ out if there's no food at home. (eat)

SECOND CONDITIONAL

Second conditional

Jack wants to buy a house but he cant do this

because he doesnt have any money.
If I had a lot of
money,
I would buy a big
house.

SECOND CONDITIONAL
Susan wants to phone Paul but she cant do this
because she doesnt know his number.
If I knew his number,
I would phone him.

Second conditional
The Second Conditional is used to talk about

'impossible' or unreal situations.The situation

or condition is improbable, impossible,
imaginary, or contrary to known facts.

The structure is usually if + past simple and

would + infinitive. Its not important which

clause comes first.

Second conditional
For example:
If I knew his number, I would phone him.

if-clause:
PAST TENSE SIMPLE

main clause:
PRESENT CONDITIONAL
would + infinitive

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If ...
Use the
2nd Conditional
(If + Past, + Would)

What would you do?

What would you say?
Where would you go?

If you found a suitcase full of $1,000,000, what would you do?

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If you could live anywhere, where would you live?

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If you could date a celebrity, who would you choose?

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1. If Joe.. (be) here, he (give) me a hug.

2. It (be) nice if the rain (stop)!
3. I .(sing) you a song if I ..(have) my
guitar.
4. If I (have) a better sleeping bag, I. (not
feel) so cold.
5. If this tent.. (be) smaller, one of us ..(have to
sleep) outside!
6. If I (not be) so hungry, I (share) my
sandwich with you.

FIRST v. SECOND CONDITIONAL

If John runs fast, he will win the race.
This is still possible to happen.

If John ran fast, he would win the race.

This is unlikely to happen because John doesnt run fast.

THE DIFFERENCE: FIRST and SECOND CONDITIONAL

Both conditionals refer to the present and future.
The difference is about probability, not time.
First conditional: real and possible situations
Second conditional: unlikely to happen

THIRD CONDITIONAL
Jack wanted to buy a house last year but he couldnt do that
because he didnt have any money.
If I had had a lot of money,
I would have bought
a big house.

Third conditional
We can use the Third Conditional to talk about

'impossible' conditions, impossible because they

are in the past and we cannot change what has
happened.

Third conditional
For example:
If you had studied harder, you would have passed your test.

if-clause:
PAST PERFECT SIMPLE

main clause:
PAST CONDITIONAL
would + have + past participle

1.He crashed his car, because he fell asleep while driving.

If he asleep while driving, he.. his car.
2. We couldn't go to the concert, because we didn't have enough
money.
If we. enough money, we.. to the concert.
3. The wind was so strong that the bridge collapsed.
If the wind so strong, the bridge .
4. I couldn't call Sally because I had lost her number.
I ..Sally if I her number.

SECOND v. THIRD CONDITIONAL

If I saw a car accident, I would call an ambulance.
But I dont see an accident now. This is unlikely to happen .

If I had seen a car accident, I would have called an ambulance.

But I didnt see an accident yesterday.
This is contrary to the fact in the past.

THE DIFFERENCE: SECOND and THIRD CONDITIONAL

The difference is about time.
Second conditional: refers to the present and future
Third conditional: refers to the past situations

ALL CONDITIONALS
0. If he drives carefully, he avoids the accident.
General time reference.

1. If he drives carefully, he will avoid the accident tomorrow.

This is still possible to happen.

2. If he drove carefully, he would avoid the accident today.

But he doesnt drive carefully. This is unlikely to happen.

3. If he had driven carefully, he would have avoided the accident

yesterday.
But he didnt drive carefully, so he didnt avoid the accident.

THE END