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English Conditionals Guide

This document discusses conditionals in English grammar. There are three main types of conditionals: The zero conditional uses present simple verbs and describes situations that are always true (e.g. if you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils). The first conditional uses a present simple verb after "if" and will + infinitive, describing possible future events (e.g. if it rains tomorrow, we'll go to the cinema). The second conditional uses past simple after "if" and would + infinitive to describe unlikely or impossible future events or present impossible situations (e.g. if I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world).

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57 views3 pages

English Conditionals Guide

This document discusses conditionals in English grammar. There are three main types of conditionals: The zero conditional uses present simple verbs and describes situations that are always true (e.g. if you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils). The first conditional uses a present simple verb after "if" and will + infinitive, describing possible future events (e.g. if it rains tomorrow, we'll go to the cinema). The second conditional uses past simple after "if" and would + infinitive to describe unlikely or impossible future events or present impossible situations (e.g. if I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world).

Uploaded by

Tania Rodrigues
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What are conditionals in English grammar? Sometimes we call them 'if clauses'.

They
describe the result of something that might happen (in the present or future) or might
have happened but didn't (in the past) . They are made using different English verb
tenses.

The Zero Conditional:


(if + present simple, ... present simple)
If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.

We can make a zero conditional sentence with two present simple verbs (one in the 'if
clause' and one in the 'main clause'):

If + present simple, .... present simple.

This conditional is used when the result will always happen. So, if water reaches 100
degrees, it always boils. It's a fact. I'm talking in general, not about one particular
situation. The result of the 'if clause' is always the main clause.
The 'if' in this conditional can usually be replaced by 'when' without changing the
meaning.
For example: If water reaches 100 degrees, it boils. (It is always true, there can't be a
different result sometimes). If I eat peanuts, I am sick. (This is true only for me, maybe,
not for everyone, but it's still true that I'm sick every time I eat peanuts)

The First Conditional:


(if + present simple, ... will + infinitive)
If it rains tomorrow, we'll go to the cinema.

The first conditional has the present simple after 'if', then the future simple in the
other clause:

if + present simple, ... will + infinitive

It's used to talk about things which might happen in the future. Of course, we can't know
what will happen in the future, but this describes possible things, which could easily
come true.

If it rains, I won't go to the park.

If I study today, I'll go to the party tonight.

If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes.

She'll be late if the train is delayed.

She'll miss the bus if she doesn't leave soon.

If I see her, I'll tell her.

First vs. Zero Conditional:


The first conditional describes a particular situation, whereas the zero
conditional describes what happens in general.

The Second Conditional:


(if + past simple, ... would + infinitive)
If I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world.

The second conditional uses the past simple after if, then 'would' and the infinitive:

if + past simple, ...would + infinitive

(We can use 'were' instead of 'was' with 'I' and 'he/she/it'. This is mostly done in formal
writing).
It has two uses.
First, we can use it to talk about things in the future that are probably not going to be
true. Maybe I'm imagining some dream for example.

If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house.(I probably won't win the lottery)
If I met the Queen of England, I would say hello.
She would travel all over the world if she were rich.

She would pass the exam if she ever studied.(She never studies, so this won't
happen)

Second, we can use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible,
because it's not true. Is that clear? Have a look at the examples:

If I had his number, I would call him. (I don't have his number now, so it's
impossible for me to call him).

First vs. Second Conditional:


The first conditional describes things that I think are likely to happen in the
future, whereas the second conditional talks about things that I don't think will
really happen. It's subjective; it depends on my point of view.

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