CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
(IF CLAUSES)
Conditionals are used to describe the result of something that might
happen(in the present or future) or might have happened but didn't (in the past).
Conditional sentences are divided into 4 different types.
It’s not important which clause comes first
ZERO CONDITIONAL
We use the zero conditional to talk about things that are always true.
If you heat water, it boils.
When the sun goes down, it gets dark.
It lights up if you push that button.
Structure : If + Present ...... Present
FIRST CONDITIONAL
We use the first conditional when we talk about real and possible situations.
I’ll send her an invitation, if I find her address.
If it is cold, you must wear warm clothes.
If you play the lottery, you may become a millonaire someday.
If I study conditionals, I will speak better English
Structure : if + present simple ..... will/can/may/must + infinitive.
SECOND CONDITIONAL
We used the second conditional to talk about ‘unreal’ orvery unlikely or
impossible things or situations.
If I found her address , I´d sent her an invitation.
Where would you live if you could live anywhere in the world?
If you studied harder , you might pass the test.
Structure : if + past simple .... would/could/might + infinitive.
THIRD CONDITIONAL
It talks about the past. It's used to describe a situation that didn't happen, and
to imagine the result of this situation.
If I had found her address , I would have sent her an invitation.
(but I didnt find it , so I couldn´t send it to her.)
If I hadn't been so busy, I could have helped you.
(but I was very busy , so I couldn´t help you.)
If we had taken a taxi, we might not have missed the plane.
Structure: if + past perfect, ...would/could + have + past participle.
INVERSION
IN CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
SHOULD - FIRST CONDITIONAL (we replace ‘if’ with ‘should’)
INVERTED STRUCTURE
NORMAL STRUCTURE NO CONTRACTION : ✗ shouldn’t you ✓ should you not
If you need more information, do not hesitate Should you need more information, do not
to contact us. hesitate to contact us.
If you experience any issues, we are here to Should you experience any issues, we are here
address them promptly. to address them promptly.
If you do not consent to sharing this Should you not consent to sharing this
information, you may inform our company at information, you may inform our company at
any time. any time.
WERE - SECOND CONDITIONAL
Verb Be : delete ‘if’ and Invert the subject and the auxiliary ‘were’. (‘if I were’ → ‘were I’)
Other verbs: replace ‘if’ with were and change the verb form to to + infinitive. (‘if I did’ → ‘were I to do’)
NORMAL STRUCTURE INVERTED STRUCTURE
NO CONTRACTION : ✗ weren’t I to ✓ were I not to
If I were you, I would take that opportunity Were I you, I would take that opportunity
without hesitation. without hesitation.
If she accepted the job offer, Were she to accept the job offer, it would be a
it would be a great opportunity for her career. great opportunity for her career.
If it weren’t for his support, I wouldn't have Were it not for his support, I wouldn't have
been able to achieve this success. been able to achieve this success.
HAD - THIRD CONDITIONAL
Delete ‘if’ and Invert the subject and the auxiliary. (‘if I had’ → ‘had I’)
NORMAL STRUCTURE INVERTED STRUCTURE
NO CONTRACTION : ✗ hadn’t you ✓ had you not
If I had known earlier, I would have made Had I known earlier, I would have made
different plans. different plans.
If you hadn’t been late, we would have caught Had you not been late, we would have caught
the train. the train.
If it had not rained, we would have had a Had it not rained, we would have had a picnic
picnic in the park. in the park.
MIXED CONDITIONALS
We can mix the second and third conditionals:
if + 2nd conditional | 3rd conditional
This type of mixed conditional expresses a general condition with an imaginary result in the past:
if + 2nd conditional 3rd conditional
hypothetical general condition imaginary result in the past
If I spoke better Italian, I could have got the job.
(I don't speak Italian well enough, so I didn't get the job)
If you were strong, you wouldn't have needed
any help to lift the weight.
(you are not strong; that's why you needed help to lift the weight)
If he were so good, he would have won the match.
(He is not so good; that's why he didn’t win the match)
if + 3rd conditional | 2nd conditional
This type of mixed conditional expresses a hypothetical condition in the past with an imaginary
result in the present:
if + 3rd conditional 2nd conditional
sth that could have been different in the past Imagining the result in the present (positive or negative)
(regret or gratitude)
If you had followed my advice, you wouldn't be in trouble now.
(You didn't follow my advice, and now you are in trouble)
If I hadn’t drunk I wouldn't have a hangover now.
so much last night,
(I drank too much last night; that's why I have a hangover now)
If I had not applied for the job, I would be unemployed now.
(I applied for the job; that’s why I’m not unemployed now)
ALTERNATIVE TO IF IN CODITIONALS
TASK 1
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word
given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word
given
1. We will not be able to finish the project without your
HELP
Unless ……………………………………………….project, we will not be able to finish it.
TASK 2
TASK 3
FCE Key Word Transformation
Conditionals
1) I only told you because I thought you would be interested.
TOLD
I ............................................ you if I thought you weren't interested.
2) I won't organise the party unless you arrange the food.
LONG
I'll organise the party ...................................... arrange the food.
3) I think it would be a good idea to speak to the manager first.
WERE
If ................................................ speak to the manager first.
4) If you do the washing up I'll make the coffee.
PROVIDED
I'll make the coffee ............................................................... the washing up.
5) You're tired because you keep staying up late.
WERE
If ............................................... to bed earlier, you wouldn't be so tired.
6) You never enter competitions so you'll never win anything.
MIGHT
If you entered competions ……………………………………….... something.
7) The reason I haven't got much money is because they didn't give me promotion.
POOR
If they had given me promotion I ............................................. now.
8) I've been so happy since I met you.
MIGHT
I .......................................... so happy if I hadn't met you.
TASK 4
ANSWER KEY
TASK 1
TASK 2
TASK 3
1. would not have told
2. as long as you
3. I were you I would
4. provided you do
5. you were to go
6. you might win
7. wouldn't be so por
8. might not have been
TASK 4
