CONDITIONALS
Zero conditional
We use the zero conditional (to describe something that always happens) ( the inevitable consequence) - (to talk about situations which are always true). Facts and Habits
(A situation that the speaker considers is always or generally true)
If / When+ S + present simple + C..., S + present simple + C….
S + present simple + C…. if/when + S + present simple + C.
1. When I get home from school, I usually sleep. Habit
2. If there's something I don't understand, I usually ask about it. Habit
3. We need umbrellas when it rains. Fact
4. Ice cream melts when it gets warm. Fact
First conditional
We use the first conditional to talk a possible striation in the future. [a future outcome or a certain future action]
If + S + present simple + C... , S + will/ won't / may / can/ need tot V1 + C...
S + will/ won't / may / can/ need to + VI + C... if + S + present simple + C...
1. If I don't get the grades, I'll have to get a job.
2. If you win the next match, will you be in the semi-final?
We can use provided that / as long as in the same way as if
• (unless) - if not
• I'll buy the book if / provided that /as long as it isn't too expensive.
(I won't buy it if it is too expensive)
• I'll buy it unless it's expensive. (I'll buy it if it isn't too expensive.)
1. We'll have the party in the garden as long as it doesn't rain.
2. Well go to Agaba this weekend as long as the weather is ok.
The second conditional
We use the second conditional to talk about an unlikely or imaginary situation in the present or future
If + S + past simple + C..., S + would/ might / could (not)+ V1 + C...
S + would/ might / could (not) + V1 + C... if + S + past simple + C...
1. If I were a professional sportsman, I'd probably be much richer now.
2. She would travel all over the world if she were rich.
3. If you could do anything, which job would you choose?
4. If you didn't have a lucrative job, you might not be able to afford that car.
The second conditional 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.
1. If won the lottery, I would buy a big house. ( probably won't win the lottery)
(I don't win the lottery, so I won't buy a big house.)
2. She would pass the exam if she ever studied
3. She would travel all over the world If she were rich. (But, she is not rich)
Second, we can use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible, because it's not true. Have a look at this example:
If I had Ali's number, I would call him.
(I don't have Ali's number now, so it's impossible for me to call him)
The Third conditional
We use the third conditional to talk about an imaginary or a hypothetical situation in the past.
If + S + past perfect + C.. ,S + would/ might / could (not) + have + V3 + C..
S + would/ might / could (not) + have + V3 + C.. + С... if+ S + past perfect + C...
1. If I hadn't done all those things, I wouldn't have done so well at university.
(I did all those things, so I did so well at university).
2. If she had studied, she would have passed the exam.
(But really, we know she didn't study and so she didn't pass)
3. If I had taken an umbrella, I wouldn't have got wet. (- but I did get wet)
If I hadn't taken an umbrella, I would have got wet. (- I didn't get wet)
4. If I had stayed at home that day, I would have missed the celebration.
(This means that the person didn't stay at home that day and he or she attended the celebration.) (The if-clause and main-clause did nor happen)
5. I wouldn't have gone to the party if my friend hadn't invited me.
(This means that my friend invited me to the party, so I went)
6. If I'd studied harder, I'd have passed the exam.
(I didn't study very hard, and I did not pass the exam)
When we talk about the imaginary past, we can use could have + V3 OR might
have + V3 in place of would have + V3.
We use could OR might when we are less sure of the result of the impossible past situation.
1. If I'd won, I could have represented my city.
(I didn't win, so I wasn't able to represent my city).
2. If I had prepared better for the competition, I might have won the first prize.
(The speaker is not sure that this would have been true)
3. If I had slept better the night before the exam, I could have concentrated better.
(It is possible that the speaker would have been able to concentrate)
Mixed conditionals
Mixed conditionals Mixed conditionals combine clauses from both second and third conditionals. There are two types.
We use this pattern to talk about the effects of an imaginary preset situation / state on the past
We use this to talk about the present consequences of hypothetical past situation.
Usage present result of a past condition (situation in the past- result on the present)
If + S + past perfect + C... , S+ would (not) + V1 + C..
S + would (not) + VI + C... if + S+ past perfect + C....
If I'd won that competition I'd be richer than I am now. (I didn't win. → I'm not rich.)
If I had listened to your advice, I wouldn't be in the mess. (I didn't listen. I am in the mess.)
If I had gone to university, I would be a doctor now. (I didn't go I am not a doctor.)
We use this to talk about the effects of hypothetical preset situation in the past.
Usage Past result of present or a continuing condition. ( situation in the present - result present situation in the past.
If + S + past simple + C... , S + would (not) have + V3 + C...
S + would (not) have + V3 + C... if + S + past simple + C...
If I didn't speak Spanish, I'd never have met Carmen. (I speak Spanish. →I met Carmen)
If she wasn't smart, she wouldn't have earned all that money.
(She is smart. So, She earned all that money.)
If she wasn't clever, she wouldn't have had such a good job.
