Conditional Sentences
Conditional Sentences Structure : A conditional sentence is composed of 2 parts :
If-clause
+
Main Clause
Example :
If it rains tomorrow, we will not come. If-clause
Main Clause
Conditional Sentences Types : The order of the two clauses is flexible, it’s not
important. But if the if-clause comes first, it must be followed by a comma.
If it rains, I’ll stay at home
There are 4 types of conditional sentences.
They are classified according to the degree of probability that they express.
Each type of conditional sentences uses different tenses to show the difference in the degree of probability.
Conditional Sentences
Zero Conditional: If /when + present tense ….. / modal
First Conditional: If/unless + present,….. Future
If I study, I’ll
Second Conditional: If + past, ……would +inf.
Water boils if it reaches 100º
If I studied, I would
Third Conditional: If + past perfect ….. would have + pp
If I had studied, I would have ed
Zero Conditionals Tense :
Present tense in both clauses
Example : Present Tense
Present Tense
If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.
If you pour oil into water, it floats.
Zero Conditionals Use :
Talk about universal truth. If you heat ice, it turns to water To
give commands
If you are tired, go to bed! In this case the verb in the main clause is an Imperative
First Conditionals Tense : If-clause ~ Present Tense Main Clause ~ Future Tense Present Tense
Future Tense
If I feel sick tomorrow, I will not go to school.
If it rains, the match will be cancelled.
First Conditionals Use :
To speak about possible or probable future events.
If the weather is as sunny tomorrow as it was today, we will go surfing. To
make promises or warnings
If you forget my birthday, I’ll never speak to you again.
Unless is used in negative conditionals Unless we recycle more, we won’t have a better world.
Exercise One. First Conditionals do not come 1. If you ___________________ (not come), will miss You ________________ (miss ) the show. will buy 2. John __________________ (buy)a car if he gets _____________ (get) a job. will get 3. Mary ________________(get) a toothache if eats she_________________ (eat) too many sweets.
Second Conditionals Tense :
If-clause ~ Past Tense Main Clause ~ would + an infinitive
Example : Past Tense
Would + infinitive
If he were a bird, he would fly across the harbour. If I had $200,000 now, I would buy a car.
Second Conditionals Use :
To speak about present and future
situations which are unlikely to happen. If I had any money I would lend it to you. If I were you I wouldn't do this. MIND Were is often used instead of was in the 1st and 3rd person singular
Exercise Two were 1. If I ________________ (be) you, I would learn ________________ (learn) to play the piano.
failed 2. If I ________________ (not fail) in the Wouldn’t buy examination, my mother_______________ (buy) me a new computer. would finish 3. We ________________________ (finish) if we had ________________ (have) better preparation.
Conditional Sentences Variations: Type 1, 2 and 3 : If we are not careful, many species may become extinct.
If I were an aeroplane, I could fly in the sky. If she hadn’t worn her helmet, she might have been seriously injured.
Modal verbs in conditional sentences
Exercises
Identifying conditionals
I. Choose the correct answer. 1 - If I drink tea in the morning, it makes me feel sick.
Zero Conditional
First Conditional Second Conditional Third Conditional
Exercises 2 - I'll tell her if she comes.
Zero Conditional First Conditional Second Conditional Third Conditional 3 - If I were you, I'd buy it as soon as possible.
Zero Conditional First Conditional Second Conditional Third Conditional
Exercises 4 - If I had the time, I’d help you
Zero Conditional First Conditional Second Conditional Third Conditional
Exercises 6 - If you work hard enough, you may well .
Zero Conditional
First Conditional
Second Conditional Third Conditional 7 – Water boils if you heat it to a hundred degrees celsius.
Zero Conditional First Conditional Second Conditional Third Conditional
Exercises 8 - I would be surprised if it rained.
Zero Conditional First Conditional Second Conditional Third Conditional 9 – If she'd tried harder, she might have succeeded.
Zero Conditional First Conditional Second Conditional Third Conditional
Exercises II. Choose the correct answer. 1 - If I ...... you, I would tell him straightaway were am
2 - If you ...... yellow and blue, you get green will mix mix
3 - If I .........., I would never have done it knew had known
4 - Unless you ....... drinking, you'll have serious health problems. stop will stop
Exercises 5 - I ......... there if I knew about it would not go will never go
6 - If you see him, ......... him to call me? will you ask would you have asked 7 - If I ......... In the test, I wouldn’t feel so bad with myself. were there didn’t fail
8 - What would you do if the police ......... you? arrested had arrested
Exercises Finish these sentences using the correct verbal tense. would understand
1. If they listened, they.............................. (understand) wouldn’t be 2. If he wore the helmet, he.......................... (Be) injured. spoke 3. If he........................... (Speak) clearly, people would understand him. Will be 4. If we miss this train, we.................................. (Be) late for the interview. Won’t call 5. The bank............................................. (not / call) if we pay the bill. met 6. If you................................... (meet ) Tom, you wouldn’t like him. Would keep 7. If I found 100 in the street, I …………………….......... (Keep) it. knew 8. If I ……………... (Know) her number, I would phone her. Will be 9. If he gets late, I ………….. (be) angry. won’t buy 10.I …………………….. (Not/buy) that coat if I were you.. knew 11.If I ……………….. (Know) that you were ill, I’d take to the hospital. 12.If it stops raining, we …………………. (Go) on a trip. will go
Exercises Choose the correct answer 1
If Teresa………more sensible, she wouldn’t get into trouble so often. a) will be b) were c) had been B 2 ……… me some ice cream if you go to the supermarket. a) Got b) Get c) Have got B 3 If I……...late, will you wait for me? B a) be b) am c) will be 4 If Vanessa had……..me the truth, I would not have been so angry. a) told b) tells c) tell A 5 If you listen to her, you’ll………in trouble. C a) been b) being c) be 6 If you had listen to her, you……….have been in trouble. B a) shouldn’t b) wouldn’t c) couldn’t 7 Nobody would……the secret if Danny hadn’t revealed it. A a) have known b) knew c) known 8 Will you be all right by yourself if I………. out tonight? A a) go b) will go c) would go 9 If I knew how to run my own business, I………..a rich man. C a) am b) will be c) would be 10 If anyone………., say I’ll be back about 7.30. C a) will phone b) phone c) phones
Mixed exercises
What would you do in these situations
You are alone in the forest at night without a phone.
If I were alone in the forest I would try to use the stars.
You met the genie.
If I met the genie, I would ask him for my three wishes.
Mixed exercises
What would you do in these situations
One day you read in a newspaper an article about you. The article was telling about your private life.
If I read an article about my private life, I’d look for a lawyer.
Your favourite singer wrote a song for you.
If my fauvorite singer wrote a song for me, I’d be excited.
Mixed exercises
What would you do in these situations
You are going to a date. But suddenly a bird made your jacket dirty.
If a bird made my jacket dirty, I’d run to buy other.
You enter the classroom and suddenly realize that you’ve forgotten to dress your tros.
If I forgot to dress my tros, I’d try to invent some explanation.
Web pages Note: For more practice use your student’s Multi-ROM 2, Grammar section, Conditional Clauses exercises. Or you can also click: http://www.isabelperez.com/conditionals1.htm http://www.miguelmllop.com/practice/intermediate/grammar /conditionals8.htm http://www.better-english.com/grammar/condit23.htm http://www.miguelmllop.com/practice/intermediate/grammar /conditionals7.htm http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/conditionalsentences/type-1/exercises?02 http://www.geocities.com/athens/olympus/7583/condprac1. html http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/if-clauses.html