CONDITIONALS

1Glenda@UOWD 2011

FIRST CONDITIONAL

Use 1st conditional to talk about real possibilities. Form the first conditional in the following way:

if – clause + main clauseIf + present simple will/may/might/should., etc.

+ infinitive without ‘to’

e.g. If you ask him, he’ll be happy to help you.

If he comes, we will go to the party.

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What do the terms “as long as” and “provided that” mean in a conditional sentence?

The terms “as long as” and “provided that” mean “only if”. We often use these expressions to talk about rules or to make a bargain or promise.

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FIRST CONDITIONAL cont.

FIRST CONDITIONAL cont.

Look at these examples of first conditional sentences :

We will give you a refund provided that you produce a valid receipt. (= We will give you a refund only if you provide a receipt.)

You’ll be able to take photographs as long as you don’t use a flash.

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SECOND CONDITIONAL

Use the second conditional to talk about an unreal situation in the present or future.

Form the second conditional in the following way:

if – clause + main clause

If + past simple would/could/might, etc.

+ infinitive without ‘to’

e.g. If you had good eyesight, you wouldn’t need glasses. (=You don’t have good eyesight.)

If you were invited to the party, would you go?

If I had a brand new car, I would take you for a ride.

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SECOND CONDITIONAL cont.

We can introduce the condition with supposing (that) or imagine. We often use these expressions to talk about an imaginary situation.

E.g. :

Supposing you won the lottery, what would you buy?

Imagine you were a film star, how would it feel?

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THIRD CONDITIONAL

Use the third conditional to talk about unreal situations in the past, i.e. situations that are contrary to the facts.

Form the third conditional in the following way:

if – clause + main clause

If + past perfect would/could/might + have

+ past participle

If you’d been there, you would have seen her. ( = You weren’t there so you didn't see her.)

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THIRD CONDITIONAL cont.

If I hadn’t been to university, I wouldn’t have got this job. (= I did go to university so I did get this job.)

We often use the third conditional to talk about regrets or to criticise.

If I’d studied harder, I could have gone to university. (=I regret that I didn’t study harder.)

If you’d listened to me, this wouldn’t have happened. (=You should have listened to me.)

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MIXED CONDITIONALS

We can combine the clause from the second and third conditionals to talk about the present or past results of unreal situations.

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MIXED CONDITIONALS

Third + second conditional : present result of a past condition.

if – clause + main clause

If + past perfect would/should/might/

could,etc.+ infinitive

without ‘to’

If you’d brought a map, we wouldn’t be lost now. (=You didn’t bring a map so now we are lost.) Glenda@UOWD 2011 10

MIXED CONDITIONALS 3 + 2 cont.

More examples of 3 + 2 (present result of a past condition, where the ‘if’ clause is in the past perfect )

I would be a millionaire now if I had taken that job.

If you’d caught that plane, you’d be dead now.

If you hadn’t spent all your money on CDs, you wouldn't be broke.

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MIXED CONDITIONALS cont.

Second + third conditional : past result of present or continuing condition.

if – clause + main clause

If + past simple would/might/

could + have

+ past participle.

If you paid attention in class, you would have got high marks. (=You don’t pay attention in class. You didn’t get high marks.)

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MIXED CONDITIONALS 2 + 3 cont.

Second + third conditional : past result of present or continuing condition (where time in the “if” clause is now or always) and the time in the main clause is before now.

If I wasn’t afraid of spiders, I would have picked it up.

If I was a good cook, I would have invited them to lunch.

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Tasks

• Do the following exercises on conditionals to practice your skills.

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