FIRST CONDITIONALS

& TIME CLAUSES

FIRST CONDITIONALSFirst Conditional sentences express a possible condition and its probable result in the future.

If you don’t revise,

CONDITION RESULT

you’ll fail.

If you stay, I’ll leave.

FIRST CONDITIONALSWe can use the First Conditional to express different functions:

If you do that again, I’ll kill you.

A threat

Careful!, If you touch that you’ll get burnt.

A warning

FIRST CONDITIONALS

If you lend me the money, I’ll kiss you.

A promise

I’ll post the letter if you like.

An offer

FIRST CONDITIONALSFirst Conditional sentences are formed as follows:

IF Present Simple

will

going to

imperative

can/must

present simple

FIRST CONDITIONALSExamples:

• If you go to Greece for your holidays, I can recommend a great hotel.

• If you don’t hurry up, you’ll miss the bus.

• If you arrive early, wait for me.

FIRST CONDITIONALS

THINGS TO CONSIDER:• The main clause and the if-clause

can often go in either order:

– If I feel like going out, I’ll give you a call.– I’ll give you a call if I feel like going out.

• Use a comma after the if-clause.

FIRST CONDITIONALSCONNECTORS:• The most common connector is IF.• Another connector we can use is

UNLESS. It means if not.

COMPARE:• Unless you agree, I won’t go.• If you don’t agree, I won’t go.

TIME CLAUSES• Time clauses and conditional

sentences have something in common:• Conjunctions of time:

– as soon as– when– until– before– after

are always followed by a present, even though the time reference is future.

TIME CLAUSESEXAMPLES:• I’ll phone you when I get home.• As soon as I finish reading the book,

I’ll lend it to you.• Don’t press that button until I tell you.• Before I get to work, I always

have a coffee at Starbuck’s.• I’ll go shopping after he takes

the children to school.

FIRST CONDIONALS &TIME CLAUSES

Make true sentences about yourself:

• I won’t stop studying English until . . .• I’ll be really annoyed if . . . • I’ll always live in Málaga unless . . .• I’d like to retire when . . .• I’ll have a big party if . . .