Conditional Sentences (1)

By dechant.carla | Updated: Oct. 4, 2020, 9:03 a.m.

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Quick review of zero, 1st and 2nd conditionals for B1 and lower B2 students

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Zero, 1st & 2nd
 conditionals
A quick animated 
guide 
What's a conditional sentence?
 
- a dependent clause which expresses a real, possible, or hypothetical situation, called the CONDITION;

A conditional sentence is composed of 2 clauses:
- and a main clause which describes the consequence of the situation, called the RESULT.

When I have a headache, 
I take an aspirin.
Real or possible situation
=
Condition
Consequence
=
Result
If it's sunny tomorrow, 
I'll go to the beach.
If I didn't have to work, 
Hypothetical situation
=
Condition
I'd travel more.
Consequence
=
Result
Dependent clause
Main clause
Real, possible, or hypothetical situation
=
Condition
Consequence
=
Result
If there is no condition, 
there is no result.
Zero Conditionals (Type 0)
We use a zero conditional to talk about general truths, facts, and laws of science.

The situation is real or factual.
The time referred to is now or always.
If I have a headache, I take an aspirin.
If it rains, I never go to the beach.  
If you heat water to 100ºC, it boils.  
"When" can be used instead of "if" in a zero conditional with NO change in meaning.
When
When
When
If I have a headache, I take an aspirin.
If it rains, I never go to the beach.  
If you heat water to 100ºC, it boils.  
"When" can be used instead of "if" in a zero conditional.
The verbs in both clauses are in the PRESENT SIMPLE in a zero conditional.
If I have a headache, I take an aspirin.
If it rains, I never go to the beach.  
If you heat water to 100ºC, it boils.  
"When" can be used instead of "if" in a zero conditional.
The verbs in both clauses are in the PRESENT tense in a zero conditional.
You can start with the "if" clause with a COMMA, 
I take an aspirin if I have a headache.
I never go to the beach if it rains.
Water boils if you heat it to 100ºC.
or with the main clause and NO comma (in ALL conditionals)
First Conditionals (Type 1)
We use a first conditional to talk about a possible/probable  situation and its consequences.

The situation is real: it's possible or probable.
The time referred to is  future (or present).
If you don't study, you won't pass the exam.
If you book early, the flight will be cheaper.  
If I have time, I'll go to the gym.  
FUTURE TIME EXPRESSIONS like "when, as soon as, before, after, provided that, once, until..." can be used in a 1st conditional with a present tense.  They do NOT mean the same as "if".  Compare:
We'll go AS SOON AS you finish your work.
                             ≠
We'll go IF you finish your work.
   
If you don't study, you won't pass the exam.
If I have time, I'll go to the gym.  
FUTURE TIME EXPRESSIONS like "when, as soon as, before, after, provided that, once, until..." can be used in a 1st conditional.
The verb in the "if" clause is in the PRESENT SIMPLE, 
and the verb in the main clause is usually  WILL or  WON'T + infinitive
If you book early, the flight will be cheaper.  
BUT...
We can use other verbs in the MAIN CLAUSE like...
IMPERATIVES
If you have time, GO to the gym. (command)
CAN
If I have time, I CAN go to the gym. 
(It will be possible.)
MAY 
MIGHT 
COULD
If I have time, I MAY/MIGHT/COULD go to the gym.         
(It's a possibility, but not the only option.) 
BE GOING TO
If I have time, I'M GOING TO GO to the gym.
   (less formal than "will" to state intention)
SHOULD
If you have time, you SHOULD go to the gym. (advice.)
Second Conditionals (Type 2)
We use a second conditional to talk about a hypothetical or imaginary situation and its  consequences.

The situation is UNREAL.

The time referred to is  now or the future.
If I had time, I'd go to the gym.  
(But I don't have time, so I don't go.)
If I spoke French, I could work in Paris.  
(But I don't speak French, so I can't work there.) 
If I was patient, I wouldn't get frustrated. 
(But, I'm not patient, so I do get frustrated.) 
If I had time, I'd go to the gym.

If I was patient,  I wouldn't get frustrated.
If I spoke French, I could work in Paris.

The verb in the main clause is usually WOULD, WOULDN'T, COULD, or COULDN'T + infinitive 
The verb in the "if" clause is in the PAST SIMPLE.
By Carla S. Dechant Munsch

@DechantCarla
Public Domain 2020
(but a mention would be nice!)

Conditional Sentences (1)

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