CONDITIONALS

PREPARED BY:

•WAN MAZNI•NURUL HUDA• ANUAR

( PRO ELT PKG MELEKEK)

YOUR FACE BEFORE LEARNING CONDITIONALS

What is a conditional?

• A conditional is a sentence or part of a sentence that expresses a condition. It usually begins with the words "when," "if" and "unless."

A condition is what must happen before something else can happen.

• Conditionals sentences have two parts, which call the if-clause and the main clause.

• The main clause depends on the if-clause.

Examples of conditionals (note that the conditions are italic):

1) I will come if I have enough time.

(I am not sure that I will come. It depends on something else.)

2) She would tell me if she knew.

(THE REAL IS She doesn't know.)

Note: in the examples below

The conditions ( if-clauses) are in BLUE The results (the main clauses) are in RED.

TYPES OF CONDITIONALS

1. THE ZERO CONDITIONAL"If the sun sets, it becomes night."

We use the zero conditional when talking about things which are always true, or generally  true.

Structure:If + Simple Present, + Simple Present

OR

Simple Present + If + Simple Present

Examples:

1) If you boil an egg, it becomes solid.

2) If you heat something, it becomes hotter.

3)I always listen to music if I jog.

Note:We can use "when" instead of "if."

Examples:

1) When I see Karen I always feel better.

2) When she feels sick she lies in bed.

3) He starts yelling when he gets really desperate.

Caution!

The most common mistake is to use will in the main clause.

Incorrect:

When you leave the milk out, it will become sour.

Correct:

When you leave the milk out, it becomes sour.

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE TO WRITE YOUR OWN SENTENCE USING ZERO CONDITIONAL

2. THE FIRST CONDITIONAL"If he catches a fish, he will be very happy."

We use first conditional when talking about possible future events.

Structure:

If + Simple Present, + Will (FUTURE)

OR

Will + If + Simple Present

Examples:

1) Lisa will be very happy if she wins the prize.

2) If it rains, we will stay at home.

3) You will always be able to take another test if you fail.

4) If I see Sam, I will ask him to give you a call.

Note: You can use these modal verbs instead of will: shall, can, may.

Examples:

1) If you fail, you can always try again.

2) If you finish everything on time, you may go home earlier.

3) We shall meet on Sunday, if it's alright with you.

Caution!

The most common mistake is to put will in the conditional clause. The conditional clause must remain in the simple present tense.

Incorrect:

Sam won't go to the dance unless you will ask him.

Correct:

Sam won't go to the dance unless you ask him.

X

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE TO WRITE YOUR OWN SENTENCE USING FIRST CONDITIONAL

3. THE SECOND CONDITIONAL"If I met a genie, I would ask for infinite wealth..."

We use the second conditional when talking about future events that are not likely to happen.

Structure:If + Simple Past, + Would + Base Form (ROOT

WORD)

OR

Would + Base Form + If + Simple Past

Examples:

1) If I won a million dollars, I would travel around the world.(There is a small possibility that I would actually win.)

2) If I met him again, I would tell him the truth.(There is a small possibility that I would actually meet him again.)

3) She would quit school if her parents agreed.(It is unlikely that her parents agree.)

4) I would be surprised if I saw pigs in the sky.(It is very unlikely for me to see pigs in the sky.)

We also use the second conditional when talking about things which are contrary to the present facts.

"If I had any money, I would give you some."

Examples:If she worked less, she wouldn't be so tired.(In reality she doesn't work less, so she is tired.)

You would see John if you were here now.(In reality you are not here now, so you don't see John.)

If things were different, we would be happy.(In reality things are not different, and we are not happy.)

We would be good friends if she were nicer.( In reality she is not nice, and we are not good friends.)

You can use these modal verbs instead of would: should, could, might.

Examples:1) If she didn't have her job, she could come with us to the North Pole.

2) If they wanted to move, they could sell the house to us.

Note:the short form of would is 'd.For example: If Kathleen were at home, she'd pick up the phone.

The verb BEThe verb BE has a special rule in this case.

Usually we say: I was, he was, she was, it was, we were, you were, they were.

However, in these cases, we use:I were, he were, she were, it were, we were, you were, they were.

In other words: "were" is the only form.

Examples:1) If I were you I would apologize.(In reality I am not you.)

2) I would fight back, if I were you.(In reality I am not you.)

Caution!

The most common mistake in second conditional is putting would in the conditional clause. The conditional clause must be written in the simple past tense.

Incorrect:

If I would win the big prize, I would take you to dinner at a fancy restaurant.

Correct:

If I won the big prize, I would take you to dinner at a fancy restaurant.

X

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE TO WRITE YOUR OWN SENTENCE USING SECOND CONDITIONAL

4) The Third Conditional"If I had paid more attention, I wouldn't have hit myself..."

We use the third conditional when talking about things which are contrary to the past facts. In other words: events that did not happen in the past.

Structure:If + Past Perfect, + Would have + PAST PARTICIPLE

OR

Would have + PAST PARTICIPLE + If + Past Perfect

Examples:

1) If I had woken up on time, I would have taken the bus.(What really happened was that I didn't wake up on time, and so I didn't take the bus.)

2) Tom would have helped us if he had known we were there.(What really happened was that he didn't know we were there, and so he didn't help us.)

3) If I had told Sarah the truth, I would have felt much better.(What really happened was that I didn't tell Sarah the truth, and so I didn't feel so good.)

4) If it hadn't rained yesterday, we would have enjoyed a nice picnic.(What really happened was that it rained yesterday, and we didn't go for a picnic.) 

Note #1:the short form of had is 'd.For example: If he'd passed his exams, he

would get a diploma.

Note #2: You can use these modal verbs instead of would have: should have, could have, might have.

Examples:1) Jessica might have gotten the job if she hadn't been so nervous.

2) You could have arrived on time if you had used a map.

3) If she had known what to do, she should have told us.

Caution!Like the second conditional, the most common mistake for third conditional is putting would in the conditional clause.

Incorrect:

If you would have remembered your list, you would have known what to buy at the store.

Correct:

If you had remembered your list, you would have known what to buy at the store.

X

YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE TO WRITE YOUR OWN SENTENCE USING THIRD CONDITIONAL

Mixed conditionals are conditionals where the tense in the main clause is different from the tense in the conditional-clause (also called if-clause).

5. MIXED CONDITIONAL

A) Present + Past

1) If I were you, I would have bought the red dress.

(I am not you, so I did not buy the red dress in the past.)

2) If the teacher were here, she would have turned on the heater this morning.

(The teacher is not here right now, so the heater was not turned on this morning.)

B) Present + Future1) If I were you, I would call Tom and apologize.

(I am not you, but you should call Tom and apologize.)

2) If Bob had more time, he would attend the cooking class next week.

(Bob does not have more time, so he will not attend the cooking class next week.)

C) Future + Past

1) If they weren't traveling to France Thursday, they would have planned to attend your birthday party.

(They are planning to travel to France in the future, so they did not plan to attend the party.)

2) If I weren't quitting my job in two weeks, I would have purchased you a gift for Christmas.

(I am quitting my job in two weeks, so I did not purchase you a gift for Christmas.)

D) Future + Present

1) If I were getting married tomorrow, I would be relaxing right now.

(I am not getting married tomorrow, so I do not need to relax right now.)

2) If Jenny and Eric were going to be here for the holidays, they would be making plans.

(Jenny and Eric are not going to be here for the holidays, so they are not making plans now.)

E) Past + Present1) If I had studied in school, I would have a diploma now.

(I did not study in the past, so I do not have a diploma now.)

2) If Nick had turned in his application, he would be working here now.

(Nick did not turn in his application in the past, so he is not working here in the present.)

F) Past + Future1) If Rose had not called him, they wouldn't be going to the party together tomorrow.

(Rose did call him, so they are going to the party together tomorrow.)

2) If Nathan and Lisa had finished their chores, they would receive their allowance tonight.

(Nathan and Lisa did not finish their chores, so they will not get their allowance tonight.)

Tip to write if-clause

You can switch the order of the conditional-clause (if-clause) and the main clause.

Use a comma after the conditional-clause when it comes first.

Do not use a comma if the conditional-clause comes second.

Examples:If I had studied in school, I would have a diploma right now.

I would have a diploma now if I had studied in school.

If you need to revise rules about conditionals, here are the basic ones:

Zero: If + present tense ... present tenseFirst: If + present tense ... future tenseSecond: If + past tense ... would + infinitiveThird: If ... would + perfect infinitive (= would + have + past participle)Mixed: any combination of the above that makes sense 

Conditional Time Frame Probability Example

First Conditional Future Possible If I meet Helen, I will invite her to the party.

Second Conditional Future Unlikely If I won the lottery, I would help the world.

Second Conditional Present Unreal/Imaginary If I owned the money, I would lend it to you.

Third Conditional Past Impossible If I had studied French, I would have known it.

Zero Conditional Always/ Generally Certain f you drop something, it falls down.

English Conditionals Summary Table

WHAT DO YOU FEEL NOW?

IF YOU UNDERSTAND THE LESSON, YOU WILL SMILE HAPPILY.