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CONDITIONAL SENTENCES - Explanations

First conditional: Real/likely situations

• With if : A first conditional describes a real or likely situation. A present tense is used after if, but the time referred to is the future. Will/Won't are common in the result clause. Going to can be used instead of will. This means that there is a real possibility this will happen.


If youfall, I won't be able to catch you! If it rains, we're Going to get wet.


The modal verb can is also common in first conditional sentences: If the cases are too heavy, I can help you carry them.


• Unless, provided, as long as Unless means If... not. Provided and as long as can also introduce a condition

Unless you leave at once, I'll call the police. /If you don't leave at once, I'll call the police.
Provided you leave now, you'll catch the train.


• With the imperative: Get me some cigarettes, and I'll pay you later.


• With should: We can use should instead of if in a conditional sentence. It means if by any chance ... and makes the action less likely.
Should you see John, can yougive him a message?

Second conditional Unreal/imaginary situations

. With if : A second conditional describes an unreal or imaginary situation. A past simple tense is used after if, but the time referred to is the future. Would is common in the result clause. The modal verbs might and could are common in second conditional sentences.


If you fell, you would hurt yourself. / Ifyou became a millionaire, you might be unhappy.


• Were : it is often used instead of was in formal language.

If I were taller, I'd join the basketball team. / If I were you, I'd leave now. (I and you are stressed in speech)


• Were to is another way of expressing a second conditional sentence. If they were to offer me the job, I'd turn it down.

Third conditional:Unreal/imaginary past situations


• With if : A third conditional describes an unreal or imaginary situation in the past. A past perfect tense is used after if. Would + have + past participle is used in the result clause.


If John had studied more, he would have got better marks. This means that John didn't study more. A past situation, different to the one that really happened, is imagined.The modal verbs might and could are common in this kind of sentence. If you had tried harder, you might have succeeded.

• Mixed conditions : For past events which have a result continuing in the present, it is possible to use the form of a third conditional in the if-clause, and the form of a second conditional in the result clause.

If you had saved some money, you wouldn'tbe so hard up.

Other if sentences: If can mean when in the sense of whenever. If/When/Whenever it rains, we play football indoors instead.
In this type of sentence we use the present simple in both the if-clause and the result clause.
If can also mean if it is true that: If (it is true that) you have a job like that, you are very lucky.If (it is true that) nothing happened, you were lucky.
If+ past simple can be used for past events with a real possibility, or that we know are true. This type of sentence does not have any special grammar rules: If you missed the TV programme last night, you can borrow my recording. / If the police arrested him, they must suspect him.

1. Underline themost suitable verb forms in each sentence


a) If the machine stops/will stop, you press/will press this button.

b) I can't understand what he sees in her! If anyone treats/will treat/treated me like that, I am/will be/would be extremely angry!

c) If you help/helped me with this exercise, I will/would do the same for you one day.

d) According to the timetable, if the...