CONDITIONALS

Zero Conditional
Meaning: The Zero Conditional describes things that are always true. Form: if + Present Simple, Present Simple Example: If you heat ice, it melts. Note: in all Conditional sentences, when the if clause comes first, there is a comma after it. When it comes second, there is no comma.

1. Match the if clauses on the left with the endings on the right. 1. If you are ill, 2. If you want a stamp, 3. If your car breaks down, 4. If you run out of money, 5. If you have a dog, a. you go to the post office. b. you go to an ATM. c. you cant play football. d. you have to look after it. e. you call a mechanic.

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First Conditional
Meaning: The First Conditional refers to situations in the future. It is possible that the action in the if part of the sentence will happen. Form: if + Present Simple, will/ going to + Bare Infinitive Example: If you see her, say hello. Note: Sometime, the Present Continuous or the imperative can be used instead of will/ going to.

2. Put the verbs in bracket into the correct form. a) b) c) d) If they ____________ (win) the next election, it _____________ (be) their third time in power. Everything ____________ (be) better in the future if Party X _____________ (get) into power. If the prime minister ____________ (resign) his deputy ____________ (put) in charge. If you ____________ (not vote), you ____________ (not be) able to complain later.

Second Conditional
Meaning: The Second Conditional has two meanings: The if clause can refer to a hypothetical situation in the present; The if clause can refer to a hypothetical or improbable situation in the future. Form: if + Past Simple, would + Bare Infinitive Example: If I were rich [i.e. present, Im not rich], I would be happier. If I won the lottery [i.e. future, improbable], I would be ecstatic. Note: If the verb to be is used in the if clause, the form is were for all persons.

3. Convert the situations into sentences beginning with If. a) She doesnt love me. Im heartbroken. If _________________________________________________________________________________ b) We use our cars too much. CO2 emissions are going to increase. If _________________________________________________________________________________ c) My classmate is probably not going to invite me to his party. Im not going to buy him a present. If _________________________________________________________________________________ d) We arent going to get to the stadium late. The tickets wont be sold out. If _________________________________________________________________________________ e) Beatriz is an only child. She doesnt have anyone to play with at home. If _________________________________________________________________________________

Third Conditional
Meaning: The Third Conditional describes hypothetical situations in the past. Form: if + Past perfect, would + have + Past Participle Example: If I had seen him [i.e. past, I didnt see him], I would have given him the letter.

4. Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verbs. a) If the government _______________ (not put up) the price of the petrol last summer, we ___________________ (save) more money. b) What ____________________ (you do) if you _____________ (not pass) last terms exams? c) If Greenpeace ____________________ (not board) the whaling ships yesterday, lots of whales ___________________ (die). d) If the United States ________________ (sign) the Kyoto protocol, a lot more countries ___________________ (follow) suit. e) There ___________________ (be) an enormous party if Portugal ________________ (win) Euro 2004.

EXERCISES

1. From the context, decide which Conditional to use and put the verbs in the correct forms. a) If I _______________ (have) a house in the country, I ______________ (go) there next weekend. b) If you _______________ (press) button A, you ______________ (get) coffee. c) If he _________________ (not drink) so much alcohol, he __________________ (not have) an accident. d) Sophie ________________ (be) thrilled if Britney Spears ________________ (write) to her because shes a great fan. e) There _________________ (be) fewer people voting if it _________________ (rain) tomorrow.

2. Choose the correct option to complete the sentences. a. If we dont protect the gorillas, they ________ extinct very quickly. a) becomes b) will become c) have become b. Monica becomes a different person if she ________ make up. a) puts on b) will put on c) wont put on c. Tasha would have been very disappointed if she ________ the driving test for which she studied so hard. a) failed b) have failed c) had failed d. The Maths teacher explained that if he had revised his final draft more carefully, he _______ to detect some very basic mistakes himself and get a better mark. a) will be able b) would have been able c) wouldnt be able

3. Rephrase the following sentences using an adequate conditional tense. a) They missed Act 1 of the play because they arrived late. ___________________________________________________________________________________ b) I dont speak Spanish so I cant help you. ___________________________________________________________________________________ c) The house is so expensive that I cant afford it. ___________________________________________________________________________________ d) Their mother has an alcohol problem. Thats why they are emotionally unstable. ___________________________________________________________________________________ e) Going out in the rain without a coat is a bad idea. You get sick. ___________________________________________________________________________________