First conditional:

IF MY MUM WANTS TO WATCH THE NEWS, WE’LL GO TO MY ROOM TO WATCH THE FILM

PRESENT SIMPLE + FUTURE SIMPLE

THE FIRST PART IS IN THE PRESENT SIMPLE TENSE AND THE SECOND PART IS IN THE FUTURE
SIMPLE TENSE. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

THE FIRST CONDITIONAL IS USED TO EXPRESS A REAL OR VERY PROBABLE SITUATION IN THE
FUTURE. IT REFERS TO THINGS THAT WILL POSSIBLY HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE IF A CONDITION IS
MET.

WE ARE PREDICTING A LIKELY RESULT IN THE FUTURE

WE USE THE FIRST CONDITIONAL TO TALK ABOUT POSSIBLE EVENTS IN THE FUTURE AND THEIR
CONSEQUENCES

THE FIRT CONDITIONAL USES THE PRESENT SIMPLE IN THE IF- CLAUSE AND FUTURE SIMPLE IN THE
MAIN CLAUSE

EXAMPLE: IF WE WORK HARD, WE WILL FINISH THE PROJECT ON TIME.

The condition is IF WE WORK HARD. This is an if clause because it begings with IF

WHAT IS THE RESULT OF THIS CLAUSE? THE RESULT IS: WE WILL FINISH THE PROJECT ON TIME

Also we have to use a comma at the end of an if clause when an if clause comes at the beginning
of the sentence.

Herer I am saying it is possible that we will finish the project on time on the condition of working
hard now, I’m predictiong that this is likely result in the future.

Notice how the main clauses is in the future tense (WE WILL FINISH) it is also important to note
that the if clause must be in the present simple tense: ( IF WE WORK HARD) WORK IS IN THE
PRESENT SIMPLE TENSE.

WE CAN NOT SAY: IF WE WILL WORK HARD XXXXXXX THIS IS NOT CORRECT

DO NOT USE THE FUTURE TENSE IN THE IF CLAUSE.

EXAMPLES:

IF YOU LIKE DUA LIPA SINGER, THEN YOU’LL LOVE HER NEW ALBUM.

YOU’LL – YOU WILL

IF YOU TAKE THIS MEDICINE, YOU WILL FEEL MUCH BETTER

WHERE ARE MY KEYS? IF YOU LOOK IN THE GARAGE, YOU WILL FIND THEM

IF I SEE EDWARD, I WON’T TELL HIM ABOUT THE SURPRISE. (you can see that we can use a
negative form of the future simple) WON’T – WILL NOT

IF I DON’T FEEL WELL TOMORROW, I WON’T GO TO WORK

IF IT IS SUNNY TOMORROW, WE WILL HAVE A PICNIC AT THE PARK

IF HE DOESN’T ARRIVE SOON, WE WILL LEAVE WITHOUT HIM

Notice how after all these sentences there is a comma after the if- clause

LOOK AT THIS SENTENCE:

Condition result

If clause + main clause

IF IT RAINS TOMORROW, WE WILL STAY HOME. We can not say: IF IT WILL RAIN TOMORROW XXX

THE IF CLAUSE NEEDS TO BE IN THE PRESENT SIMPLE TENSE, DO NOT USE THE FUTURE TENSE IN
THE IF-CLAUSE-

(REMEMBER, PUT A COMMA ( ,) AFTER THE IF CLAUSE WHEN IT COMES FIRST IN THE SENTENCE

WE CAN CHANGE THE ORDER OF THE SENTENCE AND HAVE THE MAIN CLAUSE (THE RESULT)
BEFORE THE IF CLAUSE CONDITION)

RESULT CONDITION

MAIN CLAUSE + IF CLAUSE

EXAMPLE:

WE WILL STAY HOME IF IT RAINS TOMORROW

NOTE THAT WITH THIS ORDER WE DO NOT USE A COMMA BETWEEN THE CLAUSES
IF YOU LOOK IN THE GARAGE, YOU’LL FIND THEM- (BECOMES)

YOU’LL FIND THEM IF YOU LOOK IN THE GARAGE

IF YOU TAKE THIS MEDICINE, YOU’LL FEEL MUCH BETTER

YOU’LL FEEL MUCH BETTER IF YOU TAKE THIS MEDICINE

THE FIRST CONDITIONAL IS COMMON WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLE PLANS,
PROMISES, WARNINGS, THREATS OR FOR PERSUADING SOMEONE.

EXAMPLE: IF I GO TO ITALY NEEX WEEK FOR WORK, I’LL VISIT MY COUSIN