Complex Sentences with an IF-Clause

The Conditionals

Answer
What happens if you eat lots of fatty food? What will happen if you fail all your subjects? What do you have to do when you travel abroad? What would you do if you found your partner cheating on you?

The Conditionals
These structures are used to describe situations that are possible or imaginary in the past, present or future. There are four conditionals:
Zero Conditional First Conditional Second Conditional Third Conditional

The Zero Conditional

The Zero Conditional

If you heat water at 100 degrees, it boils.

If you eat excessively, you get fat and sick.

If you do drugs, your perception is altered.

The zero conditional is a structure used for talking about the real world, and often refers to general or scientific truths (things that always happen under certain conditions). Also, it is used to give instructions.

The Zero Conditiona

Result

Condition

If Clause (When, Unless)

If you touch fire, If you fail a solemne, If you get bitten by a vampire, If there is no oxygen,

Present Simple Clause

you burn your hands. you get another chance with the recuperativa. you become one of them. wood doesnt burn.

If you mess with me, you mess with the whole avenue.

Online Exercises

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The First Conditional

The First Conditional

If I fail Grammar IV, my parents wont give me money.

If you prompt me the answers, I will kiss you.

If you say that Im cute, I will be your lover.

The First Conditiona

The first conditional is used to talk about things which are possible in the present or the future: situations which are likely (probable).

Condition

Result

If - Clause

Future Clause

If you break a mirror, If you annoy a gipsy woman (gitana), If you forget our anniversary, If you bring the cigarrettes,

you will have bad luck. she will curse your life forever. I will start a scene in public. Ill bring the drinks.

The 'if' clause can be used with different present forms: simple, continuous and perfect. The future clause can contain: 'going to, future perfect and modal verbs ('will, must can, etc.)

Online Exercises
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The Second Conditional: Hypothetical Situations, impossible in the present or in the future.

Food for thought

What would you do if aliens invaded us? What could you do if you had superpowers? Where would you go if you could fly or teleport? What would you do if you had 1 million

If I saw a zombie, Id make friends with him.

If Ricardo Lagos wanted to work on a kids show, he wouldnt have any problems.

If Patricia Maldonado were a cartoon character, she would be Ursula.

If Lipigas were a person, he would be a flaite.

If I were a vampire, I couldnt eat garlic.

If I werent so ugly, Id have many girlfriends.

If I had all this money, Id

The Third Conditiona

The second conditional is the type of complex sentence used to describe impossible or unreal situations in the present or in the future. Please note that If I were you is often used to give advice.

Unreal/impossible Condition
If - Clause

Result

Main Clause

If I had a million dollars, If I were a dentist, If I could fly, If we were millionaire,

I would buy the university. Id be driving a Lamborghini Diablo. I would save a lot on transportation. we wouldnt be studying.

The second conditional describes situations which dont or wont happen. Remember that were is the only form used in this structure.

Online Exercises
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