REAL CONDITIONAL ESL 11B

UNCERTAIN EVENTS & SITUATIONS In clauses after “if”, we usually talk about uncertain events & situations If I see Annie, I will give her your message. (I may or may not see Annie.)

CONDITIONS If-clause refers to a condition – something which must happen so that something else can happen. If you get here before 8:00, we can catch the early train. Oil floats if you pour it on water.

OVERVIEW OF 3 CONDITIONS First Conditional / Real Conditional / True in present or future Second Conditional/Unreal Conditional/Untrue in present or future Third Conditional / Unreal Conditional / Untrue in the past

FIRST CONDITIONAL (TRUE IN THE PRESENT/FUTURE) IF-CLAUSE RESULT CLAUSE if + simple present will + infinitive If we play tennis, I will win. If I have enough time, I will watch TV later on tonight. If you press the button, the door will open. If you press the button, the door is going to open

SECOND CONDITIONAL (UNTRUE IN THE PRESENT/FUTURE) IF-CLAUSE RESULT CLAUSE if + simple past would + infinitive If we played tennis, I would win. If I had enough time, I would watch TV later on tonight. If you pressed the button, the door would open.

THIRD CONDITIONAL (UNTRUE IN THE PAST) IF-CLAUSE RESULT CLAUSE if + past perfect would have + past participle If we had played tennis, I would have won. If I had had enough time, I would have watched TV. If you had pressed the button, the door would have opened.

DO YOU REMEMBER? Work with your partners and write down 3 FIRST CONDITIONAL sentences in Exercise 1

FIRST OR REAL CONDITIONAL MEANING AND USE Express real or possible situations that can happen in the present or in the future “Real” because the expected result in the main clause depends on the real/possible condition in the dependent if- clause If Joe calls me tonight, I will tell him my plans.

FIRST OR REAL CONDITIONAL MEANING AND USE Warning: If y:f ou smoke, you will damage your lungs. Threat: If you don’t stop, I’m going to call the police. Advice: If you drink hot tea with honey, you will feel better. Promise: If I win the election, I will not raise taxes. Advantages: If you buy a better car, you will get better gas mileage. Disadvantage: If you buy a small car, you wont have as much room.

NOW YOU TRY! With your partner(s), complete the warnings in Exercise 2, 3, 4 and 5.

REMINDER First/Real Conditional If + simple present, will + infinitive Second/Unreal Conditional If + simple past, would + infinitive Third/Unreal Conditional If + past perfect, would have + past participle