1st Conditional Developed by Ivan Seneviratne

If and Then Clauses Conditional sentences have at least two clauses: If clauses and Then clauses. Examples: If I go into town tomorrow, then I will see a movie. If he spoke Chinese, then he would work as a guide in China. If they had been faster, then they would have won the race.

If Clauses (the condition) If clauses present the condition. Examples: If I go into town tomorrow… If he spoke Chinese… If they had been faster…

Then Clauses (the results) Then clauses present the results. Examples: … then I will see a movie. … then he would work as a guide in China. … then they would have won the race.

If and Then Clauses The word “then” is optional, but the clause is still the result of the condition. So it is a “then” clause, without the word “then.” There are special rules for leaving out the word “if ”. We will learn them later.

Remember Never use a future tense twice in a conditional sentence. The four words that NEVER (well, almost never) appear in the If clause are: will, won’t, would, wouldn’t Example: If we will see it, we will be angry. Never use a future tense twice in a conditional sentence. This is not correct: If it will rains, I will stay home

Conditional I When something is possible now or in the future Form: (a real possibility) When something is possible now or in the future Form: If V(present tense) then will V(infinitive). Example: If she studies, she will pass the geography test. (It is possible !!)

Unless Unless = if not Example: If we don’t finish soon, we will miss the train. Unless we finish soon, we will miss the train.

Temporal Temporals are time expressions. (Examples: before, until, after, by the time, etc.) When they refer to the future, they are like Conditional I. Temporal (present tense), will V(infinitive). Examples: Until he arrives, I will read a book. They will make a cake before they go.

Just Remember Is the situation possible or impossible? Is the situation in the past or in the present/future? The four words that NEVER appear in the If clause: will, won’t, would, wouldn’t

Conditional Form Usage Example 1st conditional if + present simple, will + infinitive used to talk about possible situations If it's sunny tomorrow, I'll go to the seaside. 2nd conditional if + past simple, would + infinitive used to talk about hypothetical situations If I became rich, I would buy an expensive villa in France. 3rd conditional if + past perfect, would + have + past participle used to talk about hypothetical situations in the past If I hadn't gone to Egypt, I wouldn't have seen the pyramids Conditionals are usually expressed with the if clause first and the future clause second but the order isn't important. Both of these sentences are equally correct.

This presentation is developed by Ivan Seneviratne © 2007 purely for personal use. ivanthexplorer@yahoo.co.uk