Conditionals 0,1,2,3

Hello friends,

How are you doing?

We’ve recently asked a few people from our school whether they have any jinxes?

A person or thing that is believed to have bad luck or attract bad luck to the people around them is called a jinx.

It’s amazing, but in fact, lots of students have them!

Let’s have a look at some of their answers:

When I take an umbrella with me, it never rains. If I leave it at home, it always pours.

(Mick, 14)

I’ve got a pair of lucky brown trousers and I always wear them when I’ve got a test. If I didn’t wear them, I would fail.

(Jerry, 15)

I never get what I want in shops! For example, if I order orange juice, they will only have lemonade. If I like a pair of jeans they won’t have them in my size. If I ask for a ham sandwich, they will give me a chicken sandwich. The list could go on forever…

(Monica 17)

When I go out with my cousin, there’s always a catastrophe. The last time we went to a restaurant, the kitchen caught fire! If he hadn’t been there with us, nothing would have happened!

(Paul 16)

In this lesson we’re going to revise Zero, First, Second and Third conditionals in English.

Look through the students’ answers again and identify the four conditional types in them.

If I leave it at home, it always pours. – Zero Conditional

…if I order orange juice, they will only have lemonade. If I like a pair of jeans they won’t have them in my size. If I ask for a ham sandwich, they will give me a chicken sandwich. – First Conditional

If I didn’t wear them, I would fail. – Second Conditional

If he hadn’t been there with us, nothing would have happened! – Third Conditional

You see, that all the sentences have two parts: the if-clause and the result or main clause.

The if-clause gives the condition. The result clause gives the probable or certain result.

Conditionals are usually introduced by if or unless, but their meanings are very different.

Use unless to state a negative condition. Unless often has the same meaning as if…not.

Unless I hear from you, I’ll see you at two o’clock.

OR

If I don’t hear from you, I’ll see you at two o’clock.

The following expressions can be used instead of “if”: as long as, in case, on condition (that), providing, provided, what if, supposing, even if, only if.

What if I had accidentally told Maria about the party! That would have ruined the surprise.

You can play in the living room as long as you don’t make a mess.

So long as a tiger stands still, it is invisible in the jungle.

I’ll take cash in case we need it there.

They may do whatever they like provided that it is within the law.

Supposing you lost your passport, you’d have to go to the embassy, wouldn’t you?

The ZERO conditional is used to make statements about the real world, and often is used for actual facts, scientific events, things which are always true.

In these sentences, the time is now or always and the situation is real and possible.

In zero conditional sentences, the tense in both parts of the sentence is the Present Simple.

Plants die if they don't get enough water. (specific fact)

If you mix red and blue, you get purple. (specific fact)

Sarah starts to sneeze if she smells flowers. (always true)

FIRST Conditional

We use them to talk about something that can probably happen under certain conditions in the present or future.

Use any present form (Present Simple/Present Continuous or Present Perfect) in the if-clause.

Be careful! Even though the if-clause refers to the future, use present tenses.

If you wear your sweater backwards, people will laugh at you.

NOT If you will wear your sweater backwards, people will laugh at you.

Use Future Simple or be going to in the result clause.

When I’m older, I’m going to travel the world.

If you don't watch your steps, you are going to fall over.

The dog will bite you if you pull its tail.

You can use modals (can/may/must/should) in the result clause.

If she studies hard, she might get an A on her test.

If your hands itch, you could have an allergy.

If you ever go to Chicago, you should take a boat trip on the river.

You can/may leave the room if you've finished the test. (permission)

If he doesn't come soon, we must / will have to leave without him.

The SECOND conditional is used to talk about what is unlikely to happen in the present or in the future, or an impossible situation.

We can just imagine it in our mind or dream. Of course there is always a chance that our dream will come true, but it is just a fairy tale, in reality the percent is very low.

For example:

If I discovered a new planet, I would give it my name.

(unlikely to happen)

If I had wings, I’d fly really fast, like a bird.

(impossible)

We make the second conditional with an if - clause and a would/wouldn’t – clause.

We form the if-clause with if + Past Simple.

We form the would/wouldn’t-clause with would/wouldn’t + base form.

“Would” is often shortened to ‘d, especially in spoken English.

If in the “if part” of the sentence we have the verb “TO BE”, it is used in the form “were” for all persons.

For example:

If my brother were a computer specialist, he would easily find a job.

If my parents were here now, they would help us.

Besides, when we want to give a piece of advice we begin the sentence with “If I were you…” or “If I were in your position” or even spoken variant “If I were in your shoes…

Here are some examples:

If I were in your shoes, I would not talk over the phone so much.

If I were you, I wouldn’t complain.

If I were in your position, I would use a sunblock before going to the beach.

In the would-clause instead of “would” we can also use modal verbs could or might, but in such sentences the speaker is not so certain about the probability or the result.

Let’s compare:

If she knew her address, she would tell me. (He is 100% sure about that.)

If she knew her address, she might tell me. (It is possible to happen, but may be 50/50).

If you bought a bike, you could/might get a lot fitter.

The first conditional and second conditionals talk about the future.

We use the THIRD conditional to talk about something in the past that did not happen.

The third conditional is also like a dream. We are imagining the result of something that did not happen. We are imagining a different past.

We make the 3rd conditional with an if - clause and a would/wouldn’t – clause.

We form the if-clause with if + Past Perfect.

We form the would/wouldn’t-clause with would/wouldn’t + Present Perfect.

You wouldn’t have broken the camera if you had been more careful. (You were not careful, so you broke it.)

I would have done the parachute jump if it had been less windy. (You didn’t do the parachute jump because it was windy.)

The PUNCTUATION is common for all conditional types.

When the if-clause comes first, we add a comma.

When the main clause comes first, we don’t add a comma.

Unless it’s a clear night, we won’t see many stars.

We won’t see many stars unless it’s a clear night.

If you were not so lazy, you could study better.

You could study better if you were not so lazy.

If I had seen Jane, I would have invited her to the concert.

I would have invited Jane to the concert if I had seen her.