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Conditional Sentences: Zero, First, Second and Third Conditional

This document discusses the four types of conditional sentences in English: Zero conditional sentences use the present simple tense to describe general truths. First conditional sentences use the present simple and future simple to talk about likely future events. Second conditional sentences use the past simple and "would" to talk about unlikely or impossible present/future situations. Third conditional sentences use the past perfect and "would have" to talk about unreal past situations.

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Amjad Eshtei
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36 views6 pages

Conditional Sentences: Zero, First, Second and Third Conditional

This document discusses the four types of conditional sentences in English: Zero conditional sentences use the present simple tense to describe general truths. First conditional sentences use the present simple and future simple to talk about likely future events. Second conditional sentences use the past simple and "would" to talk about unlikely or impossible present/future situations. Third conditional sentences use the past perfect and "would have" to talk about unreal past situations.

Uploaded by

Amjad Eshtei
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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CONDITIONAL

SENTENCES
Zero, First, Second and Third Conditional
Conditional Sentences
 They are used to express that the action in the main or result clause can or could
only take place if a condition is fulfilled.

 What we express in the main/result clause depends or is conditional on what we


express in the if-/condition clause.
If it gets colder tonight, I’ll turn on the heating.

 We can usually change the order of clause, e.g. we can say I’ll help you if you want
or If you want, I will help you.

 Punctuation! We separate the two clauses by a comma if we begin with the


if-/condition clause, e.g. If he catches the fast train, he’ll get here early but we don’t
use a comma when we begin with the main/result clause, e.g. He’ll get here early if
he catches the fast train.
Zero Conditional Sentences
If-/condition clause main/result clause
present simple present simple
If babies are angry, they cry.

main/result clause If-/condition clause


present simple present simple
Snakes bite if they are scared.

 We use this conditional to express general truths:

If you touch a fire, you get burned.


If people eat too much, they get fat.
First Conditional Sentences
If-/condition clause main/result clause
present simple future simple
If it gets colder tonight, I’ll turn on the heating.

main/result clause If-/condition clause


future simple present simple
He’ll get here early if he catches the fast train.

 Sometimes called the “future” conditional. It is used to express a situation that is real or likely in the
future:
 “If I see Toby, I will tell him about the party.”
 We also use it to talk about a situation that is certain in the future:
 “As son as I get home, I’ll call you.”
Second Conditional Sentences
If-/condition clause main/result clause
past simple would + bare infinitve
If he didn’t annoy me so much, I would spend more time with him.

main/result clause If-/condition clause


Would + bare infinitive past simple
I would go there right away if I got an invitation.

 We can use it to talk about things in the future that are probably not going to be true. Maybe I'm imagining some
dream for example:
“If I won the lottery, I would buy a very big house”.
 We can use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible, because it's not true:
“If I had his number, I would call him. (I don't have his number now, so it's impossible for me to call him).”

 We use 'were' instead of 'was' with 'I' and 'he/she/it'.


Third Conditional Sentences
If-/condition clause main/result clause
past perfect would + have + past participle
If you had helped me, I would have done better.

main/result clause If-/condition clause


would + have + past participle past perfect
We wouldn’t have won if you hadn’t scored a goal.

• It talks about the past. It's used to describe a situation that didn't happen, and to imagine the result of
this situation:
“If she had studied, she would have passed the exam (but, really we know she didn't study and so she
didn't pass)”
“If I hadn't eaten so much, I wouldn't have felt sick (but I did eat a lot, and so I did feel sick).”

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