Lecture 2: Third Level

Grammar: Conditional Sentences

Grammar: Conditional Sentences
Conditional sentences describe the result of a certain condition.
The if clause tells you the condition (If you study hard) and the main
clause tells you the result (you will pass your exams).
The order of the clauses does not change the meaning.
If you study hard, you will pass your exams.
You will pass your exams if you study hard.
The Zero conditional
We use the zero conditional to talk about things that are generally true,
especially for laws and rules.
The structure is: if + present simple + present simple.
Examples:
If I drink too much coffee, I can't sleep at night.
Ice melts if you heat it.
When the sun goes down, it gets dark.
The First conditional
We use the first conditional when we talk about future situations we
believe are real or possible.
In first conditional sentences, the structure is usually: if + present simple
+ will + infinitive.
Examples for The First Conditional Rule
Check this example:
Lisa: Shall we take the bus or the train?
JESS: If we take the bus, it will be cheaper.
For Jess, it is possible that they will take the bus, so she says: If we take
the bus, it will be cheaper.
More Examples:
If it doesn't rain tomorrow, we'll go to the beach.
Arsenal will be top of the league if they win.
When I finish work, I'll call you.
Other Conditional Words: Unless, As
Long As, As Soon As , In Case
You can use ‘unless, as long as, as soon as or in case’ instead of if.
I'll leave as soon as the babysitter arrives.
I don't want to stay in London unless I get a well-paid job.
I'll give you a key in case I'm not at home.
You can go to the party, as long as you're back by midnight.
The Second conditional
The second conditional is used to imagine present or future situations
that are impossible or unlikely in reality.
The structure is usually: if + past simple + would + infinitive.
If we had a garden, we could have a cat.
If I won a lot of money, I'd buy a big house in the country.
I wouldn't worry if I were you.
The Use of ‘Were’ Instead of ‘Was’ in The
Second Conditional
When if is followed by the verb be, it is grammatically correct to say if I
were, if he were, if she were and if it were.
However, it is also common to hear these structures with was, especially
in the he / she form.
If I were you, I wouldn't mention it.
If she was prime minister, she would invest more money in schools.
He would travel more if he was younger.
The Second Conditional for Future
Events That Are Will Not Happen
When we talk about something that will not happen, or we don’t expect
that it will happen, we use if + past (if we went / if there was etc.); But
the meaning is not past.
Study this example:
Lisa and Jess decide to take the train. Later, Jess talks to Joe.
JOE: How are you going to travel?
JESS: We’re going to take the train. If we took the bus, it would be
cheaper, but the train is quicker.
Now Jess knows they are not going to take the bus, so she says: If we
took the bus, it would be cheaper.
More Examples
What would you do if you won a lot of money? (I don’t really expect
this to happen)
If there was an election tomorrow, who would you vote for? (there will
not be an election tomorrow)
If you found a wallet in the street, what would you do with it?
I’d be surprised if they didn’t come to the party. (I expect them to come)
The Second Conditional for Imaginary
Situations
When we imagine a situation, we use if + past (if I knew / if you were /
if we didn’t etc.). But the meaning is present, not past.
Study this example situation:
Sarah wants to phone Paul, but she can’t do this because she doesn’t
know his number. She says:
I’d phone him if I knew his number. (I’d phone = I would phone)
Sarah doesn’t know Paul’s number, so she says ‘if I knew’. She
imagines what she would do if she knew his number.
More Examples
There would be many things I’d like to do if I had more time. (but I
don’t have time)
If I didn’t want to go to the party, I wouldn’t go. (but I want to go)
If you were in my position, what would you do?
It’s a pity he can’t drive. It would be useful if he could.
Using ‘Would’ With ‘If’
We do not normally use ‘would’ in the if-part of the sentence.
I’d be very scared if somebody pointed a gun at me. (not if somebody would
point)
If we went by bus, it would be cheaper. (not If we would go)
In the other part of the sentence (not the if-part) we use would (’d) / wouldn’t.
I’d be (= I would be) scared if somebody pointed a gun at me.
I’m not going to bed yet. I’m not tired. If I went to bed now, I wouldn’t sleep.
What would you do if you were bitten by a snake?
If I were rich, I would travel a lot. (not If I would be rich)
Who would you ask if you needed help? (not if you would need)
Using ‘Could’ and ‘Might’ Instead of
‘Would’
Could and might are also possible.
Could sometimes means ‘would be able to’ and sometimes ‘was/were
able to’.
Examples:
If I won a lot of money, I might buy a house. (= it is possible that I
would buy a house)
If it stopped raining, we could go out. (= we would be able to go out)
She could get a better job if she could speak another language. (she
could get = she would be able to get, if she could speak = if she was
able to speak)
Exercises: Exercise 1
Complete the sentences. Choose from:
did -- dropped -- found -- happened -- lost -- was -- went.
1. If you found a wallet in the street, what would you do with it?
2. Be careful with that vase. If you ……… it, it would break into small pieces.
3. This notebook is very important to me. I’d be very upset if I ……… it.
4. I don’t expect to lose my job but if ……… that , I’d have to find another one.
5. We’re thinking about our holiday for next year. If we ……… to Italy, would you
come with us?
6. I don’t think he’ll fail the exam. I’d be very surprised if he ……….
7. If there ……… a fire in the building, would you know how to put the fire out?
Exercise 2
Complete the sentences.
1. I’d be very scared if (somebody / point) a gun at me (somebody pointed).
2. I can’t afford to buy a car. If (I / buy) a car, I’d have to borrow the money.
3. If you had a party, who (you / invite)?
4. Don’t lend James your car. If (he / ask) me, I wouldn’t lend him mine.
5. I don’t think Gary and Emma will get married. (I / be) amazed if they did.
6. If (somebody / give) me $20,000, (I / have) a long holiday.
7. (you / be) nervous if (you / meet) a famous person?
8. What (you / do) if (you / be) in a lift and (it / stop) between floors?
Exercise 3
Put the verb into the correct form.
1. If I (I / know) his number, I would phone him (I knew).
2. (I / not / buy) that coat if I were you (I wouldn’t buy).
3. (I / help) you if I could, but I’m afraid I can’t.
4. This soup isn’t very nice. (it / taste) better if it wasn’t so salty.
5. We live in a city and don’t need a car, but we would need one if (we /
live) in the country.
6. If we had the choice, (we / live) in the country.
Exercise 3 (Continued)
Put the verb into the correct form.
7. I’d make a lot of changes if (I / be) the manager of the company.
8. I wouldn’t call someone in the middle of the night if (it / not / be)
important.
9. If I were you, (I / not / wait). (I / go) now.
10. You’re always tired because you go to bed so late. If (you / not / go) to
bed so late every night, (you / not / be) tired all the time.
11. I think there are too many cars. If (there / not / be) so many cars, (there /
not / be) so much pollution.
12. We all need jobs and money, but what (you / do) if (you / not / have) to
work?
THANK YOU

GOOD LUCK