First Conditional: real

possibility
We are talking about the future. We are thinking about a particular
condition or situation in the future, and the result of this condition.
There is a real possibility that this condition will happen. For
example, it is morning. You are at home. You plan to play tennis
this afternoon. But there are some clouds in the sky. Imagine that
it rains. What will you do?
IF condition

result

present simple WILL + base verb

If

it rains

I will stay at home.

Notice that we are thinking about a future condition. It is not

raining yet. But the sky is cloudy and you think that it could rain.
We use the present simple tense to talk about the possible future
condition. We use WILL + base verb to talk about the possible
future result. The important thing about the first conditional is
that there is a real possibility that the condition will happen.
Here are some more examples (do you remember the two basic
structures: [IF condition result] and [result IF condition]?):
IF condition

result

present simple

WILL + base verb

If

I see Mary

I will tell her.

If

Tara is free tomorrow

he will invite her.

If

they do not pass their exam their teacher will be sad.

If

it rains tomorrow

will you stay at home?

If

it rains tomorrow

what will you do?

result

IF condition

WILL + base verb

present simple

I will tell Mary

if

I see her.

He will invite Tara

if

she is free tomorrow.

Their teacher will be sad if

they do not pass their exam.

Will you stay at home

if

it rains tomorrow?

What will you do

if

it rains tomorrow?

Sometimes, we use shall, can, or may instead of will, for

example: If you are good today, you can watch TV tonight.

Grammar The 1st (First)

Conditional
by MELANIE on JULY 7, 2010

The 1st (first) conditional sentence structure is also called

the future possible/real conditional.
If I eat too much, I will get fat.
It is used to talk about a result [I'll get fat] that is likely to
happen or is almost certain to happen in the future IF the
condition in the if clause [if I eat too much] occurs.
Generally, in the 1st conditional structure the if
clause has a 50% or better chance of happening. If I eat
too much, its possible that I will get fat. I may not get
fat, but its more than likely that I will get fat if I eat too
much.
The 1st conditional form:
If + simple present, will + verb
*Even though this sentence structure is used to talk about
the future, the condition clause [If I eat too much] uses
the simple present tense.

Uses of the sentence structure

1. Possibilities
Youll miss the train if you dont hurry!
If I miss the train today, Ill drive to work.

I will pass my math exam if I study hard.

If it rains, we wont have our picnic.
If you stay out in the rain too long, youll get sick!
My mom will be angry if Im late tonight!

2. Superstitions
If you see a penny on the ground and pick it up, it will
bring you good luck!
If you break a mirror, you will have 7 years of bad luck!
If you rub a rabbits foot, it will bring you good luck!
If you walk under a ladder, you will have bad luck!
You will have bad luck if you open an umbrella indoors.

3. Future plans
If youre going shopping today, Ill come with you!
If you can get me a ticket, Ill go to the concert with you!
If you see Ken later today, will you tell him to call me?

4. Warnings and threats

If you dont come to my birthday party, Ill never speak to
you again.
If you eat too much ice cream, youll make yourself
sick!<
If you say that again, I will hurt you!

Variations of this sentence structure

1. The imperative can be used in the
result clause.
If you call your mother tonight, tell her I said hello!
Remember to buy some bananas if you go to the
supermarket.
If anyone calls for me, tell them Im not home!

2. Modals can be used in the result

clause, particularly foroffers and
suggestions.
If you get a new job, you should really buy nicer clothes!
I can get you a ticket to the Madonna concert if you want
to go!
Use may or might to say that the future event is
possible, but not definite.
If you need someone to help you move, I might be able to
help.
If its a sunny day tomorrow, we might have a pool party.
be going to
Im going to buy a new car next year if I have enough
money.

If you dont give me back my sweater right now, Im

going to scream!
Shes going to take a vacation next week if she gets time
off work.

3. Conjunctions can be used to talk about

the future.
The 1st conditional sentence structure can also be used to
talk about the future. You can use conjunctions of time
[when, before, after, as soon as, until] instead of if in
the condition / dependent clause. They are always
followed by the present simple tense.
When
Ill wash the dishes when my TV show is over.
Ill come inside when it gets dark.
Hes going to be a policeman when hes older!
Before
Ill finish this report before I leave tonight.
Please take the garbage out before you go to work today.
Hell call you before he goes out tonight.
After
Ill eat dinner after I finish my homework
After she graduates from university shell need to find a
job!

Hell look for a place to live after he finds a job.

Until
Ill sit outside until it gets dark.
I will keep looking for my car keys until I find them!
Well wait until the rain stops, then well go outside.
As soon as
Ill wash the dishes as soon as this TV show is over.
Call me as soon as you get in.
Well start the meeting as soon as the CEO arrives.
The band will start playing as soon as everyone arrives.

4. The present perfect can be used with

the 1st conditional
The present perfect can be used in the result
clause with when and after.
There is no change in the meaning of the sentence when
the present perfect is used with after:
Tell me what you think of the movie after you see it!
Tell me what you think of the movie after youve seen it.
After I find a job, Ill look for a place to live.
After Ive found a job, Ill look for a place to live.
Ill finish my homework after I eat dinner.
Ill finish my homework after Ive eaten dinner.

When means that the event/action must happen before a

future event/action occurs:
When I have saved enough money, Ill buy a car!
When I have saved enough money, Im going to buy a
car!
When I find a job, Ill look for a place to live.
When Ive found a job, Ill look for a place to live.
If you have trouble with conditional sentences, please
read Conditional Sentences: An Introduction

Se forma con if + simple present + simple future. Se emplea cuando una situacin es real
o posible: If it rains today, I'll stay at home. Aqu tienes algunos ejemplos traducidos.

If clause

Main clause

If + Present tense

will / can / may / must + verb

If it rains today,

I'll stay at home

If it rains today, I'll stay at home.

Si llueve hoy, me quedar en casa.

If he is busy now, I will come back tomorrow.

Si est ocupado ahora, regresar maana.

If I have time, I'll visit my parents this afternoon.

Si tengo tiempo, visitar a mis padres esta tarde.

If it is warm tomorrow, we'll go to the beach.

Si est caluroso maana, iremos a la playa.

If it is cold, you must wear warm clothes.

Si est fro, debes usar ropa abrigada.

If he doesn't do his homework, he can not go to the party.

Si l no hace su tarea, no puede ir a la fiesta.

If she doesn't call you, you can call her.

Si ella no te llama, t puedes llamarla.

If you work hard, you may become a millonaire someday.

Si trabajas duro, puede que te conviertas en un millonario algn da.

If you spend more than you earn, you'll become a poor man.
Si gastas ms de lo que ganas, te convertirs en un hombre pobre.

If they don't invite you, you must not go.

Si ellos no te invitan, no debes ir.

If we don't hurry, we'll miss our bus.

Si no nos apuramos, perderemos nuestro autobus.

If you pay now, you'll get a discount.

Si pagas ahora, obtendrs un descuento.

If they don't want to go out, they can stay home.

Si no quieren salir, se pueden quedar en casa.

If you drink too much, you'll get drunk.

Si bebes demasiado, te emborrachars.

If you feel sick, you must stay in bed.

Si te sientes enfermo, debes quedarte en cama.

If they don't come here, we'll have to go there.

Si ellos no vienen aqu, tendremos que ir all.

A conditional is used to talk about a possible or imaginary situation

(the condition) and the consequences(or the result) of it.
The first conditional - meaning
We use the first conditional to talk about something that will happen
(the result), if a particular condition (which is likely to happen) is
met. Because the manager is asking Tim to work in the stockroom,
it'slikely that Tim will do it and that's why we use the first
conditionalhere.
In order to get an interview, Tim has to work in the stockroom.
If you do this for me, you'll have a chance of promotion.
If Tim works in the stock room, he will get an interview.
If Tim doesn't work in the stock room, he won't get an interview.
So, the meaning is that if the condition is met (and it's more than 50%
likely to happen) then the result will happen.

The first conditional - form

The first conditional is made up of the condition (the 'if' part of the
sentence) and the consequence or the result.
If + present simple, will + base verb
If Tim works in the stockroom, he will get an interview.
If you do this for me, you'll have a chance of promotion.

The first conditional - Modal verbs will, may and might:

When we use will in the result clause of the first conditional, we are
certain that something will happen. It is definite. But we can
use may ormight instead of will. This means that the consequence is
not certain. It is possible, but not definite.
I'm not feeling very well. If it rains tomorrow, I'll stay at home.
I'm feeling fine and I've got a car. If it rains tomorrow, I might stay at
home, or I may go shopping. I'll decide tomorrow.
Note: In the first conditional, there is no difference in
meaningbetween may and might.

The first conditional - If and if not:

In conditional sentences, you don't always use 'if' or 'if not'. You can
use 'provided that' or 'so long as' instead of 'if'.

For example:
If you put down the gun, I won't call the police. =
So long as you put down the gun, I won't call the police. =
Provided thatyou put down the gun I won't call the police. =
(Provided that is more formal than if. )
You can use 'unless' instead of 'if not'.
For example:
If you don't put the gun down, I'll call the police. =
Unless you put the gun down, I'll call the police.

Vocabulary:
to look smart or to be well turned out: to wear good clothes and to
have tidy hair
a stockroom (n): the place where a shop keeps the products that are
not on display
no guarantees: no definite promises, nothing is certain

Structure of first conditional

Home > English resources > Grammar rules > Conditional sentences >

Structure of the first conditional

positive

negative

question

If I see him, I'll (I will) tell

him.

If you don't hurry, you'll

miss the bus.

What will you do if there is

a problem?

The first conditional - common mistakes

Common mistakes

Correct version

Why?

If you will go to England,

you will improve your
English.

If you go to England, you

will improve your English.

We use the present simple

in the if-clause.

I'll tell him if I see him.

We use the present simple

in the if-clause.

If I find his number, I will

callhim.

We use will in the main

clause, to express certainty
in the future.

I'll tell him if I will see him.

If I find his number, I call

him.