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Zero Conditionals (Zero) : Present Simple Present Simple
Zero Conditionals (Zero) : Present Simple Present Simple
Zero Conditionals (Zero) : Present Simple Present Simple
If you put oil on water, does it float?
(Si pones aceite sobre agua, ¿flota?)
Notice that in case is similar, but it does not express a condition, e.g.:
I'll take my umbrella in case it rains.
(Me llevaré el paraguas por si llueve.)
They packed extra jerseys in case the weather turned cold.
(Empaquetaron más jerseis por si empezaba a hacer frío.)
Second conditionals
The standard structure is:
Time reference Verb in main clause Verb in conditional clause
There are variant conditional structures, which are less frequent, but which have a
similar meaning, e.g.:
If you were to win a fortune, what would you do?
(Si ganaras una fortuna, ¿qué harías?)
Would rather
This expression goes with an infinitive (without to) and expresses a present
preference, e.g.:
A: How about going to the cinema this evening? (¿Qué tal si vamos al cine esta
tarde?)
B: I'd rather stay in tonight. (Preferiría quedarme en casa esta noche.)
When the preference relates to a different person, then the verb form is past, e.g.:
C: Can Geoff park his car in the garage? (¿Geoff puede aparcar su coche en el
garaje?)
D: I'd rather he left it on the road. (Preferiría que lo dejara en la calle.)
Cause, reason and consequence
We can also use since and as, most usually when the information is not new, e.g.:
The weather was terrible. Since/As the weather was so bad, we decided to stay at
home.
(Hacía un tiempo horrible. Como hacía mal tiempo, decidimos quedarnos en casa.)
Notice that we do not usually express cause or reason with for, but for is used for
criminal activities, etc., e.g.:
Jones was sent to prison for theft/shoplifting.
(Condenamos a Jones a la prisión por robo/robar en tiendas.)