CONDITIONALS

Basic forms

1. Zero : talk about a general fact/ truth

If/When + S + Present Simple, S + Present Simple
Ex: If/ When you take the ice out of fridge, the ice melt.
If we don’t water the plants/trees, they die
2. First: talk about a possible or likely future result
If + S + Present Simple, S + will+ infinitive
Ex: If you get any more points for speeding, you’ll be banned from
driving.
ban/restrict/stop from sth/Ving
If I study harder, i will pass the exam.
3. Second: talk about an unlikely or imaginary situations in present or
future
(nó i về nhữ ng hà nh độ ng xả y ra trá i vớ i hiện tạ i)
If + S + Past Simple, S + would/could/might + infinitive
Ex: If you saw the film, you might be interested
If we ate that restaurant, it would be better
If I were you, I would buy that car
4. Third: to talk about imaginary situation in the past
(noi ve hd xay ra trai voi qua khu)
If + S + Past Perfect, S + would/could/might + have + past
participle
Ex: If you hadn’t gone through that red light, the police wouldn’t have
stopped you.
If you hadn’t bought that red T-shirt, I would have bought it

Advanced forms

1. Unless, in case , as/so long as, provided (that)- 1 st conditional

Word or Meaning Example

Phrase
Unless ‘except if’ or ‘if…not’ I’ll be there at six unless I
get delayed.
(=except if I get delayed / if
I don’t get delayed)
In case ‘because he/she/it/etc Let’s take the umbrella in
might’ case it rains.
(=because it might be rain)
As/so long as ‘if’ or ‘only if’ As long as I’m happy, my
parents don’t care what job
I do.
So long as I’m happy, my
parents don’t care what job
I do.
Provided ‘if’ or ‘only if’ Provided (that) I’m happy,
(that) my parents don’t care what
job I do.

2. Mixed conditionals
a/ Hypothetical past condition and a present result
If + past perfect(simple or continous), I would + V
Example:
If I had listened to my parents, I wouldn’t be in so much trouble now
(= I didn’t listen to my parents so I’m in lots of trouble now.)

b/ Hypothetical present condition and a past result

If I had a mobile, I would have called you last night

(= I don’t have a mobile so I didn’t call you last night.)

Inverted forms: Đảo ngữ

Formal form of … Examples

First conditional Should the drought continue, many
( with Should) people will be forced to leave their
Present, will villages.
Force(V)
(= If the drought should continue…/
If the drought continues…)
If it rains, he will not go to school
-> Should it rain, he…
Second conditional
(with Were) Were we to stop using fossil fuels
Past, Would/could/might+V tomorrow, it would still take
decades for the planet to recover.
(=If we were TO stop/If we
stopped…)

Iam a teacher/ iam beautiful/ iam to

cook
IF they worked more than 10 hours
a day, they might be stressed
-> Were they to work more than
10…,
I am to go
Third conditional Had James not visited the Island, he
(with HAD) might never have developed his
Past perfect, theory of evolution
could/would/might+present perfect (= If James hadn’t visited…)

Exercise I : Supply the correct verb tense.

1/ If I (have) __ a typewriter, I could type it myself.

2/ If I had known that you were in hospital, I (visit) ___ you.

3/ You could if you (attend) _____ class regularly.

4/ If I (know) knew_ his telephone number, I would give it to you.

5/ If you (arrive) ____ ten minutes earlier, you would have got a seat.

6/ If he (studies) ________ harder, he can pass an exam.

7/ She may be late if she (not hurry) _____.

8/ Tell him to ring me if you (see) _____ him.

9/ If you (speak) ______ more slowly,he might have understood you.

10/ What (you do) ______ if you got fat?

Exercise II : Supply the correct verb tense.

1/ If you are kind to me, I (be) will be good to you.

2/ He (come) _____ if you waited.

3/ If you (ring) __rang_ the bell, the servant would come.

4/ If I had known that the baby was hungry, I (feed)__would have fed__ him.

5/ If it (not, rain) didn’t rain a lot, the rice crop wouldn’t grow.

6/ If today (be) ___ Sunday, we wouldn’t have to work.

7/ If she had had your address, she (write) _____ to you.

8/ We lost the match. If you (play) _______ for us, we (win) ____.

9/ They would not be paid unless they (do) ___ their work well.

10/ If I became very rich, I (build ) ____ a hospital for the old.

11/ If he (give) ___ up smoking, as his doctor orders, he will be soon well
again.

12/ He (not, have) _____ an accident if he had not been driving so fast.

13/ If she (write) ____ more carefully, she might not have made too many
mistakes.

14/ You would have to stay in bed unless your health (improve) ____.

Ex3: Transfer these sentences into inverted forms

If you need some more money, take an extra 200.

-> Should

If I were your father, I would insist you practice harder.

->

If my girlfriend calls, please let me know right away.

->
If I had thought of the right words, I would have told them what I was
thinking!

->

If I were a rich kid, I would not have to worry about anything.

->

If they run out of tickets, we will have to go to another theater.

->

If you change your mind, let us know.

->

If you had known my mom, you would have thought she was crazy too

->

Ex4: Transfer these sentences from inverted forms

Had I thought of the right words, I would have told them what I was
thinking!

->

Were I you, I would not buy anything.

->

Should they don’t come, we will cancel the meeting.

->

Should you want to come, let us know.

->

Had you known my mom, you would have thought he was crazy too.

->

Had you heard her singing, you would have laughed too.
->

Were I a celebrity, I could get buy any bag I want.

->

Exercise 5: Choose the correct word/phrase

1. This time in six months I’ll be at university unless/ if I decide to take a

year off first.
2. Do what you like provided/ unless you don’t make any noise.
3. We’d better leave early tomorrow unless/in case there’s a lot of traffic
when we get to Doncaster.
4. You can watch the film as long as/ in case you promise to go straight
to bed when it finishes.
5. Unless/ So long as I’ve still got my health, I don’t mind how poor I am!
6. Let’s go to the theme park tonight if/unless you haven’t been there
before.

Exercise 6: Put the correct word

1. If …………. (you/do) your homework last night, you’d know the answer
to this question!
I’d like
2. If I ……….. (not/stay up) so late last night, I ……… (not/feel) so tired this
morning!
3. ……(I/be) in terrible trouble right now if you …..(not/ help) me
4. If I had a video recorder, ….. (I/record) the match last night.