Conditionals

Conditionals 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.
(ex: If you study hard, you will pass your exams./ You will pass your exams if you study hard.)

Zero conditional
We use the zero conditional to talk about things that are generally true, especially for
laws and rules. (ex: 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 structure is: if/when + present simple >> present simple.

First conditional
We use the rst conditional when we talk about future situations we believe are real
or possible. (ex: If it doesn't rain tomorrow, we'll go to the beach./ Arsenal will be top of the
league if they win./ When I nish work, I'll call you./ I will come if I am able to.)
The structure is usually: if/when + present simple >> will + in nitive
It is also common to use this structure with unless’, as long as’, as soon as’ or
in case’ instead of if’. (ex: 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.)

Second conditional
The second conditional is used to imagine present or future situations that are
impossible or unlikely in reality. (ex: 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 structure is usually: if + past simple >> + would + in nitive.
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.
(ex: 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.)

Third conditional and mixed conditional

Conditionals describe the result of a certain condition. The if’ clause tells you the
condition (If I hadn't been ill) and the main clause tells you the result (I would have
gone to the party). (ex: If I hadn't been ill, I would have gone to the party.
I would have gone to the party if I hadn't been ill.)
Third conditional
The third conditional is used to imagine a different past. We imagine a change in a
past situation and the different result of that change.
(ex: If I had understood the instructions properly, I would have passed the exam.
We wouldn't have got lost if my phone hadn't run out of battery.
The structure is usually: If + past perfect >> would have + past participle.

Mixed conditionals
We can use mixed conditionals when we imagine a past change with a result in the
present or a present change with a result in the past.
1. Past/Present
Here's a sentence imagining how a change in a past situation would have a result in the
present: If I hadn't got the job in Tokyo, I wouldn't be with my current partner.
So the structure is: If + past perfect >> would + in nitive.
2. Present/Past
Here's a sentence imagining how a different situation in the present would mean that the past
was different as well: It's really important. If it wasn't, I wouldn't have called you on your holiday.
And the structure is: If + past simple >> would have + past participle.
‘
fi
‘
fi
‘
‘
fi
‘
fi
‘
fi
 The Passive Voice

Tense Active Passive

Present simple I make a cake. A cake is made (by me).

Present continuous I am making a cake. A cake is being made (by me).

Past simple I made a cake. A cake was made (by me).

Past continuous I was making a cake. A cake was being made (by me).

Present perfect I have made a cake. A cake has been made (by me).

Pres. perf. continuous I have been making a cake. A cake has been being made (by me).

Past perfect I had made a cake. A cake had been made (by me).

Future simple I will make a cake. A cake will be made (by me).

Future perfect I will have made a cake. A cake will have been made (by me).

Some verbs that have two objects can make two different active sentences, and so two
different passive sentences too:

Give. Active: He gave me the book / He gave the book to me.

(You can choose either of the two objects to be the subject of the passive sentence.)
Passive: I was given the book (by him)/ The book was given to me (by him).
Other verbs like this are: ask, offer, teach, tell, lend, promise, sell, throw.

You can make the passive in a subordinate clause that has a subject and a normal conjugated
verb. This is really the same as a normal passive.
• Active: I thought that Mary had kissed John.
Passive: I thought that John had been kissed by Mary.
• Active: He knew that people had built the church in 1915.
Passive: He knew that the church had been built in 1915.
You can also make the passive using a passive gerund or a passive in nitive in the same place
as a normal gerund or in nitive. (ex: The child loves being cuddled./ She would like to be promoted.)

1. When we want to change the focus of the sentence:

The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci.
(We are more interested in the painting than the artist in this sentence)
2. When who or what causes the action is unknown or unimportant or obvious or 'people in
general’: (ex: He was arrested (obvious agent, the police).
My bike has been stolen (unknown agent).
The road is being repaired (unimportant agent).
The form can be obtained from the post of ce (people in general).
3. In factual or scienti c writing:
The chemical is placed in a test tube and the data entered into the computer.
4. In formal writing instead of using someone/ people/ they (these can be used in speaking
or informal writing): The brochure will be nished next month.
5. In order to put the new information at the end of the sentence to improve style:
Three books are used regularly in the class. The books were written by Dr. Bell.
('Dr. Bell wrote the books' sound clumsy)
6. When the subject is very long: I was surprised by how well the students did in the test.
(More natural than: 'how well the students did in the test surprised me')
fi
fi
fi
fi
fi