B2-C1-C2

GRAMMAR

CONDITIONALS
WHAT ARE CONDITIONALS?
Conditional sentences are statements discussing known factors or
hypothetical situations and their consequences. Compl ete conditional
sentences contain a conditional clause (often referred to as the if -clause)
and the consequence.

THERE ARE 4 TYPES OF CONDITIONS:

ZERO CONDITIONAL
Zero conditional sentences express general truths—situations in which one
thing al ways causes another. When you use a zero conditional, you’re
tal king about a general truth rather than a specific instance of something

If I go out in the rain, I get wet

If clause = Present simple, Condition = Present simple

FIRST CONDITIONAL
First conditional sentences are used to express situations in which the
outcome is likely (but not guaranteed) to happen in the future.

If I study, I’ll pass

If clause = Present simple, Condition = Future

SECOND CONDITIONAL
Second conditional sentences are useful for expressing outcomes that are
completely unrealistic or will not likely happen in the future

If I were taller, I would play in the NBA

If clause = Past simple, Condition = Modal Aux verb (would, could, may, might, etc.)
Conditional Tenses

THIRD CONDITIONAL
Third conditional sentences are used to explain that present
circumstances would be different if something different had happened in
the past.

If I had seen the invitation earlier, I could have gone to the party

If clause = Past perfect, Condition = Modal Aux verb+have (would have, could
have, may have, might have, etc.) Conditional perfect Tenses

OTHER WAYS TO MAKE CONDITIONALS

INVERSIONS
We usually make 3rd type conditionals with an inversion to sound more
formal and to emphasize something.
Example:
THIRD CONDITIONAL:
IF I HAD SEEN the movie, I would have told you about it

INVERSION:
HAD I SEEN the movie, I would have told you about it
AS LONG AS

I’ll go, as long as you wear a suit

OTHERWISE

You shouldn’t skip your exam, otherwise you’ll be punished

PROVIDED THAT (FORMAL)

They might agree to the contract, provided that we grant them

full access

SHOULD YOU (VERY FORMAL – WRITTEN)

Should you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us

SUPPOSING

We could get the new car, supposing that we save enough

money

UNLESS

We will get the insurance as well, unless you tell us it’s a bad
idea