CONDITIONALS

Prof. Illescas Puzio, Dulce

WHAT ARE THEY?

CONDITIONALS ARE CLAUSES INTRODUCED WITH If. THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF
CONDITIONAL CLAUSE: TYPE 1, TYPE 2 AND TYPE 3. THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER COMMON
TYPE, TYPE 0.
 TYPE 0 CONDITIONAL
 THEY ARE USED TO EXPRESS SOMETHING WHICH IS ALWAYS TRUE. WE CAN USE
WHEN INSTEAD OF If.

e.g. If/When the sun shines, snow melts.

 TYPE 1 CONDITIONALS
 THEYARE USED TO EXPRESS REAL OR VERY
PROBABLE SITUATIONS IN THE PRESENT OR FUTURE.

 e.g. If he doesn’t study hard, he won´t pass his

exam.
 TYPE 2 CONDITIONALS
 THEYARE USED TO EXPRESS IMAGINARY SITUATIONS WHICH ARE
CONTRARY TO FACTS IN THE PRESENT AND, THEREFORE, ARE UNLIKELY
TO HAPPEN IN THE PRESENT OR FUTURE.

e.g. If I won the lottery, I would buy an

expensive car and I would go on
holiday to a tropical island next summer.
TYPE 3 CONDITIONALS
 THEY
ARE USED TO EXPRESS IMAGINARY SITUATIONS WHICH ARE
CONTRARY TO FACTS IN THE PAST. THEY ARE ALSO USED TO EXPRESS
REGRETS OR CRITICISM.
John got up late, so he missed the bus.

If John hadn’t got up late, he wouldn’t have missed the bus.

Conditionals If- clause (hypothesis) Main clause (result) Use

Type 0 – General If + present simple Present simple Something which is

truth always true.

If the temperature falls below 0° C, water turns into ice.

Type 1 – real If + present simple Future (will) Real – likely to

present happen in the
present or future.

If he doesn’t pay the fine, he will go to prison.

Type 2 - unreal If + past simple Would + infinitive Imaginary situation

present contrary yo facts in
the present; also
used to give advice.

If I had time, I would take up a sport.

Complete using the verbs in brackets. T. 0 / T. 1
 I _____________________ (visit) Shakespeare’s house if I ever ________________ (travel) to
England.

 If the weather ____________ (be) sunny next week, we_______________ (go) camping.

 If Sue __________________ (be) angry with me, I’m sure she______________(not phone)
me.

 Ice ___________________ (melt) if you __________________ (heat) it