Unit 5 – Conditional forms

Let’s take a closer look at the

different conditional forms.
The simple conditional forms are zero, first, second and third.
1. When do we use them?
2. How do we create sentences in these forms?

When do we use the

conditional forms?

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Function: When do we use them?
Zero conditional First conditional Second conditional Third conditional
To talk about things that Describing possible future Unlikely/unreal situations in Unreal situations in the
are generally true. situations. the present or future. past.

To talk about the Making suggestions and Giving advice.

consequence of a situation giving advice.
or an action.

Making threats.

Making promises.

Look at the uses and If

If you
I’llIyou
had
Sophie
call
were
don’t
visitread
left
you
you,
don’t
you ifearlier,
sleep
liveda Ilot,
like
nextI’d
get your
enough,I would
initspeak
behave, New
back
here,
I’llYork,
summer to
early.
Iyou
get
call
if
match the examples. havefinish
vocabulary
she’d
should
grumpy.
your
you caught
boss
earn
move.
parents. improves.
the bus.
first.
more.
renovating.

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 Function: When do we use them?
zero conditional first conditional
To talk about things Describing possible
that are generally true. future situations.
If you read a lot, your I’ll call you if I get back
vocabulary improves. early.
To talk about the Making suggestions and
consequence of a giving advice.
situation or an action. If you don’t like it here,
If I don’t sleep enough, I you should move.
get grumpy.
Making threats.
If you don’t behave, I’ll call
your parents.
Making promises.
I’ll visit you next summer
if you
A full conditional sentence finish
has two renovating.
clauses: the If hypothetical clause and the result of that
hypothetical. Look…
If Sophie lived in New York, she’d earn more.
hypothetical
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second conditional
Unlikely or unreal
situations in the present
or future.
If Sophie lived in New
York, she’d earn more.
Giving advice.
If I were you, I’d speak to
your boss first.
result
third conditional
Unreal situations in the
past. This is unreal in the
If I had left earlier, I would past because it’s
have caught the bus. impossible to change
(it’s already happened).
When giving advice
using the 2nd
conditional, we usually
start with If I were you…
This is unreal in the
present/future because
it implies If Sophie lived
in New York now…
Although this is
conditional, there is a
possibility it could
happen in the future.
How do we create these
forms?
 Form: How do we create these forms?
zero conditional FORM: If + present simple, present simple

If you read a lot, your vocabulary improves.

first conditional FORM: If + present simple/continuous, future/modal verb

(can/could/may/might/should) + infinitive

If I get back early, I’ll call you. Look at the example

for zero conditional.
second conditional FORM: If + past simple/continuous, would/could/might + infinitive Now try to work out
the form for the other
three conditionals.
If Sophie lived in New York, she’d earn more.

third conditional FORM: If + past perfect, would + have + past participle

If I had left earlier, I would have caught the bus.

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 Form: How do we create these forms?
zero conditional FORM: If + present simple, present simple

If you read a lot, your vocabulary improves. Your vocabulary improves if you read a lot.

first conditional FORM: If + present simple/continuous, future/modal verb

(can/could/may/might/should) + infinitive The second result
clause can go first, but
If I get back early, I’ll call you. If I get back early, should I call? / call me! then you don’t use a
comma. Look…

second conditional FORM: If + past simple/continuous, would/could/might + infinitive

You can use modal
verbs or infinitive
If Sophie lived in New York, she’d earn more. If I were you, I’d speak to your boss. structures here as well
as the future. Look...
third conditional FORM: If + past perfect, would + have + past participle
With the verb to be in
the second conditional,
If I had left earlier, I would have caught the bus. it’s more common to
use If I/he/she/it were
rather than If I/he/she/it
We commonly use was.
contractions in these
structures. E.g. I’ll, I’d, She’d.
Pearson  © 2021      Formula Let’s practise!
Practice activities Remember that with any of
the conditionals, the result
Rewrite the sentences using the words in bold. clause can come before the
if hypothetical, but there
shouldn’t be a comma. E.g.
I’d get to the airport early if I
1. I think it’s a good idea for you to get to the airport early. were you.
WERE
If I were you, I’d get to the airport early.

2. I really regret going to that new book shop and spending all my money last week! GONE

If I hadn’t gone to that new book shop (last week), I wouldn’t have spent all my money.

3. There is possibility of your sister visiting next week, isn’t there? Please send me a message. IF

If your sister visits next week, (please) send me a message.

4. It’s a fact that drinking water rather than soft drinks keeps you more hydrated. DRINK

If you drink water rather than soft drinks, it keeps you more hydrated.

5. Evie lives in the basement flat. The flat above has a much better view.
SHE WOULD
If Evie lived in the flat above, she would have a much better view.

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