CONDITIONALS

Intermediate Level

ΑΡΙΑΔΝΗ ΚΥΡΑΤΖΗ

USE We use if to show that one action depends

on a condition or another action. We can join two simple sentences with if.

We then have two clauses: the if clause and the main clause.

We can put the if clause first or second. If it comes first, there is a comma after it.

We make a question by using the question form of the verb in the main clause.

GENERAL TRUTH CONDITIONALS (TYPE 0) If clause – main clause If+Simple Present-Simple

Present

Examples: You feel cold if the

temperature is low. If it rains in Athens, it often

floods. If you don’t study, you

don’t pass. If my dog sees a cat, he

chases it.

Use For things that are generally true,

natural laws and scientific facts. For actions or states that happen

often, regularly. In sentences like this if really means every time or whenever.

FUTURE CONDITIONALS (Type 1) If clause - main

clause If simple present –will + verb

root

Unless can be used in this conditional. Unless means the same as if not.

Examples: If the weather is good, we’ll

go on a picnic. If Dad gives us the money,

we can buy the tickets to the concert.

We may move to the States if our parents get a job there.

If he doesn’t give a good explanation, I will leave him.

Unless he gives a good explanation, I will leave him.

Use We use Future Conditionals to talk

about things which will probably happen now or in the future.

We can make promises or threats or give warnings.

We can also use other modals ( can, must, may) in place of will.

IMPROBABLE CONDITIONALS (Type 2) If clause - main clause If past simple– would+verb

root

Examples: If he had more money, he

would travel by plane. If I were her, I wouldn’t

buy that terrible dress! I might visit the Acropolis,

if I had time off work. If I lived nearer to the sea, I

could go swimming every day.

Use We use Improbable Conditionals to

talk about things that probably won’t happen now or in the future or we know will not happen.

To give or ask for advice, or say what someone should do.

We can also use other modal verbs ( could, might) in place of would.

PAST CONDITIONALS ( Type 3) If clause - main

clause If past perfect-would

have+p.p.

Examples: If I had gone to Paris, I

would have visited the Eiffel Tower.

If we had booked the hotel rooms on time, we could have found better ones.

If Mum hadn’t been so ill, she might have come with us.

Use We use Past Conditionals to talk

about the past. These are always hypothetical things because we cannot change the past.

We can also use other modals ( could, might, should, etc.) in place of would.