FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD CONDITIONAL How we put conditional clauses and main clauses together: (e.g. zero conditional) Conditional clause If I take the job,
Main clause I go to London.
Main clause I go to London
Conditional clause if I take the job.
How the zero, first, s econd, and third conditional formations can be recognised: 0. Zero conditional:
If I take the job, I go to London.
1. First conditional:
If I take the job, I will go to London.
2. Second conditional:
If I took the job now, I would be in London.
3. Third conditional:
If I had taken the job, I would have been in London.
Conditional clause
Main clause
0. If + Present Simple +
Present Simple (or or Imperative Imperative))
Mixed Conditional
General Use: Situations that are frequently/always true.
If it it rains (if + + present simple), simple),
I take take my my umbrella with me (present ( present simple). simple).
If you you find John,
call me call me immediately (If ( If + + imperative imperative). ).
1. If + Present Simple +
Will (Can/May/Might/S (Can/May/Might/Should, hould, etc.,) etc.,) + + Infinitive
General Use: A likely situation (a situation which may happen) and a possible result.
If you you do the shopping with me (if ( if + + present simple), simple),
I will buy buy you you an ice cream (will (will + + infinitive infinitive). ).
If you you tell him the truth (if (if + + present simple), simple),
it will hurt him a lot (will will + + infinitive infinitive). ).
2. If + Past Simple +
Would (Could/Might/Should) (Could/Might/Should) + + Infinitive
(Stating preferences, Supposing, Unusual circumstances) circumstances ) General Use: To talk about hypothetical situations in the present or future. (Stating
If someone someone dropped money on the floor (if (if + + past simple), simple),
I would buy buy you you an ice cream (would (would + + infinitive infinitive). ).
If I I had had the the opportunity to steal (if (if + + present simple), simple),
could + + infinitive infinitive). ). I couldn’t do it ( could
3. If + Past Perfect Simple + General Use:
Would (Could/Might (Could/Might)) + Have + Past Participle
To talk about real real situations situations in the past past.. To talk about alternative alternative possibilities possibilities in the past/past for the future.
If I I had watched the dinner cooking (if (if + + past perfect), perfect),
it would would not not have have burnt burnt ( (would would + have have + + past participle). participle).
If you you had left work early this morning (if (if + + past perfect), perfect),
we could have gone gone to to the zoo (could (could + + have have + + past participle). participle).
Important note: - We do not normally use will or would in the conditional clause, only in the main clause.
USES OF THE CONDITIONALS: ZERO CONDITIONAL Situation: Time: E.g.:
Open condition, what is said in the condition is frequently/always true at the moment of speaking. Present or future; This condition refers to true situations either in the present or future. If the shop opens early, we buy the material before we leave. If someone tells me a secret, I never tell anyone else.
FIRST CONDITIONAL Situation: Time: E.g.:
Open condition, what is said in the condition is possible/likely to happen. Present or future; This condition refers to possible actions either in the present or future. If I arrive late, you might have to leave without me. If my sister finds out, I am in deep trouble.
SECOND CONDITIONAL Situation: Time: E.g.:
Unreal (impossible)/improbable situations/hypothetical situation in the present or future. The implication is that the condition(s) will not be met. Present; the tense we use is past, but we are hypothesizing in a present or future situation. If I knew her number, I would tell you. If I were in your shoes, I would go to the police.
Compare: If I become elected, I will cut income taxes. (Statement by a local candidate to the press.) If I became president, I would cut income taxes. (Delusion of a TV viewer: Improbable) If I win this game, I am qualified through to the final. If I won a million pounds, I would stop teaching. (Improbable)
THIRD CONDITIONAL Situation: Time: E.g.:
Unreal situation in the past / Alternative situations in the past. Past (indicating one is talking about a situation that was never so in the past.) If you had tipped me off beforehand, I wouldn’ t have said anything (you didn't, and I said it).
IMPORTANT NOTES FOR STUDENTS:
We use conditionals to makes promises or threats, to warn or persuade, or to makes excuses. If you don’t go to bed early, you will miss the bus in the morning. E.g.:
The conditional construction does not normally use will or would in if -clauses. EXCEPTION: If will or would express willingness, as in requests, they can be used in if-clauses. If you will come this way, the hotel manager will see you now. E.g.: (Is like saying: Please, come this way; Please, help me...) I would be most grateful if you would help me with this project.
For the second conditional (subjunctive form), were replaces was: If I were a wealthy man... E.g.:
After if , we can use either "some(-one, -where...)" or "any(-one, -where...): If I have some free time next month.... or: E.g.: If I have any spare morning next week...
We can use unless in place of if not : I'll have it there to you tomorrow morning unless there is a delay . E.g.: He'll resign from the government unless you promise to make tax reductions.
There is a " mixed type conditional " as well, for the present results of an unreal condition in the past: If + Past Perfect, + would + infinitive. E.g.: If you had told me earlier (then/past), I would not be in this predicament (now/present).
CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
A. ZERO CONDITIONAL IF + DOES, DOES If + present simple tense, present simple tense 1. IF IS USED TO STATE GENERAL RULES. If we heat water enough, it begins to boil. In statements like this, if means the same as when or every time.
B. THE 1st CONDITIONAL IF + DOES, WILL DO If + present simple tense, will + bare infinitive 2. IN 1ST CONDITIONAL IF IS USED TO SPECULATE ABOUT THE FUTURE CONSEQUENCES OF A SPECIFIC EVENT. IN THIS CASE, THE VERB IN THE SECOND PART OF THE SENTENCE IS PRECEDED BY WILL. If they offer a good price, we will buy the whole consignment. COMMON MISTAKE . We do not use will in the if part of the sentence. 3. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT AN EVENT THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE FUTURE, WE CAN USE IF OR WHEN. I am flying to the States tonight. I'll give you a ring if I can find a phone. (The speaker is not sure if he will be able to find a phone or not.) I am flying to the States tonight. I'll give you a ring when I get there. (The speaker has no doubt that the plane will arrive safely.) 4. IN A SENTENCE WITH AN IF-CLAUSE WE CAN USE THE IMPERATIVE, OR OTHER MODAL VERBS, INSTEAD OF WILL + INFINITIVE If you hear from Susan today, tell her to ring me. If the traffic is bad, I may get home late. Note. We say the traffic but a traffic jam 5. 1ST CONDITIONAL IS USUALLY USED IN SUCH CASES: Contingency plans, considering events that may/may not occur If I feel too excited to sleep, I'll try reading one of our reports. Planning your manpower We'll need more staff if / when / in case we start the new project. Company forecast Degress of certainty Project planning
C. CONDITIONALS: if, unless, in case, provided that, as long as, so that 6. IF AND UNLESS Unless means the same as if ... not. It always refers to the conditional part of the sentence and not the result part of the sentence: If he doesn't get here soon, we will have to start the meeting without him. Unless he gets here soon, we will have to start the meeting without him. We often use not + unless, which means only ... if , when we want to emphasize a condition: They will only sign the contract if we give them an additional discount. They won't sign the contract unless we give them an additional discount. 7. IF AND IN CASE We use in case to talk about precautions we will take before a problem happens. We use if to talk about what we will do after a problem happens: We are going to insure the shipment in case the goods get damaged in tra nsit. (We will take our insurance first; the problem may or may not happen afterward.) If the goods get damaged in transit, we'll make a claim. (The damage may happen, and we will make a claim afterward.) Note that that in sentence with in case, we often use going to rather than will because we are often talking about something that we have already decided to do. 8. PROVIDED THAT VS AS LONG AS, ETC. We can use provided that/providing, as long as, and so long as when we want to emphasize condition. Provided that and as long as mean if and only if (providing and so long as are a little less formal): I will agree to these conditions provided that they increase my salary. (I will only agree if they give me more money.) The strike will be successful as long as we all stay together. (It will only succeed if we all stay together.)
9. SO THAT We use so that to say what the result or purpose of an action will be: I'll take a credit card so that we don't run out of money. (The credit card will stop us from running out of money)
D. 2ND CONDITIONAL IF + DID, WOULD DO If + past tense, would + infinitive 10. 2nd conditional can be used to refer to less probable or impossible situations. The verb in the second part is preceded by would / should / could / might . The if -clause can come in the first part of the sentence, or t he second. If I knew her number, I would send her a fax. I would send her a fax if I knew her number. COMMON MISTAKE . We do not use would in the if part of the sentence.
11. THIS FORM REFERS TO PRESENT OR FUTURE TIME. If these machines were not so expensive, we would buy them. If we hired a lawyer, we would recover our debts more easily. If I lost my job tomorrow, I would move to London to find the same kind of job. The first two sentences refer to present situation, and imagining a situation that is different from the reality. In the third we are talking about a possible event in the future, but using second conditional we make it clear that we do not really think it will happen.
12. 2ND CONDITIONAL IS USUALLY USED IN SUCH CASES Stating preferences Supposing If I were 10 years younger, I'd take the job. As long as / Providing it was well paid, I'd accept this proposal. Unusual circumstances I would / might join the army, if there was a war. I wouldn't go on strike, unless there was no alternative.
13. FIRST OR SECOND CONDITIONAL If we think that future event is reasonably likely, we use first conditional If the market grows at 7% a month, it will involve new investment rapidly. If we are talking about an event that is unlikely or impossible, we use the second conditional If I had as much money as Bill Gates of Microsoft, I would retire. 14. VARIATION It is also possible to use might and could instead of would If we received credit, we could expand much more rapidly. In the if -clause , we can use were inst ead of was. This is very common when we give advice using the expression If I were you ... If I were you, I would have another look through those figures.
E. 3RD CONDITIONAL IF + HAD DONE, WOULD + HAVE DONE If + past perfect tense, would + present perfect 15. 3RD CONDITIONAL IS USED WHEN TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT DIDN'T HAPPENED IN THE PAST (AND THE CONSEQUENCE IF THEY HAD HAPPENED). THE VERB IN THE SECOND PART IS USED WITH WOULD / SHOULD / COULD / MIGHT (+ HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE ). If I'd known it was formal party, I wouldn't have gone wearing jeans and jumper. I would have worn suit. 16. POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE When we use the 3rd conditional we are imagining the opposite situation. If what actually happened was negative, we use a positive form. If what actually happened was positive, we use a negative form: If my client had given me her fax number, I wouldn't have had to post a letter to her. If I'd known it was a formal party, I wouldn't have gone wearing jeans and a jumper. If I had not been in Amsterdam at the last RIPE meeting, I would not have met Esther Dyson and I wouldn't have known she speaks Russian. 17. MIXED CONDITIONALS If we talk about a past action and its result in the present we use if + past perfect and would not + infinitive: If he hadn't done well on the training courses, he wouldn't be a Project leader now.
First Conditional IF + SIMPLE PRESENT + , (IF-CLAUSE)
WILL + BASE FORM (RESULT CLAUSE)
If I have the money,
I will buy a car.
OR WILL + BASE FORM (RESULT CLAUSE)
IF + SIMPLE PRESENT (IF-CLAUSE)
I will buy a car
if I have the money.
The if -clause establishes a condition, which means that something is necessary or must occur in order for something else to occur. In the example above, I must have money in order to buy the car, so having money is the condition for buying the car. The first conditional uses the simple present in the if -clause and the future in the result clause. We normally use will in the result clause, but going to is also possible.
IF + SIMPLE PRESENT + , (IF-CLAUSE)
GOING TO + BASE FORM (RESULT CLAUSE)
If you get straight A's,
I'm going to buy you a new computer.
GOING TO + BASE FORM (RESULT CLAUSE)
IF + SIMPLE PRESENT (IF-CLAUSE)
I'm going to buy you a new computer
if you get straight A's.
We can begin the sentence with the if -clause or the result clause. If the sentence begins with the if -clause, we use a comma after it (as in this sentence). If the if -clause comes at the end of the sentence, we do not use a comma before it.
Remember: Never use will in the if-clause! The first conditional is used to express a real possibility in the future. If you use the first conditional, you believe there is a good chance that the condition will be met. In our example, the speaker believes that there is a good chance that he/she will have the money necessary to buy the car. We often use the negative form won't with even if to make a negative more emphatic.
WON'T + BASE FORM
EVEN IF + SIMPLE PRESENT
I won't go to the party
even if they beg me.
Here the speaker will not go to the party under any conditions, and begging will not change his/her mind. Another variation is the use of whether or not to say that one thing would not be affected by another thing. Whether or not is usually separated, but it can be used without being separated.
WILL + BASE FORM
WHETHER + SIMPLE PRESENT + OR NOT
I will go to the party
whether you go or not.
WILL + BASE FORM
WHETHER OR NOT + SIMPLE PRESENT
I will go to the party
whether or not you go.
Conditional sentences can have any combination of affirmative and negative clauses.
IF + DO/DOES + NOT + BASE FORM
WILL + BASE FORM
If you don't go to the party,
I'll stay home.
IF + DO/DOES + NOT + BASE FORM
WILL + NOT + BASE FORM
If you don't go to the party,
I won't go either.
IF + SIMPLE PRESENT
WILL + NOT + BASE FORM
If you go to the party,
I won't stay home.
IF + SIMPLE PRESENT
WILL + BASE FORM
If you go to the party,
I'll go too.
You can use unless instead of if in the conditional clause. Unless is approximately equivalent to if...not.
WILL + BASE FORM
UNLESS + SIMPLE PRESENT
I'll stay home
unless you go to the party.
UNLESS + SIMPLE PRESENT
WILL + BASE FORM
Unless you go to the party,
I'll stay home.
I'll stay home unless you go to the party. = I will stay home if you don't go to t he party. Instead of using unless, we can use provided (that), providing, as long as , so long as, and on condition that.
WILL + BASE FORM
PROVIDED/ETC. + SIMPLE PRESENT
I'll go to the party
provided you go too.
I'll go to the party
providing you go too.
I'll go to the party
as long as you go too.
I'll go to the party
so long as you go too.
I'll go to the party
on condition that you go too.
ONLY + WILL + BASE FORM
IF + SIMPLE PRESENT
I will only go to the party
if you go too.
WILL + BASE FORM
ONLY IF + SIMPLE PRESENT
I will go to the party
only if you go too.
We can use only in these conditionals.
A variation of the first conditional is the use of the imperative in the result clause instead of the future.
IF + SIMPLE PRESENT
IMPERATIVE
If you come to the party,
bring some soft drinks.
It is also possible to use modals other than will in the result clause.
IF + SIMPLE PRESENT
MODAL + BASE FORM
If you go to New York,
you should visit the art museums.
If you go to New York,
you must see a Broadway show.
If you go to New York,
I may go with you.
If you go to New York,
I might go with you.
You can also use quasi-modals in the result clause.
IF + SIMPLE PRESENT
QUASI-MODAL + BASE FORM
If you go to New York,
you have to go to a good restaurant.
If you go to New York,
you need to visit Greenwich Village.
In order to express more doubt about the condition in the if -clause, we sometimes use should or happen to.
IF + SHOULD + BASE FORM
WILL + BASE FORM
If I should get the job,
I'll move to Los Angeles.
IF + HAPPEN TO + BASE FORM
WILL + BASE FORM
If I happen to get the job,
I'll move to Los Angeles.
If I should happen to get the job,
I'll move to Los Angeles.
We can also use adverbs such as probably or possibly to modify the verb in the result clause.
IF + SIMPLE PRESENT If I get the job,
WILL + PROBABLY + BASE FORM I'll probably move to Los Angeles.
Second Conditional IF + SIMPLE PAST + , (IF-CLAUSE) If I had the money,
WOULD + BASE FORM (RESULT CLAUSE) I would buy a car.
OR WOULD + BASE FORM (RESULT CLAUSE) I would buy a car
IF + SIMPLE PAST (IF-CLAUSE) if I had the money.
The second conditional is used for hypothetical or contrary-to-fact situations. The if -clause establishes an unreal condition. We are talking about something that does not exist. We use the simple past tense to show that we are speaking about something in the present that is unreal, imaginary, impossible, hypothetical, etc. In the example above, I do not have the money I need to buy a car. The second conditional uses the simple past in the if -clause and would in the result clause. Although would is the most common form in the result clause, could and might are also used. We can begin the sentence with the if -clause or the result clause. If the sentence begins with the if -clause, we use a comma after it (as in this sentence). If the if -clause comes at the end of the sentence, we do not use a comma before it. If I knew the answer, I would tell you. [comma after initial if -clause] I would tell you if I knew the answer. [no comma before final if -clause]
Would indicates certainty. IF + SIMPLE PAST + , (IF-CLAUSE) If I had the money,
WOULD + BASE FORM (RESULT CLAUSE) I would buy a car.
OR WOULD + BASE FORM (RESULT CLAUSE) I would buy a car
IF + SIMPLE PAST (IF-CLAUSE) if I had the money.
Could indicates possibility or ability. IF + SIMPLE PAST + , (IF-CLAUSE) If I had the money,
COULD + BASE FORM (RESULT CLAUSE) I could buy a car.
OR COULD + BASE FORM (RESULT CLAUSE) I could buy a car
IF + SIMPLE PAST (IF-CLAUSE) if I had the money.
Might indicates doubt or uncertainty. IF + SIMPLE PAST + , (IF-CLAUSE) If I had the money,
MIGHT + BASE FORM (RESULT CLAUSE) I might buy a car.
OR MIGHT + BASE FORM (RESULT CLAUSE) I might buy a car
IF + SIMPLE PAST (IF-CLAUSE) if I had the money.
Formal English and Standard American E nglish use were for all persons of the verb be in the if -clause, although was is common in informal speech.
If I were retired, I would go back to college.
Remember: Never use would in the if-clause! We can use could in the if -clause when referring to hypothetical ability. If I could sing well, I would/might try out for American Idol. (I can't sing well.) I would/might try out for American Idol if I could sing well. (I can't sing well.)
Marianne Celce-Murcia and Diane Larsen-Freeman divide these conditionals, which they call "imaginative," into two groups: hypothetical conditionals counterfactual conditionals [contrary to fact]
1
Hypothetical conditionals refer to unlikely but possible events or states. If I had the money, I would buy a car. [Having money is possible.]
Counterfactual conditionals refer to impossible events or states. "If I had the wings of a swallow, I would travel far over the sea." [Having wings is impossible.]
They point out that the if-clause in a hypothetical conditional is not strongly negated (the situation could change) and can therefore 2 be further weakened with should or happen to . If I should have the money, I would buy a car. If I happened to have the money, I would buy a car. If I should happen to have the money, I would buy a car.
The if-clause in a counterfactual conditional is, however, strongly negated (the situation cannot change because we are dealing with 3 an impossibility). Thus we cannot further weaken the conditional with should or happen to .
1, 2, 3
Marianne Celce-Murcia and Diane Larsen-Freeman, The Grammar Book , 2nd ed., p. 551
