Conditional Flashcards
What describe conditionals?
Conditionals describe the result of a certain condition. The if clause tells you the condition (If you study hard) and the main clause tells you the result (you will pass your exams). The order of the clauses does not change the meaning.
If you study hard, you will pass your exams.
You will pass your exams if you study hard.
Conditional sentences are often divided into different types
When do we use the zero conditional?
We use the zero conditional to talk about things that are generally true, especially for laws and rules.
If I drink too much coffee, I can’t sleep at night.
When one things always follows automatically from another.
- If you heat water, it boils.*
- If Daniel has any money , he spends it.*
How is the structure of the zero conditional?
The structure is:
if/when/whenever + present simple >> present simple
Ice melts if you heat it.
When the sun goes down, it gets dark.
What kind of conditional is the above sentence?
Zero conditional
How is the zero conditional formed?
If/when + present simple >> present simple.
Ice melts, if you heat it.
If/when + present continuous (are doing) >> present simple
If we are expecting visitors, the flat will need a good clean.
If/when + present perfect (have done) >> present simple
If you’ve finished with the computer, I’ll put it away.
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When do we use the first conditional?
We use the first conditional when we talk about future situations we believe are real or possible.
If it doesn’t rain tomorrow, we’ll go to the beach.
How is the structure of the first conditional?
if/when + present simple >> will + infinitive.
Arsenal will be top of the league if they win.
When I finish work, I’ll call you.
In which time is the verb in the if-clause when we use the first conditional?
present simple (not the future).
If we hurry, we will catch the bus.
Can we use will in the if-clause in the first conditional?
Yes, when we make a request.
If you’ll just wait a moment, I’ll find someone to help you. (= Please wait a moment).
First conditional: Which four other structures can we use instead of if?
as soon as: I’ll leave as soon as the babysitter arrives.
unless: I don’t want to stay in London unless I get a well-paid job.
in case: I’ll give you a key in case I’m not at home.
as long as: You can go to the party, as long as you’re back by midnight.
First conditional: Is it possible to use the main clause before the if-clause?
Yes, but is more common to use the if-clause before the main-clause.
I will phone you if I hear any news.
Explain all the conditionals (6).
Use the correct conditional and complete the gaps.
If people …. too much, they get …. (eat/fat)
If you …. a fire, you get ….. (burn, touch)
If people eat too much, they get fat.
If you touch a fire, you get burned.
Zero conditional: This conditional is used when the result will always happen.
Use the correct conditional and complete the gaps.
Snakes … if they are … (scare/bite)
If babies …. hungry, they … (cry/hungry)
Snakes bite if they are scared
If babies are hungry, they cry
Zero conditional: This conditional is used when the result will always happen.
Use the correct conditional and complete the gaps.
People …. if they don’t … (die, eat)
You …. water if you ….. hydrogen and oxygen. (mix, get)
People die if they don’t eat.
You get water if you mix hydrogen and oxygen.
Zero conditional: This conditional is used when the result will always happen.
Use the correct conditional and complete the gaps.
She……. the bus if she doesn’t ….. soon.
If I …. her, I…. her.
(tell, miss, see, leave)
First conditional: It’s used to talk about things which might happen in the future. Of course, we can’t know what will happen in the future, but this describes possible things, which could easily come true.
She’ll miss the bus if she doesn’t leave soon.
If I see her, I’ll tell her.
Use the correct conditional and complete the gaps.
If it …., I …. to the park. (rains, go)
If I …. today, I’……. to the party tonight. (go, study)
First conditional: It’s used to talk about things which might happen in the future. Of course, we can’t know what will happen in the future, but this describes possible things, which could easily come true.
If it rains, I won’t go to the park.
If I study today, I’ll go to the party tonight.
Use the correct conditional and complete the gaps.
If it …., I …. to the park. (rains, go)
If I …. today, I’……. to the party tonight. (go, study)
First conditional: It’s used to talk about things which might happen in the future. Of course, we can’t know what will happen in the future, but this describes possible things, which could easily come true.
If it rains, I won’t go to the park.
If I study today, I’ll go to the party tonight.
What describes the second conditional?
Hypothetical conditions in the present or future and their hypothetical results in the present or future.
How is the second conditional formed?
If + past simple/past continuous, would + bare infinitive.
What would the local government do if there was an earthquake in the area?
Second conditional: Can we use would in the if-clause?
Yes, when we make a request.
If you’d like to come this way, the doctor will see you soon.
Second conditional: Can other words be uses in the main clause, except from would?
Could or might
If we had a calculator, we could work this out a lot quicker.
If Rachel worked harder, she might do even better at her studies.
If I …… his number, I ….. l him. (I don’t have his number now, so it’s impossible for me to call him).
If I ….. you, I ……. out with that man. (go)
If I had his number, I would call him. (I don’t have his number now, so it’s impossible for me to call him).
If I were you, I wouldn’t go out with that man.
Second, we can use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible, because it’s not true.
My car is out of order. I won’t drive you there.
If my car wasn’t out of order, I would drive you there.
I don’t know his address. I can’t contact him.
If I knew his address, I could contact him.
We don’t have enough room in our house. You can’t stay with us.
If we had enough room in our house, you could stay with us.
You’ll manage it. Don’t panic.
You would manage it if you didn’t panic.
I go to bed early because I work so hard.
I wouldn’t go to bed early if I didn’t work so hard.
I wouldn’t go there ………………………………………………. . be | I | if | you
I wouldn’t go there if I were you.
……………………………………………………………………., we’d catch an express train. to Paris | have | suppose | to travel | we
Suppose we had to travel to Paris, we’d catch an express train.
……………………………………………………………. if you didn’t commit it? a crime | you | to | admit
Would you admit to a crime if you didn’t commit it?
We wouldn’t mind your marriage ………………………………………………………………………………………… . get married | in church | you | on condition that
We wouldn’t mind your marriage on condition that you got married in church.
What would you do ……………………………………………………………………………………? back | he | the money | not give you | if
What would you do if he didn’t give you the money back?
If the temperature ………………………………………………………… . (ice | zero | below | be | turn | into | water)
If the temperature is below zero, water turns into ice.
If …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. (evaporate | you | water | heat | it)
If you heat water, it evaporates.
Plants ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. (if | die | them | not water | you)
Plant die if you don’t water them.
First
I’ll play with you ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. help | housework | you | as long as | me | the | with
I’ll play with you as long as you help me with the housework.
First
Will you tell me, ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………? (go | out | if | you)
Will you tell me, if you go out?
First
I’ll take my credit card ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. (of | out | in case | run | I | cash)
Your purse will get stolen ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. (careful | you | unless | be)
I’ll take my credit card in case I run out of cash.
Your purse will get stolen unless you are carefull.
Unless
Conditional clauses can begin with unless. Unless means something similar to ‘if … not’ or ‘except if’.
The verb forms in the examples are similar to sentences with if: we use the present simple in the unless-clause and shall, should, will, would, can, could, may or might in the main clause:
Unless I phone you, you can assume the train’s on time. (If I do not phone you /except if I phone you, you can assume the train is on time.)
We’ll have to cancel the show unless we sell more tickets at the last minute. (We’ll have to cancel the show if we do not sell more tickets/except if we sell more tickets at the last minute.
When do we not use unless?
We don’t use unless for impossible conditions:
If the government had not raised food prices, there would not have been so many protests.
Not: Unless the government had raised food prices …
Rewrite with unless:
We’ll go for a picnic by the river tomorrow if it doesn’t rain.
Unless [SC]it rains, [MC]we’ll go for a picnic by the river tomorrow.
We use the conjunction unless to mean ‘except if’.
The won’t come unless you invite them.
Rewrite with unless:
We could eat at Siam Smile if they’re not closed on a Monday.
We could eat at Siam Smile unless they’re closed on a Monday.
Unless and if … not both mean ‘except if’:
Rewrite with unless: I’ll make dinner if nobody else wants to.
I’ll make dinner unless somebody else wants to.
Rewrite with unless:
Can you turn the radio off if you’re not listening to it?
Can you turn the radio off unless you’re listening to it? (or Can you turn the radio off if you’re notlistening to it?)
What is the meaning when we use unless in SPEAKING?
In speaking, we use unless to introduce an extra thought or piece of information:
He didn’t even know about the crash – unless he’d heard about it on the radio.
A: Oh look. Neil next door’s got a new car.
B: Unless they’ve got a visitor.
