Conditionals Flashcards
Teoría de los tipos de condicionales
Conditional sentences are usually grouped into four main
types.
• The zero conditional is used to talk about common states or events
(form = if/when + present simple + present simple).
If she knows you well, she is more talkative.
We say hello when we see each other in the street.
• The first conditional is used to talk about possible
future states or events
(form = if/when + present simple/continuous + will / be going to).
If you go away to study, you’ll meet a lot of new people.
I’m going to start without him if he doesn’t come soon.
• The second conditional is used to talk about unlikely or
imaginary states or events in the present or future
(form = if + past simple/continuous + would/ could/ should/ might).
If she spoke Spanish, she could apply for the job in Madrid.)
They would leave their jobs and travel the world if they had the money.
With be, the second conditional uses were instead of was in formal contexts.
If I were/was good at languages, I’d learn Japanese.
• The third conditional is used to talk about imaginary states or events in the past
(form = if + past perfect + would/could/should/might + have + past participle).
If we had studied other cultures at school, we might have
been more confident about traveling.
If you had arrived in Japan three months ago, you would
have seen the cherry blossom.
• Notice that when the if clause is first in the sentence, it is
followed by a comma. There is no comma when the main
clause comes first.
If you… (not leave) the map at home, we …(not wander) around this forest right now, looking for somewhere to spend the night.
hadn´t left
wouldn´t be wandering
Innsbruck is a lovely city and if I … (not rush) to catch a train just now, I …(be) happy to show you around a bit.
wasn’t/weren’t rushing
would/’d be
Kamal always thinks he knows best, and if he … (not be) such an obstinate man, we … (probably reach) the hotel by now instead of being stuck in this traffic jam.
wasn’t/weren’t
would/’d probably have reached/ probably would have reached
‘What do you do when you fall ill on holiday?’
‘Well, it hasn’t happened to me yet, but I guess I … (try) to find a local doctor who spoke some English. If I … (be)
seriously ill, I …(have) to get help
from the consulate.’
would/’d try
were/was
would/’d have
If I …(be) you, I … (carry) my money in a money belt.
were
would/’d carry
It was your own fault. The accident … (not happen) if you … (concentrate) properly at the time.
wouldn’t have happened
had been concentrating
Karen is an intrepid traveller and I don’t imagine she …
(ever abandon) a journey unless
she … (travel) somewhere really
unpleasant or dangerous.
would ever abandon
was travelling
If you … (like) to come with me, I … (show) you to your room.
would/’d like
will/’ll show
As long as I know you’ll support me, I won’t worry
about money.
COUNT
Provided I ……………. support me, I won’t worry about money.
can count on you to
I don’t think we’ll miss the train if we leave home on time.
LONG
We should manage to catch the train…………….. off from home on time.
as/so long as we set
Martin is only working late tonight because he has to
finish an urgent job.
UNLESS
Martin would not…………….. he had to finish an urgent job.
be working late tonight unless
Ellie was given a trophy by her school because she had
worked so hard.
PRESENTED
Ellie’s school…………………… a trophy if she had not worked so hard.
would not / wouldn’t have presented her with
Could you please cancel my appointment?
GRATEFUL
I …………..cancel my appointment.
would/’d be grateful if you would / you’ d / you
could
If it had not been for some unexpected difficulties, we
would not be feeling so stressed.
COME
If some unexpected difficulties …………………, we would not be feeling so stressed.
had not / hadn’t come up
