English Conditionals
There are several structures in English that are called conditionals.
"Condition" means "situation or circumstance". If a particular condition is true, then a particular result happens.
- If y = 10 then 2y = 20
- If y = 3 then 2y = 6
There are three basic conditionals that we use very often. There are some more conditionals that we do not use so often.
In this lesson, we will look at the three basic conditionals as well as the so-called zero conditional. We'll finish with a quiz to check your understanding.
Zero Conditional: certainty
We use the so-called
zero conditional when the result of the condition is always true, like a scientific fact.
Take some ice. Put it in a saucepan. Heat the saucepan. What happens? The ice melts (it becomes water). You would be surprised if it did not.
| IF | condition | result |
| present simple | present simple |
| If | you heat ice | it melts. |
Notice that we are thinking about a result that is always true for this condition. The result of the condition is an absolute
certainty. We are not thinking about the future or the past, or even the present. We are thinking about a simple fact. We use the present simple tense to talk about the condition. We also use the present simple tense to talk about the result. The important thing about the zero conditional is that
the condition always has the same result.
First Conditional: real possibility
We are talking about the future. We are thinking about a particular condition or situation in the future, and the result of this condition. There is a real possibility that this condition will happen. For example, it is morning. You are at home. You plan to play tennis this afternoon. But there are some clouds in the sky. Imagine that it rains. What will you do?
| IF | condition | result |
| present simple | WILL + base verb |
| If | it rains | I will stay at home. |
Notice that we are thinking about a future condition. It is not raining yet. But the sky is cloudy and you think that it could rain. We use the present simple tense to talk about the possible future condition. We use WILL + base verb to talk about the possible future result. The important thing about the first conditional is that
there is a real possibility that the condition will happen. Here are some more examples (do you remember the two basic structures: [IF condition result] and [result IF condition]?):
| IF | condition | result |
| present simple | WILL + base verb |
| If | I see Mary | I will tell her. |
| If | Tara is free tomorrow | he will invite her. |
| If | they do not pass their exam | their teacher will be sad. |
| If | it rains tomorrow | will you stay at home? |
| If | it rains tomorrow | what will you do? |
| result | IF | condition |
| WILL + base verb | | present simple |
| I will tell Mary | if | I see her. |
| He will invite Tara | if | she is free tomorrow. |
| Their teacher will be sad | if | they do not pass their exam. |
| Will you stay at home | if | it rains tomorrow? |
| What will you do | if | it rains tomorrow? |
Second Conditional: unreal possibility or dream
The
second conditional is like the first conditional. We are still thinking about the future. We are thinking about a particular condition in the future, and the result of this condition. But there is
not a real possibility that this condition will happen. For example, you do
not have a lottery ticket. Is it possible to win? No! No lottery ticket, no win! But maybe you will buy a lottery ticket in the future. So you can think about winning in the future, like a dream. It's not very real, but it's still possible.
| IF | condition | result |
| past simple | WOULD + base verb |
| If | I won the lottery | I would buy a car. |
Notice that we are thinking about a future condition. We use the past simple tense to talk about the future condition. We use WOULD + base verb to talk about the future result. The important thing about the second conditional is that
there is an unreal possibility that the condition will happen.
Here are some more examples:
| IF | condition | result |
| past simple | WOULD + base verb |
| If | I married Mary | I would be happy. |
| If | Ram became rich | she would marry him. |
| If | it snowed next July | would you be surprised? |
| If | it snowed next July | what would you do? |
| result | IF | condition |
| WOULD + base verb | | past simple |
| I would be happy | if | I married Mary. |
| She would marry Ram | if | he became rich. |
| Would you be surprised | if | it snowed next July? |
| What would you do | if | it snowed next July? |
Second Conditional: unreal possibility or dream
The
second conditional is like the first conditional. We are still thinking about the future. We are thinking about a particular condition in the future, and the result of this condition. But there is
not a real possibility that this condition will happen. For example, you do
not have a lottery ticket. Is it possible to win? No! No lottery ticket, no win! But maybe you will buy a lottery ticket in the future. So you can think about winning in the future, like a dream. It's not very real, but it's still possible.
| IF | condition | result |
| | past simple | WOULD + base verb |
| If | I won the lottery | I would buy a car. |
Notice that we are thinking about a future condition. We use the past simple tense to talk about the future condition. We use WOULD + base verb to talk about the future result. The important thing about the second conditional is that
there is an unreal possibility that the condition will happen.
Here are some more examples:
| IF | condition | result |
| | past simple | WOULD + base verb |
| If | I married Mary | I would be happy. |
| If | Ram became rich | she would marry him. |
| If | it snowed next July | would you be surprised? |
| If | it snowed next July | what would you do? |
| result | IF | condition |
| WOULD + base verb | | past simple |
| I would be happy | if | I married Mary. |
| She would marry Ram | if | he became rich. |
| Would you be surprised | if | it snowed next July? |
| What would you do | if | it snowed next July? |
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario