Conditional sentences in English

grammar
Introduction

If it rains, I will take an umbrella

A conditional sentence has 2 parts:

1) A condition (a situation or circumstance)

2) A result or consequence

If the condition is true, then result will happen

 Basic Structure

There are 2 possible basic structures:

if + condition + result
• If the shop is open, I will buy a shirt

(We write a comma after the condition)

result + If + condition
• I will buy a shirt if the shop is open
(We do NOT write a comma)
 Types of conditionals

Zero conditional
To describe facts and things that are always true.
“If you heat ice cream, it melts”
First conditional
To describe a real possibility in the future
“If he passes his English exam, Andrew will be pleased”
Second conditional
To describe an improbable event in the future
“If I won the lottery, I would buy a house”
Third conditional
To describe an event from the past that did NOT happen
“If I had won the lottery, I would have bought a house”
Zero conditional - English
grammar lesson
If you heat ice cream, it melts
condition result

Ice cream always melts when you heat it.

It is a fact.

Zero conditional sentences describe facts or things very likely to

happen.
The result is certain
The condition always has the same result
 Form
If + condition + result
• If you heat ice cream, it melts
• If you drink too much wine, you feel sick

(There is a comma after the condition)

result + If + condition
• Ice cream melts if you heat it
• you feel sick if you drink too much wine

(We do NOT comma)

 Verb tenses
• If you heat ice cream, it melts
• If you drink too much wine, you feel sick

Question: What tenses are the verbs in these examples?

Answer: The present simple
The present simple describes facts

For regular events from the past, we use the past simple:
• If I was naughty, my parents punished me
• If the weather was fine, we ate breakfast outside
 “When” can replace “if”
“When” often replaces “if” for zero conditional sentences:

We can use “when” because the result always happens when the
condition is true

• If you heat ice cream, it melts

• when you heat ice cream, it melts

• You feel sick if you drink too much wine

• You feel sick when you drink too much wine
First conditional - English
grammar lesson
• First conditional sentences describe real future events that are very
posible.

• Andrew: “I’m going to a party in London tonight”

• Mark: “Hurry up, the bus leaves soon”
• Andrew: “If I miss the bus, I’ll take the train”
condition result

The first conditional describes a specific future event

We are NOT describing a fact or regular action

• First conditional - Form

If + condition + result
If I’m late, I’ll call you

(There is a comma after the condition)

result + if + condition

I’ll call you if I’m late

(We do NOT use a comma)

 Verb tenses
Question: What tenses are the verbs in these examples?
If I miss the bus, I will take the train.
If I’m late, I’ll call you
Although the form of
the condition
The condition takes the present simple is the present simple,
the meaning is
The result takes the future simple the future

The condition does NOT take the future simple form:

If I will miss the bus, I will take the train x
 Present simple + “going to”

For the result, we can also use “going to” + base form of the verb

If I see her, I’m going to invite her to the party

If you don’t study, you’re going to fail the exam

“going to” is slightly stronger than the future simple

“going to” describes a strong intention or plan for the future
 Present simple + modal
For the result, we can also use certain modals:
If you do your homework, you may watch televisión
We use “may” in the first conditional to give permission in the future
“may” is quite formal

If you eat your vegetable, you can play in the garden

We also use “can” in the first conditional to give permission in the future
“can” is more informal and more common in standard English

If you feel ill, you should rest We use “should” in the first
conditional to give advice
in the future
We use “should” to say what is the correct thing to do
 First conditional vs zero conditional
What is the different in meaning between these 2 sentences?

If you drink too much soda, you get fat (Zero conditional)
present simple
We are talking in general
“you” is general in meaning
We are discussing what happens to everyone if they drink too much soda. It is a fact

If you drink too much soda, you’ll get fat (First conditional)
future simple

We are talking in a real specific situation

“you” is specific in meaning
We are telling a specific person what will happen if they drink too much soda
Second conditional - English
grammar lesson
 Introduction
The second conditional describes an imaginary, impossible or unlikely
situation in the present or future.

If I had a lot of money, I would buy an expensive car

condition result

In reality, I do not have a lot of money

But I use the second conditional to imagine having a lot of money
The situtation is hypothetical. It is not real
 Form
If + condition + result
• If he knew her telephone number, he would call her

(There is a comma after the condition)

result + if + condition
• he would call her if he knew her telephone number
(We do NOT use a comma)

In the present, he does not know her telephone number

It is impossible for him to call her
By using the second conditional, we are describing a hypothetical situation
 Verb tense of the condition

Question: What tense are the verbs in these conditions?

If I had a lot of money, I would buy an expensive car

If he knew her telephone number, he would call her

Answer: The past simple

The past tense is indicating a distance from reality. It is not indicating

past time
 The verb “to be” – A special case

The verb “to be” as a main verb in the condition:

The tense is the past simple, subjunctive mood:

past simple, subjunctive mood past simple, subjunctive mood

I was I were
You were You were
He was/she was/it was he were/she were/it were
We were we were
You were you were
They were they were
 The verb “to be” – A special case

If I were you, I would go to London ✓

If I was you, I would go to London X

If he were rich, he would buy an expensive car ✓

If he was rich, he would buy an expensive car X
 More information about “would”

The structure of the result is:

Subject + “would” + base form of verb

If I had lots of money, I would go to London

Full form Contracted form

I would go I’d go
You would go you’d go
He would go/she would go/it would go he’d go/she’d go/it’d go
We would go we’d go
You would go you’d go
They would go they’d go
 Second conditional vs first conditional

If I became President, I would reduce taxes.

(second conditional)

This situation is imaginary, unlikely or impossible.

It is hypothetical.
The speaker is perhaps a young student, dreaming about the future.
___________________________________________
If I became President, I will reduce taxes
(first conditional)

This situation is more real. It is a realistic promise.

The speaker is perhaps a real candidate for the election
________________________________________________________
The different in meaning is not the time
“If I become” and “If I became” both refer to the present or future
 Modals in the second conditional

For the result, we can also use certain modals

If you play tennis together, he would win

(It is unlikely you will play tennis together)
(But I am certain that he would win)

If you play tennis together, he might win

(It is unlikely you will play tennis together)
(I am not certain that he would win. Maybe, he would win)
 Modals in the second conditional

For the result, we can also use certain modals

If you play tennis together, he could win

(It is unlikely you will play tennis together)
(He would be able to win. He would have the ability to win)
Third conditional – Unreal
conditional in the past
 Introduction
The third conditional describes hypothetical situations in the past
We are imaginning the result of something that did not happen
We are imaginning a different past

Example:
(Yesterday, you played the lottery. But you did not win)
(Today, we are thinking about it):

If I had won the lottery, I would have bought a house

In reality, I did NOT buy a house

I did not buy a house because I did NOT win the lottery
The condition is impossible because it’s in the past. We cannot change the past.
I use the third conditional to imagine a different past
 Form
If + condition + result
If I had seen Jane, I would have invited her to the concert

(There is a comma after the condition)

result + If + condition
I would have invited Jane to the concert if I had seen her

(We do NOT use a comma)

In reality, I did NOT see Jane. Therefore I did NOT invite her to the concert
By using the third conditional, we are imagining a different past.
 Verb tenses of the condition

Question: What tense are the verbs in these conditions?

• If I had won the lottery, I would have bought a house
• If I had seen Jane, I would have invited her to the concert

Answer: The past perfect

If + subject + past perfect

 Structure of the result: “would have” + past participle

The structure of the result is:

Subject + “would have” + past participle
If he had studied for the exam, he would have passed

Full form Contracted form

I would have passed I’d have passed

You would have passed You’d have passed
He/she/it would have passed He’d/she’d/it’d have passed
We would have passed We’d have passed
You would have passed You’d have passed
They would have passed They’d have passed
 Third conditional vs second conditional

If I had won the lottery, I would have bought a boat

(third conditional)

We are imagining a different past

It is a hypothetical situation in the past
The condition is impossible because it didn’t happen and it’s in the past.
We cannot change the past!
___________________________________________
If I won the lottery, I would buy a boat
(second conditional)

We are describing an unlikely situation in the present or future

It is a hypothetical situation in the present or future
The condition is not impossible, but it is very unlikely
 Modals in the third conditional

For the result, we can also use certain modals:

If she had gone to university, she would have become a doctor

(If she had gone to university, it is certain that she would have become a doctor)

If she had gone to university, she might have become a doctor

(If she had gone to university, it is not certain that she would have become a doctor)
(Maybe, she would have become a doctor)

If she had gone to university, she could have become a doctor

(If she had gone to university, she would have been able to become a doctor.
She would have had the ability to become a doctor.)
 Summary

Formulation

Conditional 0 (zero): If + Present simple Present simple

Conditional 1 (First Conditional): If + Present simple Future simple (will do)

Conditional 2 (Second Conditional): If + Past simple would do

Conditional 3 (Third conditional): If + Past simple (had done) would have done
 Examples – Conditional 1

• If Caroline and Sue prepare the salad, Phil will decorate the house.
• If Sue cuts the onions for the salad, Caroline will peel the mushrooms.
• Jane will hoover the sitting room if Aaron and Tim move the furniture.
• If Bob tidies up the kitchen, Anita will clean the toilet.
• Elaine will buy the drinks if somebody helps her carry the bottles.
• If Alan and Rebecca organise the food, Mary and Conor will make the sandwiches.
• If Bob looks after the barbecue, Sue will let the guests in.
• Frank will play the DJ if the others bring along their CDs.
• Alan will mix the drinks if Jane gives him some of her cocktail recipes.
• If they all do their best, the party will be great.
 Examples – Conditional 1

• If you send this letter now, she will receive it tomorrow.

• If I do this test, I will improve my English.
• If I find your ring, I will give it back to you.
• Peggy will go shopping if she has time in the afternoon.
• Simon will go to London next week if he gets a cheap flight.
• If her boyfriend doesn't phone today, she will leave him.
• If they don't study harder, they will not pass the exam.
• If it rains tomorrow, I will not have to water the plants.
• You will not be able to sleep if you watch this scary film.
• Susan cannot move into the new house if it is not ready on time.
 Examples (1) – Conditional 2

• If I played the lottery, I would have a chance to hit the jackpot.

• If I hit the jackpot, I would be rich.
• If I were rich, my life would change completely.
• I would buy a lonely island if I found a nice one.
• If I owned a lonely island, I would build a huge house by the beach.
• I would invite all my friends if I had a house by the beach.
• I would pick my friends up in my yacht if they wanted to spend their holidays on my island.
• We would have great parties if my friends came to my island.
• If we liked to go shopping in a big city, we would charter a helicopter.
• But if my friends' holidays were over, I would feel very lonely on my lonely island.
 Examples (2) – Conditional 2

• If we had a yacht, we would sail the seven seas.

• If he had more time, he would learn karate.
• If they told their father, he would be very angry.
• She would spend a year in the USA if it were easier to get a green card.
• If I lived on a lonely island, I would run around naked all day.
• We would help you if we knew how.
• My brother would buy a sports car if he had the money.
• If I felt better, I would go to the cinema with you.
• If you went by bike more often, you wouldn't be so flabby.
• She wouldn't talk to you if she were mad at you.
 Examples (1) – Conditional 3

• If the midfielders had passed the ball more exactly, our team would have had more chances to
attack.
• If the forwards had run faster, they would have scored more goals.
• Their motivation would have improved if they had kicked a goal during the first half.
• The fullbacks would have prevented one or the other goal if they had marked their opponents.
• If the goalie had jumped up, he would have caught the ball.
• If the referee had seen the foul, he would have awarded a penalty kick to our team.
• Our team would have been in better form if they had trained harder the weeks before.
• The game would have become better if the trainer had sent a substitute in during the second half.
• If it had been a home game, our team would have won the match.
• If our team had won the match, they would have moved up in the league.
 Examples (2) – Conditional 3

• If you had studied for the test, you would have passed it.
• If you had asked me, I would have helped you.
• If we had gone to the cinema, we would have seen my friend Jacob.
• If you had spoken English, she would have understood.
• If they had listened to me, we would have been home earlier.
• I would have written you a postcard if I had had your address.
• If I hadn't broken my leg, I would have taken part in the contest.
• If it hadn't started to rain, we would have walked to the museum.
• We would have swum in the sea if there hadn't been so many sharks there.
• If she had taken the bus, she would not have arrived on time.
Linking Words of Cause &
Effect
We can divide the most common linking words and expressions of cause & effect into four
groups:

1. Coordinating conjunctions: for (cause), so (effect)

2. Subordinating conjunctions: because, since, as (cause)
3. Conjunctive adverbs: therefore, consequently (effect)
4. Prepositions: because of, due to (cause)
 Coordinating conjunctions: for, so
A coordinating conjunction comes between two main (independent) clauses.
In written English, you must put a comma before the conjunction

A great number of people purchase it, for it is reasonably priced

The conjunction “for” is formal and only appropiate in formal written English

It’s reasonably priced, so everyone buys it

“so” is the most common conjunction to express an effect in spoken English; however, it is not
appropiate in written or formal English
 Subordinating conjunctions: because, since, as
These conjunctions join a main (independent) clause and a subordinate (dependent) clause to each
other.

Everyone buys it because/as/since it’s reasonably priced

In written English, if you start with the subordinate clause, you must separate the two clauses with a
comma:

Because/As/Since it’s reasonably priced, everyone buys it

“as” and “since” are more formal tha “because”; however all three can be used for both speaking and
writing.
 Conjunctive adverbs: therefore, consequently
Conjunctive adverbs join two main clauses to each other.

In written English, you can separate the two clauses either with a semi-colon or with a full-stop. Full-stop is better when the
subordinate clause is long. Make sure you put a comma after the adverb:

It is reasonably priced; therefore, a great number of people purchase it.

It is reasonably priced and offers exceptional quality as well.

Consequently, a great number of people purchase it.

“therefore” and “consequently” are formal and appropiate in formal situations and written English.

Note. Conjunctive adverbs “hence” & “thus”

These two conjunctive adverbs are sometimes used as even more formal synonyms for “therefore”. However, their usage is
restricted to very formal and specific contexts. Although it is important to understand them when you ocassionally come
across them, I would recommended that you do not use them as a synonym for “therefore” yourself.
 Prepositions: because of, due to
These expressions are not conjunctions. They are compound prepositions; therefore, they
need to be followed by a noun or the gerund form of a verb, not by a clause.

Everyone buys it because of/due to it is reasonably priced

Everyone buys it because of/due to its reasonably price
Everyone buys it because of/due to it being reasonably price

“because of” and “due to” are synonyms. “because of” is common in both formal and
informal English. “due to” is more formal and appropiate in formal situations and written
English.
 Prepositions: because of, due to
If you start with a prepositional phrase, you must separate the two clauses with a comma:

Because of its reasonable price, everyone buys it

Due to it being reasonably priced, a great number of people purshase it

 Prepositions: because of, due to
Notice that when the subjects of the two clauses are different, you must leave the second
subject before the gerund:

Everyone buys it because it is reasonably priced

Everyone buys it because of it being reasonably priced

It is bought a lot because it is reasonably priced

It is bought a lot because of it being reasonably priced

Note 1. If you prefer to use a clause, you can add the expression “the fact that”:
Everyone buys it because of the fact that it is reasonably priced
 Prepositions: because of, due to
Note 2. other compound prepositions
Other compound prepositions that may be used in formal “cause & effect” sentences are:
“owing to” and “thanks to”. “thanks to” always has a positive connotation.

A potential disaster has been avoided owing to/thanks to the diligence of the technical team
 When to use “a little” and “few” English gramar rules

Describing a small quantity

There are a few peas There are a few raspberries There are a few peaches

countable nouns

“a few” to describe a small quantity of a countable noun

Describing a small quantity (2)

There is a little pasta There is a little soup There is a little sugar

uncountable nouns

“a little” to describe a small quantity of an uncountable noun

 Exercise
Use “a little” or “a few” to describe the small quantity of these foods:

There are a few lemons 1) There is a little wine 2) There are a few mushrooms

3) There is a little bread 4) What foods are in small quantity in your cupboard?
There is a little rice
 The different between “a few” and “few”
“a few” and “few” are quantifiers
Quantifiers describe the number or quantity of something
The general meaning of “a few” and “few” is: a small number of something

Situation: There are 5 towels in the bathroom

There are a few towels in the barhroom
There are few towels in the barhroom

Both sentences are grammatically correct.

But…

There is an important different in meaning!

 Important difference in meaning
Situation: Mark has 3 friends Jane also has 3 friends

Mark: “I have a few friends”

“a few” means “a small number” but Mark is satisfied with the number
“a few” means “some”
The feeling or opinion is neutral

Jane: “I have few friends”

“few” means “a small number” but Jane is not satisfied with the number
“few” suggests that the small number is not enough
“few” has a negative feeling
“few” suggests that Jane would prefer to have more friends

Both sentences are grammaticallly correct

The big difference is the opinión and feeling
 Examples
Mark: “My manager sent me a few emails yesterday”

Mark received 3 emails yesterday

Mark does not have a negative feeling about receiving 3 emails
The tone is neutral and objective
The meaning is: My manager sent me some emails yesterday

Jane: “My manager sent me few emails yesterday”

Jane also received 3 emails yesterday
“few emails” suggest that Jane was expecting more
The tone is slighty negative
 Examples (2)
Mark and Jane are journalists. They are each writing an article about a football player called
Wayne Rooney

(Situation: Wayne Rooney scored 12 goals last season)

Mark: “Rooney scored a few goals last season”

This sentence is objective and neutral

Jane: “Rooney scored few goals last season”

This sentence suggests that Jane has a negative opinión
Maybe Jane thinks that 12 goals was not enough
 Examples (3)

Sarah: I left school with a few qualifications

This sentence is objective and neutral
Sarah is satisfied with her qualifications

David: I left school with few qualifications

This sentence suggests that David has a negative opinion
“few califications” is emphasising the small number
David is perhaps not satisfied with his qualifications
 Countable and uncountable nouns

We use “a few” and “few” only with countable nouns

I have a few tickets ✓

I have few tickets ✓

We do not use “a few” and “few” with uncountable nouns

I have a few water X
I have few water X
PREPOSITION BY – ENGLISH GRAMMAR
LESSON
 PREPOSITION BY

“by” is a very common in English

“by” is usually a preposition
“by” is also sometimes used as an adverb
 “by” + place

= very near / very close

= beside / at the side of / next to

The house is by a lake I live by the River Thames We live by an airport

 “by” + noun
to describe travel:
train
by + boat
plane
bike
taxi
car

I went to London by train

Jane is going to France by plane
Let’s go by car
 “by” + noun
to describe communication:
phone
by + email
post
fax

Contact us by phone
I will send you the report by fax
Mark received the order by email
 “by” + noun
to describe methods of payment:
by + credit card
cheque

I’d like to pay by credit card

We paid for the car by cheque
 by and the passive

In the passive voice, “by” indicates WHO is doing the action

Active voice:
Jane is cleaning the floor

Passive voice:
The floor is being cleaned by Jane

The dress was made by Sarah

The book was written by my father
 by + reflexive pronoun

myself
yourself
by + himself, herself, itself = to do something alone
ourselves
yourselves
themselves

I visited London by myself

You should go by yourself
Jane is studying by herself
We went to New York by ourselves
Jane and Mark often go travelling by themselves
 by + ING form of verb

by + ING form = how to do something

Mark stays fits by cycling to work

Students can improve their vocabulary by reading

You can turn on the television by pressing that button

 “by” + time expression

= not later than

= before or at a particular time

Please send us the contract by Friday

You must leave the hotel room by 11 am

Please confirm your reservation by tomorrow at 3 pm.