Conditionals 0-4

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

Conditionals

Conditionals = if-zinnen

A conditional sentence exists of 2 parts: 

If it rains tomorrow, I will stay at home

• the condition (voorwaarde/actie): If it rains tomorrow
• the result (resultaat/gevolg): I will stay at home.

There are 4 different ways to construct conditional sentences in English. We will look at all of them.

Zero conditional (100% waar):

• facts /  real (factual) situations in the present
• commands / the imperative form

How to make:  use a present simple in both parts

If water freezes, it becomes ice.

If you want to be better at English, pay attention (imperative)

You can replace the word 'if' with 'when' without changing the meaning.

 First conditional (erg waarschijnlijk, bijna 100% waar)

• the present or future where a situation is real
• a possible condition and its likely result

How to make: use a present simple in the if-clause

and the future simple in the main clause.

Future simple: will +  infinitive (full verb)

If you are late, she will be very angry.

Second conditional (onwaarschijnlijk, 

maar niet onmogelijk) 

- a hypothetical condition and its probable result (aka: 

its unlikely to happen, but not impossible)

How to make: use a past simple in the if-clause

and would + infinitive in the main clause.

If I learned to play the guitar, I would be  rock star.

If I were famous, I would post on Instagram every day!

In the if-clause, were is often used instead of was

Third conditional 

(onwaar, niet meer te veranderen)

The type 3 conditional is used to refer to:

- a time in the past and a situation that is the opposite

of the present.

- an unreal past condition and its probable result  

How to make: use a past perfect in the if-clause

and would/could/should have + past participle in 

the main clause

If you had studied harder, you would have passed the exam.

(but you didn't study hard, so you failed)

If + past simple,
… would + infinitive is used when

1. something is always true
2. something becomes true when the condition is met
3. something is not true in the present
4. something was not true in the past

If + present simple, … present simple is used when

1. something is always true
2. something becomes true when the condition is met
3. something is not true in the present
4. something is not true in the past

If + past perfect, … would have + past participle

1. something is always true
2. something becomes true when the condition is met
3. something is not true in the present
4. something is not true in the past

If + present simple, … will + infinitive is used when

1. something is always true
2. something becomes true when the condition is met
3. something is not true in the present
4. something is not true in the past

If you lend him a hand he …( thank) you.

1. thanks
2. would thank
3. will thank
4. would have thanked

If I … (be) you, I would call home.

1. were
2. was
3. would be
4. had been

If he … (find) out sooner, he would have reported you to the police himself.

1. found
2. finds
3. had found
4. will find

If she lived in Amsterdam she … (go) to the Albert Cuyp every week.

1. went
2. would go
3. will go
4. would have gone

If you mix blue and yellow you … (get) green.

1. would get
2. will get
3. get
4. would have gotten

If they take the 8 o’clock train in Amersfoort they … (arrive) in time for the meeting.

1. would arrive
2. arrive
3. will arrive
4. would have arrived

If she had not forgotten her purse she … ( buy) a new winter coat.

1. bought
2. had bought
3. would buy
4. would have bought

If you … (heat) up water to 100 degrees Celsius it …(boil).

1. heat, boils
2. heat, will boil
3. would heat up, boiled
4. will heat, will boil

If he won the lottery, he … (move) to a tropical island.

1. moved
2. will move
3. would have moved
4. would move

If the boys behave better, their parents … (allow) them to stay home alone.

1. would allow
2. will allow
3. won't allow
4. allow

Practise conditionals by yourself

Do exercises 11 - 14 to practise the Conditionals.

Questions? Read page 7 or ask your teacher.

Finished all? 

Study irregular verbs or read about Letter of Application.

Tomorrow

Listening test practice: the video-part 
(remember you can practise the audio-part at home)

&

Writing a letter of application.

First lesson after spring break: listening test (for real!).