Conditionals 1

• 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):

This form is used for: 

- 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)

In this conditional, you can replace the word 'if' with 'when' without changing the meaning.

 First conditional (erg waarschijnlijk, bijna 100% waar)

The type 1 conditional is used to refer to:

- 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) 

The type 2 conditional is used to refer to:

- 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 didnt study hard, so you failed)

Extra exercise: fill in the right tense

1. If you give him a hand he …( thank)  you. 
2. If I … (be) you, I would call home. 
3. If he … (find) out the truth sooner, he would have reported you to the police himself. 
4. If she lived in Amsterdam she … (go) to the Albert Cuyp every week. 
5. If you mix blue and yellow you … (get) green. 
6. If they take the 8 o’clock train in Amersfoort they … (arrive) in time for the meeting. 
7. If she had not forgotten her purse she … ( buy) a new winter coat. 
8. If you … (heat) up water to 100 degrees Celsius it …(boil). 
9. If he won the lottery, he … (move) to a tropical island. 
10. If the boys behave better, their parents … (allow) them to stay home alone. 

Answers

1. If you give him a hand he will thank…( thank)  you. 
2. If I were… (be) you, I would call home. 
3. If he had found… (find) out the truth sooner, he would have reported you to the police himself. 
4. If she lived in Amsterdam she would go… (go) to the Albert Cuyp every week. 
5. If you mix blue and yellow you …get (get) green. 
6. If they take the 8 o’clock train in Amersfoort they …will arrive (arrive) in time for the meeting. 
7. If she had not forgotten her purse she would have bought… ( buy) a new winter coat. 
8. If you heat up water to 100 degrees Celsius it …boils(boil). 
9. If he won the lottery, he …would move (move) to a tropical island. 
10. If the boys behave better, their parents …will allow (allow) them to stay home alone. 

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