Conditionals 0 - 1 - 2

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

ENGLISH

ZERO CONDITIONAL

FIRST CONDITIONAL

SECOND CONDITIONAL

Page 52

Grammar: Conditionals

Extra info on page 148

CONDITIONALS

WHAT? Conditionals are sentence structures that explain a particular situation or circumstance and its consequences.

If this happens, then that happens.

FORM? If the sentence starts with 

the ‘if clause’, you add a comma 

between the ‘if clause’ and the 

‘main clause’. 

If your freeze water, it turns to ice. 

ZERO CONDITIONAL

USE? We use the zero conditional to talk about things which always happen.

-General facts

-Scientific facts

FORM? If/When + present simple , + present simple

EXAMPLES: If you drop an apple, it falls to the ground.

                         If you freeze water, it turns into ice.

Your turn! 

Complete next sentences with a zero conditional.

If you don't eat food for two days, ........

If you leave a restaurant without paying, ........

Plants die .......

Kids cry .....

ZERO CONDITIONAL

FIRST CONDITIONAL

SECOND CONDITIONAL

If the toy cat starts waving,

1. the cat will attack the toy.
2. the cat will mimic the toy.
3. the cat will run away.
4. the cat will attack its owner.

If the door opens,

1. the dogs will act like nothing happened.
2. the dogs will run away.
3. the dogs will attack each other.
4. the dogs will keep barking to each other.

When the cat sees the dog

1. the cat will jump on top of the dog.
2. the cat will scare the dog away.
3. the cat will run away.
4. the cat will lock the door.

FIRST CONDITIONAL

*If/when the toy cat starts waving, the cat will mimic it. 

*If/when the door opens, the dogs will act like nothing happened.

*If/when the cat sees the dog, the cat will lock the door.

FIRST CONDITIONAL

USE? When we talk about specific present or future situations which we believe are real or possible. 

FORM? If/When +  present simple, +  will + infinitive

EXAMPLES: If it rains tomorrow, we will go to the cinema

                         If Juan leaves, Bella will be very sad. 

RE CAP - CONDITIONALS

USE? We use the zero conditional to talk about things which always happen.

-General facts

-Scientific facts

FORM? If/When + present simple , + present simple

EXAMPLES: If you drop an apple, it falls to the ground.

                         If you freeze water, it turns into ice.

FIRST CONDITIONAL

USE? When we talk about specific present or future situations which we believe are real or possible. 

FORM? If/When +  present simple, +  will + infinitive

EXAMPLES: If it rains tomorrow, we will go to the cinema

                         If Juan leaves, Bella will be very sad. 

ZERO CONDITIONAL

FIRST CONDITIONAL

SECOND CONDITIONAL

SECOND CONDITIONAL

*If I had a million dollars (if I had a million dollars)

I’d buy you a house (I would buy you a house)

*If I had a million dollars (if I had a million dollars)

I’d buy you furniture for your house (maybe a nice chesterfield or an ottoman)

*If I had a million dollars (if I had a million dollars)

I’d buy you a K-Car (a nice Reliant automobile)

*If I had a million dollars I’d buy your love.

SECOND CONDITIONAL

USE? We use the second conditional when we talk about present or future events that are not likely to happen.

FORM? If + past simple, + would + infinitive

EXAMPLES: If I were you, I would tell her.

                         If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.

 

Your turn! 

Complete following sentences with a second conditional.

If I won the lottery, ...

I would be extremely scared ...

I would move to Mars ...

Page 52 - exercise 1

Make the exercise - in pairs or on your own!

Example for no. 1

• 1 C Second conditional - If you went shopping in MCity,

Because.... present or future events that are not likely to happen.

FORM? If + past simple, + would + infinitive

Page 52 - exercise 1

ANSWERS

• 1 C Second conditional - If you went shopping in MCity,
• 2 A  Zero conditional - If the roads are empty,
• 3 D Third  Conditional - If it hadn't been for a decision to build a new hydro-electric power station. 
• 4 B  First conditional - If water levels continue to rise, 
• 5 E Third Conditional with modals - If they had paid more attention to these concerns years ago.

Extra Practice: Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. 

1. If he ....... (need) to talk to somebody, tell him to call me. 

2. We wouldn't have arrived late if there ....... (not be a huge traffic jam)

3. If she ........... (not find out) about the power station, she wouldn't have been upset.

4. I wish I ............ can/save) enough money to rent a flat with my friends.

5. If there  ........ (not be) such amenities, the teens would have nowhere to go. 

Time for a game!

I would buy you a present if you gave me a hug every day.

If you dance in the rain, I will join you.

If it snows, it is very cold.