UNIT 28

GRAMMAR

Conditional 1 (zero, first, second)

INTRODUCTION TO CONDITIONAL

Some sentences with the word ‘if’ are called conditional sentences.

With every conditional sentence, there are two parts: a situation and the result of that

situation. It is the situation that starts with ‘if’.

There are different types of conditional sentence, depending on what the situation is.

Helpful hints



When we start the sentence with ‘if’, we separate the situation and the result with a

comma.



If you join a gym, I’ll join too.



When we start the sentence with the result, we don’t use a comma.



I’ll join too if you join a gym.

ZERO CONDITIONAL

if + present simple, present simple

Use

Example

General or scientific

facts

If people eat too much, they often get fat.

FIRST CONDITIONAL

if + present simple, will + bare infinitive

Use

Example

Real

of

likely

situations

in

the

present

or

future

and their results

If you take these pills, you’ll start to feel better very soon.

Helpful hints



We can also use other modals instead of ‘will’, depending on the meaning.



If you get some rest, you might feel better tomorrow.



We can also use an imperative instead of ‘will’ to give instructions



If you don’t feel well, go home!

SECOND CONDITIONAL

if + past simple, would + bare infinitive

Use

Example

Impossible

or

unlikely situations in

If my legs were longer, I would be a much faster runner!