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    Grammar: Conditionals: Zero Conditional

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    fatima
    Conditionals describe hypothetical situations and their results. There are three main types of conditionals: zero conditionals discuss general truths, first conditionals discuss possible future events, and second conditionals discuss unlikely or impossible scenarios. A third type, mixed conditionals, combine aspects of different tenses to discuss how a past change could impact the present or a present change impact the past. Conditionals use specific verb tense patterns depending on the type.

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    Grammar: Conditionals: Zero Conditional

    Uploaded by

    fatima
    33 views2 pages
    Conditionals describe hypothetical situations and their results. There are three main types of conditionals: zero conditionals discuss general truths, first conditionals discuss possible future events, and second conditionals discuss unlikely or impossible scenarios. A third type, mixed conditionals, combine aspects of different tenses to discuss how a past change could impact the present or a present change impact the past. Conditionals use specific verb tense patterns depending on the type.

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    Conditionals

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    Conditionals

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    Conditionals describe hypothetical situations and their results. There are three main types of conditionals: zero conditionals discuss general truths, first conditionals discuss possible future events, and second conditionals discuss unlikely or impossible scenarios. A third type, mixed conditionals, combine aspects of different tenses to discuss how a past change could impact the present or a present change impact the past. Conditionals use specific verb tense patterns depending on the type.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    33 views2 pages

    Grammar: Conditionals: Zero Conditional

    Uploaded by

    fatima
    Conditionals describe hypothetical situations and their results. There are three main types of conditionals: zero conditionals discuss general truths, first conditionals discuss possible future events, and second conditionals discuss unlikely or impossible scenarios. A third type, mixed conditionals, combine aspects of different tenses to discuss how a past change could impact the present or a present change impact the past. Conditionals use specific verb tense patterns depending on the type.

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    Grammar: Conditionals

    Conditionals describe the result of a certain condition. The if clause tells you the
    condition (If you study hard) and the main clause tells you the result (you will pass
    your exams). The order of the clauses does not change the meaning.

    If you study hard, you will pass your exams.


    You will pass your exams if you study hard.

    Conditional sentences are often divided into different types.

    Zero conditional
    We use the zero conditional to talk about things that are generally true, especially
    for laws and rules.

    If I drink too much coffee, I can't sleep at night.


    Ice melts if you heat it.
    When the sun goes down, it gets dark.

    The structure is: if/when + present simple >> present simple.

    First conditional
    We use the first conditional when we talk about future situations we believe are real
    or possible.

    If it doesn't rain tomorrow, we'll go to the beach.


    Arsenal will be top of the league if they win.
    When I finish work, I'll call you.

    In first conditional sentences, the structure is usually: if/when + present simple


    >> will + infinitive. 

    It is also common to use this structure with unless, as long as, as soon as or in
    case instead of if.

    I'll leave as soon as the babysitter arrives.


    I don't want to stay in London unless I get a well-paid job.
    I'll give you a key in case I'm not at home.
    You can go to the party, as long as you're back by midnight.

    Second conditional
    The second conditional is used to imagine present or future situations that are
    impossible or unlikely in reality.

    If we had a garden, we could have a cat.


    If I won a lot of money, I'd buy a big house in the country.
    I wouldn't worry if I were you.

    The structure is usually: if + past simple >> + would + infinitive. 


    When if is followed by the verb be, it is grammatically correct to say if I were, if he
    were, if she were and if it were. However, it is also common to hear these structures
    with was, especially in the he/she form.

    If I were you, I wouldn't mention it.


    If she was prime minister, she would invest more money in schools.
    He would travel more if he was younger.

    Third conditionals and mixed conditionals


    Conditionals describe the result of a certain condition. The if clause tells you the
    condition (If I hadn't been ill) and the main clause tells you the result (I would have
    gone to the party). The order of the clauses does not change the meaning.

    If I hadn't been ill, I would have gone to the party.


    I would have gone to the party if I hadn't been ill.

    Conditional sentences are often divided into different types.

    Third conditional
    The third conditional is used to imagine a different past. We imagine a change in a
    past situation and the different result of that change.

    If I had understood the instructions properly, I would have passed the exam.
    We wouldn't have got lost if my phone hadn't run out of battery.

    In third conditional sentences, the structure is usually: If + past perfect >> would


    have + past participle.

    Mixed conditionals
    We can use mixed conditionals when we imagine a past change with a result in the
    present or a present change with a result in the past.

    1. Past/Present 

    Here's a sentence imagining how a change in a past situation would have a result in
    the present.

    If I hadn't got the job in Tokyo, I wouldn't be with my current partner.

    So the structure is: If + past perfect >> would + infinitive.

    2.  Present/Past

    Here's a sentence imagining how a different situation in the present would mean
    that the past was different as well.

    It's really important. If it wasn't, I wouldn't have called you on your holiday.

    And the structure is: If + past simple >> would have + past participle.

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