Index

1. Introduction..............................................................................................................................5

2. First conditional........................................................................................................................5

If + Present verb, future verb....................................................................................................6

Future Verb + If + Present Simple...................................................................................................6

2.1. Modal Verbs in First Conditional.........................................................................................7

3. Second Conditional..................................................................................................................7

If + Past Simple, ...Would + Verb............................................................................................7

Conditional verb (would + verb) + If + Past Simple.......................................................................8

If I were....................................................................................................................................8

3.1. Could in Second Conditional sentences...............................................................................8

4. Conclusion................................................................................................................................9

5. References bibliographic........................................................................................................10
 1. Introduction

The First Conditional expresses an action that depends on a condition to happen. Its
structure is formed by the simple present and future. The First Conditional is used to express
actions or situations that are likely to happen in the future. When we use it we are thinking about
a situation or condition in the future that will be responsible for a result. In the First

Conditional there is a real possibility that the condition, action or situation in matter will
happen. The first conditional structure isn’t rigid because it can vary depending on the sentence.

The “if” clause can appear or not in the beginning of the sentence. When we use the Simple
Future to form the First Conditional it doesn’t mean that we will just use the “will” to represent
the future. We can use the “going to” as well as “will”, and also some modal verbs such as “can”,
“may” and “must”.

This work has the objective of helping us to understand the functioning of sentences
condition where we approach the first and second conditions

2. First conditional

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 When we are thinking about a possible situation in the future, we use:

If + Present verb, future verb

This structure is common when talking about possible plans, promises, warnings,
threats or for persuading someone. We are predicting a likely result in the future if a condition
is fulfilled.

If + Simple Present, Will / Won't...

 If I go to Paris next month for work, I'll visit the Eiffel Tower (Plans)
 If I have time, I will help you. (Promise)
 If you touch that wire, you will get an electric shock. (Warning)
 If you eat my chocolate that is in the fridge, you'll sleep outside with the dog.(Threat)
 If you take me to the mall, I'll buy you an ice cream. (Persuasion)
 If she doesn't go to university, her parents won't be happy.
 If it rains, we will cancel the trip.
 If that candidate becomes President, the country will be in trouble.
 If I win the competition, I will donate half of the prize money to charity.

Notice how we use a comma after the present tense clause.

We can also reverse the order and use:

Future Verb + If + Present Simple

 I will be annoyed if they don't arrive on time.

 You will get a better job if you can speak English.
 You will miss the bus if you don't hurry.
 The dog will bite you if you pull its tail.
 Your boss will be angry if you don't finish the job.
 What will you do if they fire you?
 You will feel better if you take this medicine.

Notice how the comma is not necessary with this word order.

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 2.1. Modal Verbs in First Conditional

Normally WILL is used in the main clause of first conditional sentences. However you can
also use the modal verbs MAY, MIGHT and COULD when something is a possible consequence
(and not a certain one) in the future.

 If you are nice to me, I may buy you a gift when I'm in Peru.
 If they train a little harder, they might win the match.
 If he doesn't do his work, he could get fired.

3. Second Conditional

When we are thinking about a situation in the present or future that is hypothetical,
unlikely or impossible, we use:

If + Past Simple, ...Would + Verb

We use a past verb though are imagining the present or the future to be different.

The second clause of subject + would + verb (conditional verb) is conditional to the first
clause happening (or will only happen if the first part/clause happens).

Example: If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world.

= It is unlikely that I will win the lottery, but I'm going to hypothetically imagine that I did
win. In that situation I would travel around the world. So in order for me to travel around the
world, I would need the first clause (the condition or situation) to happen, that is, for me to win
the lottery first.

 If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world. (Though I am unlikely to win the
lottery)
 If I knew his name, I would tell you.
 If I didn't have a headache, I would go to the party.
 If I became President, I would reduce the salaries of all politicians. (Though it is unlikely
I will become President)

Notice how we use a comma after the past tense clause.

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We can also reverse the order and use:

Conditional verb (would + verb) + If + Past Simple

 I would be happy if I had more free time.

 I would tell you the answer if I knew what it was.
 There would be fewer accidents if everyone drove more carefully.
 We would have a lot of money if we sold our house.
 Would she come if I paid for her flight?
 Would you accept the job if they offered it to you?
 What would you do if you won the lottery?
 What would you do if you saw a U.F.O?

Notice how the comma is not necessary with this word order.

If I were...

Note that with the verb To Be we use IF + I / HE / SHE / IT + WERE

The reason we use WERE instead of WAS is because the sentence is in the Subjunctive mood.

 If I were not in debt, I would quit my job.

 If he were taller, he'd be accepted into the team.
 She would still be correcting my grammar if she were still alive.

Though in informal English, you will hear some people say If I was... If he was... etc. This
usage doesn't sound good though unfortunately is common.

3.1. Could in Second Conditional sentences

COULD can be used instead of WOULD to make the hypothetical present or future more
likely.

 If he trained every day, he could represent his country

 If I had a little more money, I could buy a car.

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 4. Conclusion

The first conditional has the present simple after 'if', then the future simple in the other
clause: if + present simple,... will + infinitive.

It's used to talk about things which might happen in the future. Of course, we can't know
what will happen in the future, but this describes possible things, which could easily come true.

The first conditional describes things that I think are likely to happen in the future, whereas
the second conditional talks about things that I don't think will really happen. It's subjective; it
depends on my point of view.

But (second conditional): If she studied harder, she would pass the exam (I think that she
won't study harder, or it's very unlikely, and so she won't pass).

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 5. References bibliographic

Basaeed, E. (2013). An Approach for Teaching English Language Grammar to Arab Young
Learners. IOSR Journal of Research & Method in Education, 1, 20-30.
Larsen-Freeman, D., Kuehn, T., & Haccius, M. (2002). Helping Students Make Appropriate
English Verb Tense-Aspect Choices. TESOL Journal, 11, 3-9.
Steinmayer, O. (1999). Jalai Jako Iban; A Basic Grammar of the Iban Language of Sarawak.
Kuching: Klasik Publishing House.
Watcharapunyawong, S., & Usaha, S. (2013). Thai EFL Students’ Writing Errors in Different
Text Types: The Interference of the First Language. English Language Teaching, 6, 67-78.

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