To write sentences where there is a Condition and a Result.
In this kind of sentences, it is generally used the conjunction "If" to indicate the Condition.
There exist many conditionals. The most common are detailed below.
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This kind of conditional refers to the universal truths, those which happen always that certain condition occurs.
If + Subject + Present Simple, Subject + Present Simple.
If + Subject + Don't / Doesn't + Verb Infinitive, Subject + Don't / Doesn't + Verb Infinitive.
It is necessary to begin with an example to make it easier to understand...
"If It is winter, it is cold".
The condition is "If it is winter" and the result is "it is cold".
You can alter the order, that is to say, you can first write the result and then the condition (it doesn't change the meaning of the sentence).
The important thing is to respect the structure of the sentence, the condition must begin with "If" followed by the Subject and the verb conjugated in Simple Present.
The result begins with the subject followed by the verb conjugated in Simple Present too.
Take into account that the condition can be affirmative and the result negative and vice versa.
To revise the structure and rules of the Simple Present see Tenses.
This conditional is used to talk about facts or situations that probably will happen in the future, if the condition takes place. It means that we are talking about probabilities.
If + Subject + Present Simple, Subject + Will + Verb Infinitive.
If + Subject + Don't / Doesn't + Verb Inf, Subject + Won't + Verb Infinitive.
It is necessary to begin with an example to make it easier to understand...
If I pass the test, I will go on vacation.
If I pass the test (Condition), I will go on vacation (Probably). That is why we say that this kind of conditional is used to talk about probabilities and the condition has to take place for something to happen in the future.
You can alter the order, that is to say, you can first write the result and then the condition (it doesn't change the meaning of the sentence).
The important thing is to respect the structure of the sentence. The condition always begins with "If", even when it is in the middle of the sentence.
In the condition half, the verb is conjugated in Simple Present and, in the result half, the verb is conjugated in Future Simple.
Take into account that it is not necessary that both halves (condition and result) be the same in affirmative and negative. One can be written in affirmative and the other in negative, the important thing is that the sentence remains coherent.
To revise the structures and rules of the Present Simple and Future Simple, see tenses.
It is called unreal or imaginary conditional. It is used to talk about imaginary situations that would happen if the condition was real (but it is not). It is something hypothetical.
If + Subject + Past Simple, Subject + Would + Verb Infinitive.
If + Subject + Didn't + Verb Inf, Subject + Wouldn't + Verb Infinitive.
It is necessary to begin with an example to make it easier to understand...
If I had Money, I would buy a plane.
The situation from the example is hypothetical or imaginary. If I had money (but I don't have it) I would buy a plane. The sentence is divided into 2 parts, the condition and the result.
The condition half begins with "If", followed by the Subject and the main verb conjugated in Simple Past (affirmative or negative).
The order of the sentence can be altered (condition - result or result - condition) because it does not change the meaning, but it is important to respect the structure (The condition begins with "If", taking into account the conjugation of the verbs).
It is also important to take into account that the condition and the result can be both in affirmative or negative. That means that the condition can be affirmative and the result negative and vice versa.
When the verb "To Be" appears in the Conditional, we use the form "Were" with all the pronouns (this is because we are talking about hypothetical cases).
To revise the structure and rules of the Simple Past, see Tenses.
As in the second conditional, this is used to talk about hypothetical situations but in the Past (something that could have happened in the past but it didn't).
If + Subject+ Past Perfect, Subject + Would + Have + Verb Participle.
If + Subject + Past Perfect (negative), Subject + Wouldn't + Have + Verb Participle.
If he had studied guitar, he would have been a rock star.
It is necessary to begin with an example to make it easier to understand...
The situation from the example is hypothetical because he could have been a rock star but he is not. He should have studied guitar but it can't be changed now.
This sentences have two parts
Condition And Result.
The condition part begins with "If", followed by the subject and the verb conjugated in Past Perfect (affirmative or negative). The result part begins with the subject, followed by the structure "Would Have" (affirmative or negative) and the verb conjugated in participle.
The order of the sentence can be altered (condition - result or result - condition), it does not change the meaning of the sentence, but it is important to respect the structures (the condition begins with "If" taking into account the conjugation of the verbs).
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Examples
If I had studied guitar, I would have been a rock star.
I would have been a rock star if I had studied guitar.
It is also important to take into account that the condition and the result can be both in affirmative or negative. That means that the condition can be affirmative and the result negative and vice versa.
To revise the structure and rules of the Past Perfect, see tenses.
Tap to show/hide results.
Answer
Correct Answer
The IF Clause refers to the Condition.
True
Well done!
False
Try again
Emma _ _ _ _ _ go on vacation if she doesn't get a job.
didn't
Keep trying
won't
Good!
would
Try again
If they _ _ _ _ _ that car, they would have arrived sooner.
had bought
You did it!
had buy
Wrong answer
have bought
Keep trying
He will come earlier if she_ _ _ _ _ him.
call
Try again
called
Wrong answer
calls
Great!
If you had enough money, she _ _ _ _ _ you.
would invite
Cool!
will invite
Keep trying
invites
Try again
What type of Conditional is used to talk about universal truths?
Zero Conditional
You did it!
First Conditional
Wrong answer
Second Conditional
Keep trying
In all the Conditionals, the order of the sentence can be altered (Condition and result or result and Condition).
True
That´s it!
False
Try again
The Second Conditional is used to talk about...
Facts
Try again
Hypothetical situations
Correct answer!
Hypothetical situations in the past
Wrong answer
In the sentence, the result half starts with IF.
True
Keep trying
False
Well done!
If I _ _ _ _ _ hard, I will pass the exam.
studies
Wrong answer
will study
Keep trying
study
Good!
She will invite me if I _ _ _ _ _ her.
helped
Try again
help
Great!
would help
Wrong answer
If I _ _ _ _ _ younger, Megan would go out with me.
were
Cool!
be
Keep trying
am
Try again
If it is summer, It _ _ _ _ _ hot.
was
Wrong answer
be
Keep trying
is
You did it!
They would have passed if they _ _ _ _ _ more.
have studied
Try again
had studied
That´s it!
had study
Wrong answer
If he _ _ _ _ _ hard, he won't pass.
study
Keep trying
didn't study
Try again
doesn't study
Correct answer!