CONDITIONALS

ZERO CONDITIONAL:

To describe general truths.

If + Present Simple ,  /  Present Simple

Present Simple / If + Present Simple

Examples:

• If it rains, the grass gets wet.            /                   The grass gets wet if it rains.

• If you heat ice, it melts.                       /                   Ice melts if you heat it.

• If I talk in class, my teacher gets angry.               /                My teacher gets angry if I talk in class.

• If you freeze water, it becomes a solid.          /          Water becomes a solid if you freeze it.

• If plants don't get enough water, they die.           /          Plants die if they don't get enough water.

• If you mix red and blue, you get purple.             /             You get purple if you mix red and blue.

• If water reaches 100 degrees, it boils.              /               Water boils if it reaches 100 degrees.

• If snakes are scared, they bite.                        /                  Snakes bite if they are scared.

• If babies are hungry, they cry.                   /                    Babies cry if they are hungry.

• If I run, I get tired.                        /                           I get tired if I run.

FIRST CONDITIONAL:

To talk about a result that will or won't occur if a condition takes place.

If + Present Simple ,  /  will ...

will ... / If + Present Simple

Examples:

• If I miss the bus, I will take a taxi.                       /                   I will take a taxi if I miss the bus.

• If my football team loses the match, I will be sad.          /         I will be sad if my football team loses the match. 

• If it rains tomorrow, I will stay home.             /           I will stay home if it rains tomorrow. 

• If I see her, I'll tell her the truth.                   /                   I'll tell her the truth if I see her.

• If I have time, I'll visit my parents this afternoon.      /        I'll visit my parents this afternoon if I have time.

Unless (=if not) + Present Simple ,  /  will ...

will ... / unless + Present Simple

Examples:

• Unless he tries harder, he will fail.                       /                      He will fail unless he tries harder.

• Unless the rain stops, I won't go.                         /                       I won't go unless the rain stops.

• Unless you run, you won't be on time.              /                      You won't be on time unless you run.

• Unless whales are protected, they will become extinct.    /     Whales will become extinct unless they are protected.

TIME CLAUSES:

To talk about future events and general statements (=dice cuando ocurre la acción). Se usa el Zero o First Conditional según lo que se quiera comunicar (aunque también se puede usar con otros tiempos verbales).

after, as soon as, before, once, the moment (that), when

Examples:

• After Ann brushes her teeth, she goes to bed.                     /                    Ann goes to bed after she brushes her teeth.

• As soon as I get the letter, I will call my boss.                        /                    I will call my boss as soon as I get the letter.

• Before Ann goes to bed, she brushes her teeth.                  /                   Ann brushes her teeth before she goes to bed.

• Once you have arrived, give me a call.                           /                        Give me a call once you have arrived.

• The moment (that) he arrives home, he will call the restaurant.              /               He will call the restaurant the moment (that) he arrives home.

• When I am bored, I see a movie.                                        /                           I see a movie when I am bored.

SECOND CONDITIONAL:

· To talk about a hypothetical situation.

· To give advice.

If + Past Simple ,  /  would ...

would ... / If + Past Simple

Examples:

• If I had money, I would travel more.                          /                    I would travel more if I had money.

• If I became President, I would change many things.          /           I would change many things if I became President.

• If she studied more, she would pass the exams.                    /                   She would pass the exams if she studied more.

• If she was a good friend, she would help you.                  /            She would help you if she was a good friend.

• If I were invisible for one day, I could play tricks on my friends.      /         I could play tricks on my friends if I were invisible for one day.

If I was/were you ... :

• If I was/were you, I would call your father.               /             I would call your father if I was/were you.

• If I was/were you, I would drive more carefully in the rain.       /       I would drive more carefully in the rain if I was/were you.

• If I was/were you, I wouldn't go out with that man.               /             I wouldn't go out with that man if I was/were you.

THIRD CONDITIONAL:

· to talk about something that can never happen because the time has already passed 

If + Past Perfect Simple ,  /  would have + Vb.-ed

would have + Vb.-ed / If + Past Perfect Simple

Examples:

• If she had looked at both sides of the street, she would have avoided the car accident.      /      She would have avoided the car accident, if she had looked at both sides of the street.

• If she hadn't crossed the street, she would have survived.                       /                      She would have survived if she hadn't crossed the street.

• If she hadn't crossed the street, she would have never died.      /       She would have never died if she hadn't crossed the street.

• If I had had enough money, I would have gone to Japan last summer.        /        I would have gone to Japan last summer if I had had enough money.

• If she had studied, she would have passed the exam.         /           She would have passed the exam if she had studied.

• If we had taken a taxi, we wouldn't have missed the plane.       /          We wouldn't have missed the plane if we had taken a taxi.

• If he had left the house at nine, he would have been on time for the interview.         /       He would have been on time for the interview if he had left the house at nine.

Recuerda:

En lugar de "will" o "would" también se pueden usar otros modales como "could":

• If she study more, she could pass the exams.                   /                  She could pass the exams if she study more.

• If she had studied more, she could have passed the exams.                 /                 She could have passed the exams if she had studied more. 

All Conditionals: