Understanding Conditional Sentences in English: Zero, First, Second, and Third Conditions, Slide di Lingua Inglese

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PART I

There are 4 main types of “if” sentences in English, often

called conditional sentences:

1. Zero Conditional (or Real Conditional)

2. First Conditional (or Type 1 Conditional)

3. Second Conditional (or Type 2 Conditional)

4. Third Conditional (or Type 3 Conditional)

These sentences consist of two clauses: an “if” or subordinate

clause and a main clause that can appear in this order:

IF (or SUBORDINATE) CLAUSE, (in this case a comma is needed between the clauses) MAIN CLAUSE MAIN CLAUSE IF (or SUBORDINATE) CLAUSE

Zero Conditional Form: If -clause main clause IF + PRESENT SIMPLE PRESENT SIMPLE IF + PAST SIMPLE PAST SIMPLE

Present Real The Present Real Conditional is used to talk about what you normally do in real-life situations and to express general truths and facts (often things based on scientific facts ). Examples:

• (^) When I have a day off from work, I often go to the beach.
• (^) If the weather is nice, she walks to work.
• (^) Jerry helps me with my homework when he has time.
• (^) I read if there is nothing on TV.
• (^) If I go to a friend’s house for dinner, I usually take a bottle of wine.

Both "if" and "when" are used in the Present or Past Real Conditional. Using "if" suggests that something happens less frequently. Using "when" suggests that something happens regularly. Examples:

• (^) When I have a day off from work, I usually go to the beach. I REGULARLY HAVE DAYS OFF FROM WORK.
• (^) If I have a day off from work, I usually go to the beach. I RARELY HAVE DAYS OFF FROM WORK.
• (^) When I had a day off from work, I usually went to the beach. I regularly had days off from work.

First Conditional (or Type 1) Form: The First Conditional is also called Future Real Conditional because it describes possible, real or likely situations that might occur in the future. If clause main clause IF + PRESENT SIMPLE WILL + INFINITIVE

Second Conditional (or Type 2) Form: The Second Conditional is also called The Present or Future Unreal Conditional because it describes imaginary or unlikely situations, states or events. We use it to refer to or to speculate about something that is (or that we perceive to be) impossible or If clause main clause IF + PAST SIMPLE WOULD + INFINITIVE

Examples:

• (^) If I had a day off from work next week, I would go to the

beach

I don't have a day off from work.

• (^) I am busy next week. If I had time, I would come to your

party

I can't come.

Jerry would help me with my homework tomorrow if

he didn't have to work.

He does have to work tomorrow.

• (^) If I were you, I wouldn’t buy that shirt.

I am not you.

Examples:

• (^) If I had owned a car, I would have driven to work. But I didn't own one, so I took the bus.
• (^) She would have traveled around the world if she had had more money. But she didn't have much money, so she never traveled.
• (^) I would have read more as a child if I hadn't watched so much TV. Unfortunately, I did watch a lot of TV.
• (^) If Jack had worked harder, he would have earned more money. Unfortunately, he was lazy and he didn't earn much.