III Conditional sentences

Conditional sentences express imaginary or hypothetical situations.

Conditional sentences often consist of a main clause and a conditional clause, i.e., a subordinate clause typically beginning with if (or unless).

e.g.

If it rains, we take an umbrella	Если идёт дождь, мы берём зонт.
If it rains, we will take an umbrella	Если пойдёт дождь, мы возьмём зонт.
If I had the car now, I would give you a lift	Если бы у меня сейчас была машина, я подвёз бы тебя.
If I had known, I would have baked a cake.	Если бы тогда я знал, я бы испёк торт.

The conditional clause expresses the condition on which the situation described in the main clause depends.

Conditions can be classified as real and unreal.

A real condition is one that can possibly be fulfilled, either now or in the future.

An unreal condition is one that the speaker regards as unlikely or impossible, whether in the past, present or future.

Zero Conditional

Use:

We use Zero Conditional to express general truths.

Form:

We use the present simple tense in the if - clause and the present simple tense in the main clause.

We usually use a comma (,) when the if – clause is first, but not when the main clause is first.

e.g.

If it rains, we take an umbrella.	Если идёт дождь, мы берём зонт.
If + V1	S + V1
If + present simple	S + present simple

3 (a) Put the verbs into the correct tense.

a) Water (freeze) if the temperature falls below zero.

________________________________________________________

b) If he is angry, his face always (go) bright red.

________________________________________________________

c) The radio (not work) if the batteries are flat.

_________________________________________________________

d) If a balloon is filled with hot air, it (rise). _______________________

e) The machine (not work) if it doesn’t have enough oil.

____________________________________________________________

First Conditional

Use:

First Conditionals predict the results of a real or probable action or event.

We use the First Conditional to talk about a possible scenario or action and the probable result, about a possible future situation.

Contexts in which conditional sentences are likely to occur conclude:

Making promises

Giving warnings

Making threats

Giving advice

about travel or career.

Form:

We use the present simple tense in the if - clause and the future simple tense with will, can or might + verb in the main clause.

We usually use a comma (,) when the if – clause is first, but not when the main clause is first.

e.g.

If it rains, we will take an umbrella.	Если пойдёт дождь, мы возьмём зонт.
If + V1	S + will + V1
If + present simple	S + future simple

3 (b) What is the difference between these sentences

a) If I go to London, I will buy an English guidebook.

b) If I go to London, I might buy an English guidebook.

c) If I go to London, I can buy an English guidebook.

3 (c) Read the situations and complete the sentences with your own ideas.

a) You want to go somewhere this weekend. (sunny or rainy)

If it is _________, we’ll _________________________________

b) You have won a big prize (a trip for two or money?)

If we win ____________, we ___________________________________

c) Your friend is going to have a baby and you want to buy a present. (boy or girl?)

If it is_________, I will _________________________________________

Second Conditional

Use:

Second Conditional is used to express an unreal or improbable condition and its probable result in the present or future.

We use the Second Conditional to talk about an imaginary scenario or action and to speculate on the result.

Second Conditional include:

Wishing

Imagining

fantasizing

about travel, wealth or global concerns: hypothetical scenarios.

Form:

We use the past simple tense in the if - clause and would + infinitive (without to) in the main clause.

We usually use a comma (,) when the if – clause is first, but not when the main clause is first.

If I had the car now, I would give you a lift	Если бы у меня сейчас была машина, я подвёз бы тебя
If + V2	S + would + V1
If + past simple	S + would + present simple

3 (d) Write these sentences, putting the verbs in brackets into the correct tense.

a) If you drove more carefully, you (not have) _______________________ so many accidents.

b) If he (get up) _____________ earlier, he would get to work on time.

c) If we (have) _________________ more time, I could tell you more about it.

d) If you (sell) _______________ more products, you would earn more money.

e) Your parents (be) _____________ a lot happier if you phoned them more often.

f) What would you mind if I (not give) _____________ you the money I owe you today?

g) If I had to go to hospital, I (not go) _____________ to this one.

h) If I (have) _______ any money, I would give you some.

Third Conditional

Use:

We use the third Conditional to speculate about past events, and about how things that happened or didn’t happen might have affected other things.

We often teach the third Conditional to express reproach and regret.

Form:

We use the past perfect tense in the if – clause and would + present perfect in the main clause.

We use if + past perfect + would have + past participle for unreal situations in the past.

If clause	Main clause
Past perfect	would have + past participle
If the crow hadn’t been in the tree,	the fox wouldn’t have seen him.
If I had known, I would have baked a cake	Если бы тогда я знал, я бы испёк торт
If + past perfect	S + would + present perfect
If + had + V3	S + would + have + V3

3 (e) Complete the sentences

a) If I had lived two hundred years ago, I (cannot speak) ___________________to my friends on the telephone.

b) If I had lived four hundred years ago, I (have)__________________ a bicycle.

c) If I had lived four hundred years ago, I (can go) ______________________ to school in a carriage.

d) If I had lived two hundred years ago, I (not meet) you.

e) If I hadn’t been so careless, I (fall) ___________________ off the roof.