English Grammar: Conditional Sentences Explained
First Conditional
Form
if + present simple. | will + infinitive |
will + infinitive | if + present simple |
If you do the race, I’ll sponsor you.
I’ll sponsor you if you do the race.
Use: We use the first conditional:
- to discuss possible or probable future events.
- If we all take part in the protest, we’ll make a difference.
- to make promises and give warnings
- You won’t make a difference if you don’t take part in the protest.
We can’t use will in the conditional clause.
Second Conditional
Form
if + past simple | would + infinitive |
would + infinitive | if + past simple |
If I had a lot of money I’d set up a commune.
I’d set up a commune if I had a lot of money.
Use: We use the second conditional:
- to discuss imaginary situations in the present.
- If I was the president, I would change all the government policies.
- To discuss imaginary or improbable events in the future.
- I’d study economics if I went to Harvard.
We can use were instead of was with I, he, she and it in the conditional clause. We use this expression to give advice.
I wouldn’t do that if I were you.
Third Conditional
Form
if + past perfect | would have + past participle |
would have + past participle | if + past perfect |
If you had applied, you would have got an interview.
You would have got an interview if you had applied.
Use: We use the third conditional to discuss hypothetical past events (which didn’t happen).
We wouldn’t have missed the bus if we’d got up early. (We didn’t get up early, so we missed the bus.)
Conditionals with Modals
We can use some modal verbs in the conditional forms in both of the clauses.
Modals in the first conditional
We can use modals instead of will in the result of a first conditional sentence:
- to show possibility
- If you vote for him, he may/might be in the election.
- to show permission.
- You can vote immediately.
- to show obligation
- You must vote for him.
- to make a suggestion.
- You’re interested in politics, you should vote.
We can use modals in the conditional clause of a first conditional sentence.
If you can’t walk, I’ll give you a lift.
Key Vocabulary
SHOPPING
afford (v) auction (n) bargain (n) boutique (n) brand (n) browse (v) cashier (n) changing room (n) charity shop (n) customer (n) deliver (v) department store (n) exchange (v) get a discount (v) order (v) pay in cash / by credit card (v) personal shopper (n) refund (n, v) rip sb off (phr v) sales (n) sales assistant (n) save up (phr v) second-hand (adj) shopping trip (n) sweatshop (n) take sth back (phr v) try sth on (phr v) try sth out (phr v) window shopping (n)
IDIOMS
be bitten by the bug (exp) be hooked on (exp) be on a high (exp) be up to your eyeballs in (exp) cost an arm and a leg (exp) feel down (exp) get out of hand (exp) go on a spending spree (exp) live from hand to mouth (exp) retail therapy (exp)
hop on a shoestring (exp) shop till you drop (exp) tighten your belt (exp)
WASTE
biodegradable (adj) compost (n) consume (v) consumer (n) consumption (n) dispose (v) disposable (adj) dump (v, n) dumped (adj) emit (v) emission (n) environmental (adj) incinerate (v) incinerator (n) landfill site (n) manufacture (v) manufacturer (n) pollute (v) pollutant (n) pollution (n) recycle (v) recycling (n) recyclable (adj) recycled (adj) renewable (adj) reuse (v) sustain (v) sustainability (n) sustainable (adj) toxic (adj) waste (v) (n) wasteful (adj)
PHRASAL VERBS
cheer up (phr v) face up to (phr v) get through (phr v) go on (phr v) make up for (phr v )
Key Vocabulary
bravery (n) capitalism (n) citizen (n) citizenship (n) civil servant (n) colony (n) community (n) custom (n) employment (n) freedom (n) healthcare (n) household (n) law (n) majority (n) membership (n) monarchy (n) neighbourhood (n) ownership (n) population (n) poverty (n) slavery (n) socialism (n) society (n) taxation (n) tolerance (n) wealth (n) welfare state (n)
PHRASAL VERBS
come up against (phr v) hand over (phr v) move out (phr v) put up (phr v) set off (phr v) set up (phr v) spring up (phr v) share out (phr v)
CRIME & JUSTICE
accuse sb of (v) admit (v) arrest sb (for) (v) arson (n) burglary (n) charge sb (with) (v) commit (a crime) (v)
IRREGULAR VERBS
build/built/built (v) buy/bought/bought (v) eat/ate/eaten (v) grow/grew/grown (v) lead/led/led (v) leave/left/left (v) put up/put up/ put up (v) seek/sought/sought (v) set off/set off/ set off (v) sing/sang/sung (v) teach/taught/taught (v)