It is understood that theconditionalsin English are used for describe real or hypothetical situations, being composed of two clauses: one with the conjunction if and the other, the main|1|. The condition expressed in different types of conditionals it also indicates different degrees that the real can have.
The real can be both open and unreal. An open condition indicates that something can be true or become true.|2|. On the other hand, the unreal condition brings the idea of something that is not true or is imaginary.
You conditionals in English are classified into four: zero conditional, first conditional, second conditional and third conditional. It is customary to build the second prayer of the conditional with Modal verbs, whose main objective is to explain the consequence of the condition expressed by the if. It is also added that the condition can be expressed with other conjunctions.
Read too: Verb tenses - tenses in english
Conditionals with if
To express a idea of condition, be it real or not
, it is necessary to use the conditionals in English. O conditional is structured with two clauses: one with the conjunction if, indicating the condition, and the other clause, the main one of the period, contains the consequence of that condition. The consequence is directly related to reality and its degrees of existence. So there are four types of conditionals: zero, first, second, third. Each one indicates whether we are facing a situation that is true, possibly true, unreal, imaginary, etc.In this part of the text, we will study the conditionals and its types with the conjunction if. Let’s go!
Zero conditional
O zero conditional approaches situations that are often considered true (facts) and those that may or may not be true. It is an open condition|2|. That conditional is formed by the structure:
Prayer-if in the simple present + main clause in the simple present |
1. If I get up late, I miss the school bus.
(If I get up late, I miss the school bus.)
2. If the water reaches 100°C, it boils.
(If the water reaches 100°C, it boils.)
The prayer-if can also appear later. In this case, the comma separating the two clauses is eliminated:
3. I don’t sleep if I drink coffee after 5.00 p.m.
(I don't sleep if I have breakfast after 5:00 pm.)
4. If I drink coffee after 5.00 pm, I don’t sleep.
(If I have breakfast after 5:00 pm, I don't sleep.)
first conditional
when we want to talk about possible/probable or real future situations, we use the first conditional, being also an open type condition|2|. O first conditional has the following structure:
Prayer-if in simple present + main clause with will/can/may/might |
1. If it is sunny, we will go to the beach.
(If it's sunny, we'll go to the beach.)
2. If I have time, I will correct the tests.
(If I have time, I will proofread.)
3. If it rains tomorrow, I can’t go to the party
(If it rains tomorrow, I won't be able to go to the party.)
4. I can't go the party if it rains tomorrow
(I won't be able to go to the party if it rains tomorrow.)
The reversal of prayer-if (example 4) can occur in any type of conditional (zero, first, second, third).
See too: Genitive case – expression of possession, origin, family or purpose
second conditional
In the English language, the second conditional is used to speak of Impossible or improbable present and/or future situations in fact (hypothetical situations), having the following structure:
Prayer-if in the past simple + main clause with would/could/might + infinitive verb |
1. If he studied more often, he would get higher grades.
(If he studied more often, he would get higher grades.)
2. If I were you, I would travel more.
(If I were you, I would travel more.)
3. The cake could be better if they followed the recipe.
(The cake could have been better if they had followed the recipe.)
In these examples, we can see that the tense in the prayer-if (simple past) is used to show the distance from reality, indicating an imaginable situation, that is, unlikely to occur or even impossible. In the second example, it is clear that when using the verb to be, his conjugation passes inI, he, she, it WAS forI, he, she, it WERE.
third conditional
O third conditional is used for past hypothetical situations, that is, a transformed past with a different result. Note, below, the structure of the third conditional:
Prayer-if at the perfect past + main prayer with would/might/could + have + past participle |
1. If I had arrived five minutes earlier, I wouldn’t have missed the meeting.
(If I had arrived five minutes early, I wouldn't have missed the meeting.)
2. If the teacher hadn’t given the answers, I could have finished my late homework.
(If the teacher hadn't given the answers, I might have finished my assignment late.)
3. They would have traveled if the rain had stopped sooner.
(They would have traveled if the rain had stopped sooner.)
The examples show that the perfect past in prayer-if indicates an unreal or hypothetical past action|2|.
Conditionals without if
There are other expressions that can be used in place of the if because they also indicate the idea of condition, which are: when, unless, in case, as long as, among others. Take a look at some examples:
To conditional zero, can be used when instead of if:
1. If you read a lot, you improve your vocabulary.
(If you read a lot, you improve your vocabulary.)
2. When you read a lot, you improve your vocabulary.
(When you read a lot, you improve your vocabulary.)
Also access: active voice – phrasal construction that highlights the agent with the subject
Unless, as long as, provided/providing, in case
1. Unless you drink 2 liters of water per day, you will continue to feel bloated.
(Unless you drink 2 liters of water a day, you will continue to feel bloated.)
2. Provided you study hard, you will be able to continue with us.
(As long as you study hard, you can continue with us.)
3. You can come to class as long as you stay quiet.
(You can come to class as long as you keep quiet.)
4. In case I forget the rule, I will phone you.
(In case I forget the rule, I will call you.)
If you want to practice the conditionals in english, write some personal examples!
solved exercises
Question 1 - (EFOMM 2019)Mark the only option which is INCORRECT.
a) If I were you, I wouldn't ask for bank loans so often.
b) If she had worked harder, she wouldn't be out-ofwork now.
c) Lisa wouldn't have met John if she hadn't gone to that party.
d) I'd be more patient with my parents if I didn't live with them.
e) They'd learn how to cook if they need to live by themselves.
Resolution
Alternative E, because the second sentence should be in the simple past “if they needed…”, corresponding to second conditional (hypothetical situation).
Question 2 - (EEAR 2018) The sentence in the text "As you know, if you dedicate to your studies, you will succeed in life.", lines 11 and 12, is classified by:
a) Second conditional
b) Third conditional
c) First conditional
d) Zero conditional
Resolution
Alternative B, because the first conditional is formed by prayer-if in simple present + main clause with will/may/can/might.
By Patricia Veronica Moreira
English teacher
