Grammar for PET

Conditionals: Zero, First, Second

Katie Dirksmeier
If you study conditionals

What is a conditional sentence?

What do we use them for?
What word is often included in
conditional sentences?

Condition means situation or

circumstance
If a particular condition is true,
then a specific result happens.
Types of Conditionals
Zero conditional: Certainty (present)

First conditional: Real Possibility (future)

Second Conditional: Unreal Possibility or

Dream
(future)

Third Conditional: No possibility (past)

Zero Conditional: Meaning & Use
If Alan takes his vitamins every day,
he doesnt get sick.
Are we talking about one specific day?
In general, is it true that Alan doesnt get
sick if he takes his vitamins?

Use this conditional to show an outcome

that happens if a
specific repeated condition is met.
Time: any / in general
Will the condition or situation happen?:
YES! Its certain.

What happens when Alan doesnt take

his vitamins?
Can you make a zero conditional
sentence that tells us this?
Zero Conditional: Form
If Alan takes his vitamins every day, he
doesnt get sick.
What are the parts of this zero conditional
sentence?
What is the condition? What is the result?

Form:
(If) verb in present, (then) verb in present. (with comma!)
OR
Verb in present + (if) verb in present. (no comma!)

Must we always use if in the sentence?

Other words that may be used before the condition:
When; Unless
Can we change the order of the two parts of the sentence?
Rewrite the sentence above with the if clause at the end.
 Zero Conditional
We can also use
(If / When / Unless) + verb in present , imperative!

For example:
If you want to get a good grade, study!
(If you want to get a good grade, you must study. = always
true)
Unless you want to get sick, take your vitamins!
(= Take your vitamins unless you want to get sick!)

What does unless mean in the sentence above?

How can you rephrase these sentences using unless?

If I dont phone you tomorrow, youll start at 9 oclock.

The shop loses customers if the assistants arent friendly.

What is the condition in each of these sentences? The

result?
First Conditional: Meaning & Use
If Emma saves $2000, shell go to South America. =
Emma will go to South America if she saves $2000.
Does Emma have $2000?
Does she know if she will have $2000 in the future?
If Emma saves $2000, might she use it for something
else? How likely is it that she will go to South America
if she saves up enough money?
Can you rephrase this sentence using unless?

Based on the sentence above, what do you think the

First Conditional is used for?
We use this conditional to show a
likely or possible outcome that will probably happen if
a specific condition is met.
Time: Future
Will the condition or situation happen?: There is a real
possibility that this condition will happen.
First Conditional: Form
If Emma saves $2000, shell go to South America. =
Emma will go to South America if she saves $2000.
What are the parts of this first conditional
sentence?
What is the condition? What will be the
result?
Form:
(If) verb in present, (then) verb in future.
OR
Verb in future + (if) verb in present.

Sometimes we use shall, can, or may instead of will,

for example: If you are good today, you can watch
TV tonight.
 Second Conditional: Meaning & Use
http://youtu.be/q5TPA0bWcP0?t=1m
If I had a million dollars, Id build a tree fort in our yard. = Id
build a tree fort in our yard if I had a million dollars.
Do I have a million dollars now?
Does this situation take place in the past, present, or
future?
Is there a possibility that Ill have a million dollars?

Based on the sentence above, what do you think the Second

Conditional is used for?
We use this conditional to show an
unlikely or impossible outcome that probably wouldnt
happen (because a specific, unlikely condition must be
met).
Time: Future

Will the condition or situation happen?: It is impossible or

nearly impossible that this condition will happen.
Second Conditional: Form
If I had a million dollars, Id build a tree fort
in our yard. = Id build a tree fort in our
yard if I had a million dollars.
What are the parts of this first
conditional sentence?
What is the condition? What will be the
result?
Form:
(If) verb in past*, (then) would + base form.
OR
Would + base form + (if) verb in past*.
Second Conditional
(If) verb in past*, (then) would + base form.
OR
Would + base form + (if) verb in past*.
But
If I were you, I would write to him.
If he werent a writer, hed be an actor.

Do these sentences follow the same

formula as above?
Yes, but we use were instead of was after If
I/he/she/it
If I was you, I would write to him.
If he wasnt a writer, hed be an actor.

Sometimes, we use could instead

of would, for example:
If I had more time, I could catch up on my
reading.
I wish!
Examples?

Based on your examples, what is the

formula for I wish statements?
I wish + verb in past

Are these statements talking about

the past?
Quiz: Question #1
Situation: You do not have a lottery ticket. Is
it possible to win the lottery? No! No lottery
ticket, no win! But maybe you will buy a
lottery ticket in the future. So you can think
about winning in the future (and buying things
with the money you win) like a dream. It's not
very real, but it's still possible.
Express this idea with a conditional sentence.
Which conditional do you use?

IF condition result
past simple WOULD + base verb
If I won the lottery I would buy a car.
(second conditional)
Quiz: Question #2
Situation: You take some ice and put it in a
saucepan. You heat the saucepan. What
happens? The ice melts (it becomes
water). You would be surprised if it did not.

Express what happens during this process

with a conditional sentence.
Which conditional do you use?

IF condition result
present simple present simple
If you heat ice it melts.

(zero conditional)
Quiz: Question #3
Situation: It is morning. You are at home.
You plan to play tennis this afternoon, but
there are some clouds in the sky. Imagine
that it rains. What will you do?
Express this idea with a conditional
sentence.
Which conditional is it?
Can you put this in the form of a question to
ask what youll do if it rains?

IF condition result
present simple WILL + base verb
If it rains I will stay at home.

If it rains, what will you do?

(first conditional)
 Sources
http://www.esl-
library.com/blog/2013/03/14/an-easy-
way-to-teach-conditionals/
http://busyteacher.org/6506-
conditional-sentences.html
http://eyv-
bahar.blogspot.com.es/2013/03/cond
itional-sentencesconditional.html
http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.c
om/type0/menu.php
http://www.englishclub.com/