2. CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
• Conditional Sentences are also known as
Conditional Clauses or If Clauses.
• They are used to express that the
action in the main clause
(without if) can only take place if a
certain condition (in the clause
with if) is fulfilled.
3. CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
• Most linguists consider three types of
Conditional Sentences, but some of
them add one more type: zero
conditionals.
• Let´s pay attention to the Second and
Third Conditionals, the so-called
UNREAL CONDITIONALS.
4. SECOND CONDITIONALS
We use the Second Conditional to talk about a
hypothetical or imaginary situation in the
present or in the future and its consequence.
COMPARE:
• If I have time, I’ll help you.
• If I had time, I’d help you.
The second example shows an imaginary
situation: I don’t and I won’t have time.
6. SECOND CONDITIONALS
• EXAMPLES:
• If I had more money, I’d buy a bigger house.
• If my team won the cup, I’d buy champagne
for everybody.
• If I was working in London, I’d take the tube
everyday.
• If I spoke to him directly, I might be able to
convince him.
7. SECOND CONDITIONALS
•THINGS TO CONSIDER:
• With the verb TO BE you can say:
– If I were the president, I’d reduce the
taxes.
OR
– If I was the president, I’d reduce the
taxes.
• This happens with the pronouns I, he,
she, it
8. SECOND CONDITIONALS
•However when we give advice we say:
-If I were you, I’d be more careful.
•The main clause and the if-clause can
go in either order:
– If I went to New York, I’d go to Brodway.
OR
– I’d go to Brodway if I went to New York
9. THIRD CONDITIONALS
We use the Third Conditional to talk about a
hypothetical or imaginary situation in the
past, which didn´t happen.
10. THIRD CONDITIONALS
Third Conditional sentences are formed
as follows:
IF
Past Perfect
Past Perfect Cont.
Would have
Could have
Might have
Past
participle
11. THIRD CONDITIONALS
Examples:
• If you had studied more, you would have
passed your exams.
• If we hadn’t missed the bus, we
wouldn´t have been late.
• If I had known you needed help, I could
have helped you.
12. UNREAL CONDITIONALS
SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER:
• Sometimes, second and third
conditionals can be mixed if a
hypothetical situation in the past has a
present or future consequence:
-We wouldn´t be so happy now if we
hadn´t won the lottery.
• Use a comma after the if-clause.
-If we hadn´t won the lottery, we
wouldn´t be so happy now.
13. SECOND AND THIRD
CONDIONALS
EXERCISES
Make true sentences about yourself:
• I’d be really annoyed if . . .
• I’d retire if . . .
• I´d split up with my boyfriend if…
• I’d have invited you if . . .
• I´d have given you my phone number if…
