Zero Conditional
Use:
The first conditional structure is used to talk about something which is always true. It always happens, on the condition that something else happens.
Example: If it rains a lot, our garden floods.
Form:
1. Make the first conditional in this way.
| If When Unless | I you he she... | present simple | , | I you he she... | present simple |
Examples: If you fly on a budget airline, you have to buy your own drinks.
When we visit Geoff, he always cooks us a roast dinner.
Or
| I you he she... | present simple | if when unless | I you he she... | present simple |
Examples: You have to buy your own drinks if you fly on a budget airline.
Geoff always cooks us a roast dinner when we visit him.
2. You can also form the zero conditional with the imperative form.
If you have a membership card, enter through the door on the left.
Enter through the door on the left if you have a membership card.
3. You can also form the zero conditional using a modal verb.
If the alarm goes off, we should leave the building.
If it’s rainy and sunny at the same time, you can often see a rainbow.
4. Different tenses can be used in the If / When (‘condition’) clause. However, only the present simple, a modal or imperative form can be used in the ‘result’ clause.
If we’ve finished all our work, we can leave early.
If people are getting enough exercise, they usually feel better emotionally as well as physically.
First Conditional
Use:
The first conditional structure is used to talk about something which will or may happen in the future as a result of something else.
Example: If it rains tomorrow, I’ll stay at home.
Form:
Make the first conditional in this way.
| If When | I you he she... | present simple | , | I you he she... | will / won’t might / might not | verb (infinitive form) |
Examples: If I see Tom, I will tell him the news.
When you visit, we might go to the park.
If the result is only possible, not certain, we use might (not will):
Or
| I you he she... | will / won’t might / might not | verb (infinitive form) | if when | I you he she... | present simple |
Examples: She’ll be late if she doesn’t hurry up.
You might not pass your exams if you watch television all the time.
If it’s hot, we might go to the beach.
Common Mistakes:
1) Don’t use will or might directly after will or might.
If I will arrive first, I’ll make lunch. => If I arrive first, I’ll make lunch.
2) Always use an infinitive verb after will and might.
I might to go out tonight, if I’m not too tired. => I might go out tonight if I’m not too tired.
We can use unless to mean ‘if…not’:
We will go to the mountains on Saturday unless it rains. (= …if it doesn’t rain.)
Unless you pay for the broken window, I’ll phone the police. (= If you don’t pay)
Exercises
A) Open the brackets in the conditional sentences making necessary changes.
Example: If he (come) tomorrow, he will help us. — If he comes tomorrow, he will help us.
1. If you (put) salt on ice, it will melt. 2. If he (leave) now, he will miss the rush hour. 3. provided that she (service) the car; we'll be able to drive to the country. 4. Unless he (do) his homework, he'll stay at home. 5. Providing that we (get up) early, we'll reach the place of destination in time. 6. They will let us know if they (see) him.
b) Put will or might in the gaps.
Example: If Mary comes, I will definitely tell her what happened.
I might change my car if I get a better job, but I’m not sure.
1. Alan hasn’t decided but he thinks that if his health doesn’t improve, he ____ move to another town.
2. Rose has decided what to do: if Tom doesn’t want to go to the museum, she ____ go there alone.
3. We’ve decided; we ____ lend them our car if they pay for the petrol.
4. I’m not sure. If I win some money, I ___ take a holiday, or ___ put the money in the bank.
C) Rewrite the underlined words using the words in brackets.
Example: They won’t let her in to the concert unless she has a ticket.
(if) They won’t let her in if she doesn’t have a ticket.
We won’t go and see that film if you don’t want to.
(unless) We won’t go and see that film unless you want to.
1. The doctor will not see you if you do not telephone first.
(unless) The doctor will not see ______________________
2. You can’t go and stay at the Johnsons’ unless they invite you.
(if) You can’t go and stay at the Johnsons’__________________
3. You can’t be a sailor unless you can swim.
(if) You can’t be a sailor ________________________________
4. Our team will be in trouble if we don’t win on Saturday.
(unless) Our team will be in trouble _______________________
Lexis
1. Match the two halves of these expressions to make some questions about education.
a) In which school subjects did you always use to get 1 in another foreign language?
b) When was the last time you failed an 2 low marks?
c) How easy is it to get a 3 attention in class?
d) Have you ever taken a course 4 on to further education?
e) What qualifications do you need if you want to go 5 exam?
f) What sort of things do you think it is best to learn 6 by heart?
g) What time of day did you find it hardest to pay 7 university?
h) How do you apply for a place at 8 grant for further education?
2. Work with a partner. Ask each other the questions in 1.
Listening
Listen to Mr and Mrs Barrington talking about their eighteen-year-old daughter, Saffron. Decide which of the following sentences best summarizes their feelings about Saffron’s plans for the future.
a) They want Saffron to go to university but they’re worried about supporting her financially.
b) They think Saffron should get a university degree before she tries to become a pop singer.
c) They think that it would be a waste of time for Saffron to go to university because she really wants to be a pop singer.
2. Listen again to the conversation and complete these extracts, using the following phrases: