ZERO CONDITIONAL

IF CLAUSE

MAIN CLAUSE

If + Present Simple

Present Simple

If you freeze water

It turns into ice.

We use the so-called zero conditional when the result of the condition is always true, like a
scientific fact.!
IF

CONDITION

RESULTS

Present Simple

Present Simple

If

I miss the 8 oclock bus

I am late for work.

If

People dont eat

They get hungry.

If

I am late for work

My boss gets angry.

RESULT

IF

Present Simple

CONDITION
Present Simple

I am late for work

If

I miss the 8 oclock bus.

People get hungry

If

They dont eat.

My boss gets angry

If

I am late for work.

We can also use when instead of if, for example: When I get up late I miss my buss.!

Se emplea esta construccin para hablar sobre hbitos y verdades universales, en este
caso, if= whenever (siempre que).!

If I have a big lunch, it makes me sleepy. (= Wherever I have a big lunch ...)!
If you mix yellow and blue, you get green. (= Wherever you mix yellow and blue ...)!

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FIRST CONDITIONAL: REAL POSSIBILITY

IF CLAUSE

MAIN CLAUSE

If + Present Tense

WILL / CAN / MAY / MUST + Infinitive

If it rains today,

I will stay at home.

!
IF

CONDITION

RESULTS

Present Simple

Will + infinitive

If

You dont do more work,

You will fail the exam.

If

I see Mary

I will tell her.

If

It rains tomorrow

I will stay at home.

!
RESULT

IF

Will + Infinitive

CONDITION
Present Simple

He will be late for work

If

He doesnt hurry up.

He will invite Tara

If

She is free tomorrow.

I will stay at home

If

It rains tomorrow.

Sometimes, we use shall, can or may instead of will, for example:!

If you are good today, you can watch TV tonight.!

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USES:!

- Se emplea para la construccin cuando existe la posibilidad de que la situacin iniciada

en la oracin con IF suceda en el futuro.!
If I go out, I will buy a newspaper. ( Puede que salga, puede que no)!
- Tambin se emplea cuando existe la posibilidad de que la situacin indicada en la
oracin con IF sea cierta en el presente.!
If youre hungry, Ill make you something to eat. (Puede que tengas hambre, o no)!

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SECOND CONDITIONAL: UNREAL POSSIBILITY OR DREAM

IF

IF CLAUSE

MAIN CLAUSE

If + Past Simple

WOULD / COULD / MIGHT+ Infinitive

If I had more money

I would buy a bigger house.

CONDITION

RESULTS

Past Simple

Would / could + infinitive

If

He spoke English

He could get a job.

If

I married Mary

I would be happy.

If

I were you

I would buy a new computer.

RESULT

IF

Would + Infinitive

CONDITION
Past Simple

I would get on better with my parents

If

I didnt live with there

I would be happy

If

I married Mary.

Would you be surprised

If

It snowed next July?

Sometimes, we use should, could or might instead of would, for example: !

If I won a million dollars, I could stop working. !

USES: !
- Se emplea para hablar sobre situaciones presentes o futuras hipotticas.!
If I had a lot of money, I would travel round the world. (Pero no lo tengo)!
If I didnt feel so tired, I would come out with you. (Pero estoy muy cansado)!

- Tambin se emplea para hablar de situaciones presentes o futuras poco probables.!

If she really loved you, she wouldnt be so horrible to you. !
If I won a lot of money, I would like a long holiday.!

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THIRD CONDITIONAL: NO POSSIBILITY
IF CLAUSE

MAIN CLAUSE

If + Past Perfect

WOULD / COULD / MIGHT+ have + Past Participle

If I had won the lottery,

I would have traveled around the world.

IF

CONDITION

RESULTS

Past Perfect

Would / could + have + Past Participle

If

I had won the lottery

I would have bought a car.

If

Tara had been free yesterday

I would have invited her.

RESULT

IF

Would have + Past Participle

CONDITION
Past Perfect

I would have invited Tara

If

She had been free yesterday.

Their teacher would have been sad

If

They had not passed their exam.

We would had won

If

Our best player handt been injured.

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USES: !
- Se emplea para hablar sobre situaciones imposibles por referirse al pasado.!
If the weather had been nice yesterday, I would have gone to the beach. (Pero el tiempo
no fue bueno)!

Other Forms:
En la oracin se puede emplear verbos modales: might y could en lugar de would.
If you had taken the exam, you might have passed the exam. (= ... Quiz habras
aprobado)
I could have repaired the car, if Id had the right tools. (= Habra podido arreglar el
coche si....)

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CONDITIONALS: SUMMARY

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PROBABILITY

CONDITIONAL

EXAMPLE

TIME

100%

Zero conditional

If you heat ice, it melts.

Any time

50%

First conditional

If it rains, I will stay at home.

Future

10%

Second
conditional

If you won lottery, I would buy a

car.

Future

0%

Third conditional

If I had won the lottery, I would

have bought a car.

Past

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WHEN OR IF
Se emplea if para cosas que no sabemos con seguridad si van a suceder:
If I see Sarah, I will invite her to the party. (Puede que la vea, puede que no)
I will visit Martin if I go to Manchester. (Puede que vaya a Manchester, o no vaya)
Se emplea when para cosas que estamos seguros que van a suceder:
When I see Sally, I will invite her to the party. (Estoy seguro de que ver a Sally)
I will visit Martin when I go to Manchester. (Estoy seguro que ir a Manchester)

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CONDITIONALS WITHOUT IF
En las oraciones condicionales se pueden emplear otras palabras en lugar de IF:!
UNLESS:!
- Se puede emplear con el significado de if.......not (si no ...)!
Unless you put on some suncream, youll get sunburnt. (= Si no te echas bronceador....)!
I wont go to the party unless you go too. (= ... si no vas t tambin)!

- Tambin se emplea con frecuencia en amenazas y advertencias:!

Unless you stop making that noise, I will scream!!
Youll be hungry unless you eat now. !

AS / SO LONG AS, PROVIDED / PROVIDING (that):!

Se emplea as/so long as y provided/providing (that) con el significado de if but only if
(slo si / siempre que).!
I will go to the party provided you go too.(= ...Slo si tu vas/siempre que vayas t tambin)!

AND , OR (else)!
- A veces se emplea and para unir dos ideas en una oracin con IF.!
Stay in bed for a few days and you will be fine. (= If you stay in bed for a few days youll
be fine.)!
- Se puede emplear or (else) con el significado de if not (si no) o otherwise (en caso
contrario).!
Dont try to lift that box or (else) you will hurt yourself.!
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