Index

1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 2

2. First Conditional ......................................................................................................................... 3

3. Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 5

4. Bibliographic References ............................................................................................................ 6

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1. Introduction
We are talking about the future. We are thinking of a certain condition or situation in the future,
and the result of this condition. There is a real possibility that this condition will happen. For
example, it's 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 are you going to do? If Conditional Result

Present Simple Will + Base Verb

If It Rains i Will Stay at Home

Notice that we are thinking of a future condition. It's not raining yet. But the sky is overcast and
you think it might rain. We use the tense simple present to talk about the possible future
condition. We use WILL + base verb to talk about the possible future outcome. The important
thing about the first condition is that there is a real possibility that the condition will happen.
Here are a few more examples .Conditional Result

Present Simple Will + Base Verb

If i See Mary I Will Tell Her.

If Tara is Free Tomorrow He Willinvite Her.

If It Rains Tomorrow Will You Stay at Home?

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2. First Conditional
The First Conditional is used to express actions or situations that are likely to happen in the
future. When we use it we are thinking about a situation or condition in the future that will be
responsible for a result. In the First Conditional there is a real possibility that the condition,
action or situation in matter will happen.

Look at the example:

If I have enough happiness, I will be happy ever after!

The First Conditional Form:

If + Simple Present + Simple Future

Look at more examples using the First Conditional:

If I call Daniel, he will be really happy.

If you give her some love, she will love you back.

If we tell our parents we want it, they will give it to us.

If they don’t hurry, they will miss the bus.

Notice that, in all the above situations we are thinking about a future condition. None of the
situations is happening yet, but there is the possibility of all of them to conclude. The Present
Simple is used to show a possible future condition and the Simple Future to show a possible
future result. Remember that the possibility of the condition will happen is real, this is really
important in the first conditional.

The first conditional structure isn’t rigid because it can vary depending on the sentence. The “if”
clause can appear or not in the beginning of the sentence. Look the examples bellow:

If Clause + Main Clause

If I see Park, I will hug him!

If you are free tonight, he will invite you to dinner.

If we don’t study to the Finals, we won’t pass the exams.

Main Clause + If Clause

I will hug Park, if I see him.

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He will invite you to dinner, if you are free tonight.

We won’t pass the exams, if we don’t study to the finals.

2.1. Considerations about the First Conditional

When we use the Simple Future to form the First Conditional it doesn’t mean that we will just
use the “will” to represent the future. We can use the “going to” as well as “will”, and also some
modal verbs such as “can”, “may” and “must”. Look at the examples bellow and check it out!

If I see her, I'm going to tell her exactly how I feel.

If you go to Paris, you must see the Eiffel Tower.

If she comes, we can talk about it with her.

If we ask you about the exercise, you may be able to help us.

If I have time, I‘ll visit grandma.

If we don’t hurry, we‘ll be late for work.

If it rains, we‘re going to stay home.

If they invite me, I‘ll go to their party.

If you phone me when you arrive, I‘ll pick you up.

If it rains, we won’t go to the movies.

If I see her, I‘ll tell her what you told me.

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3. Conclusion

Conditional phrases are formed by two sentences, one subordinate and the other principal. But
they are classified as:

The sentence that holds the IF is called: Conditional Clause

And the other prayer is called: main clause

Notice that we are thinking of a future condition. It's not raining yet. But the sky is overcast and
you think it might rain. We use the tense simple present to talk about the possible future
condition. We use WILL + base verb to talk about the possible future outcome. The important
thing about the first condition is that there is a real possibility that the condition will happen.

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4. Bibliographic References
PUCHTA, Herbert; STRANKS, Jeff. Into English 1. São Paulo: Ática, 2012.

RICHARDS, J. C.; HULL; J, PROCTOR, S. Interchange 1A. Textbook. 3rd edition. Cambridge:
CUP, 2005.

SELLEN, DEREK. Grammar World. Canterbury Black Cat Publlishing. England: Pearson, 2000.

TORRES, Nelson. Gramática Prática da Língua Inglesa: O inglês descomplicado. São Paulo:
Ática, 2001.