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Lesson 6 – Real Conditionals

There are two parts to a conditional sentence – the condition and the result. The

result depends on the condition.

In English, we have "real conditionals" (which talk about real possibilities) and

"unreal conditionals" (which talk about imaginary or impossible situations). Here

are some examples of each type:

Real conditionals:

Zero Conditional:

If someone breaks a window, an alarm goes off.

First Conditional:

If I miss the bus tonight, then I'll take a taxi instead.

Unreal conditionals:

Second Conditional:

If I owned a car, I would drive to work.

Third Conditional:

If I had studied harder, I would have passed the test.

Mixed Conditional:

If I had finished my work yesterday, I wouldn't be so stressed out today.

Today's lesson will cover the "real conditionals" - the zero conditional and first

conditional. Tomorrow we will learn about the "unreal conditionals" - second, third,

and mixed conditionals.

Zero Conditional

This is the simplest conditional form - it describes things that normally happen in

daily life, when one thing depends on another, or is the result of another:

If the weather is nice, then I walk to work.

Condition: If the weather is nice

Result: I walk to work.

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If it's raining, I take an umbrella.

If I get to class early, I spend a few minutes reading.

If my husband forgets to take out the trash,

I remind him to do it.

In the zero conditional, both verbs (the verb in the condition

and the verb in the result) are in the present tense.

The word if implies that a situation happens less frequently, and the

word when implies it happens more frequently:

If I have a day off from work, I usually go

to the park. (implies that having a day off

from work is not frequent)

When I go to my favorite restaurant, the

waiters greet me by name. (implies that I

go to this restaurant frequently)

We can use the words whenever and every time to say that

a certain result always follows the condition:

Whenever I stay up too late, I oversleep the next morning.

Every time I go to that store, it's crowded.

Put it into practice!

Use the zero conditional (with verbs in the simple present tense) to answer these

questions:

What do you do if you can't fall asleep?

o If I can't fall asleep, I...

What do you normally do if you have a day off from your responsibilities?

o If I have a day off, I...

Where do you go when you want to have some fun?

o When I want to have some fun, I...

What's one thing you do every time you leave the house?

o Every time I leave the house, I...



Who is one person you talk to whenever you need some advice?

o Whenever I need some advice, I...

First Conditional

Whereas the zero conditional talks about real present situations, the first

conditional talks about real future possibilities.

For example:

If it's sunny tomorrow, then we'll go to the beach.

Condition = if it's sunny tomorrow

Result = we'll go to the beach

If it rains tomorrow, then we'll go to the movies.

Condition = if it rains tomorrow

Result = we’ll go to the movies

We can also reverse the order of the condition and result in the sentence, with no

change in meaning:

We'll go to the beach if it's sunny tomorrow.

We'll go to the movies if it rains tomorrow.



Although both events (the condition and result) are technically in the future, we use

the simple present in the condition (the part that starts with "if"), and will/won’t

or going to/ not going to in the result. Don't make the mistake of

using will/won't in the condition:

If it will rain tomorrow, we'll see a movie.

If it rains tomorrow, we'll see a movie.

You’re going to miss your flight if you won't leave soon.

You’re going to miss your flight if you don't leave soon.

To ask questions about future possibilities, we can use this structure:

Question

word

will subject base form of

verb

if condition

What will you do if you are elected

president?

Question

word

am/is/are subject going to +

verb

if condition

What are you going to say if he asks for your

opinion?

For yes/no questions, we don’t need a question word:

Will you buy the TV if it goes on sale next week?

(result) (condition)

Are you going to move if you get the job in London?

(result) (condition)

Again, we ask questions like these when it is a real future possibility that the

condition will happen. A journalist could ask the question “What will you do if you

are elected president?” to a real candidate in the election.

If there is NOT a real future possibility of it happening (if we are only imagining) or

if it is not very likely, then we would use a different structure, with "would" -

you will learn this in tomorrow's lesson.



Other Words Besides "If"

In first conditional sentences, it is possible to use other words instead of if:

ALTERNATIVE

TO “IF”

WHY USE IT? EXAMPLE

When When the “condition”

will definitely happen.

When I die, I’ll leave all my money to

charity.

As soon as To emphasize

immediacy

This situation is very urgent. I’ll call

you as soon as I have more

information.

Unless In place of “if not” You’ll fail the test unless you study.

= You’ll fail the test if you don’t study.

Let's study each case separately.

When: When the condition will definitely happen in the future.

Look at the difference between these two sentences:

If I see Sam, I'll give him your message.

(= I'm not sure if I will see him or not)

When I see Sam, I'll give him your message.

(= I will definitely see Sam)

As soon as: To emphasize immediacy; the condition will definitely happen and the

result will follow it immediately.

My feet hurt! As soon as I get home, I'm going

to take off these high heels.



As soon as we have enough money saved, we'll take a vacation to Costa Rica.

We can't wait!

I'll respond to your e-mail as soon as I can.

Unless is a substitute for "if not” or another negative word:

Unless there's an emergency at work, I'll be home on time.

= If there's not an emergency at work, I'll be home on time.

You won't lose any weight unless you start eating

healthier food.

= You won't lose any weight if you don't start eating

healthier food.

I'm not going to dance unless somebody asks me.

= I'm not going to dance if nobody asks me.

With unless, we often say the result first, followed by the

condition:

You’re not going to pass the test unless you study.

(more common)

Unless you study, you’re not going to pass the test.

(less common)



Put it into practice!

Think about one thing that is definitely going to happen in your future (Ex. when I

retire, when I graduate, when my kids are grown up, when I turn 50, etc.) and say

one thing that you will/won't do at that time or as a result:

When ___________, I ______________________.

(present tense) (will / going to)

What are you going to do as soon as you finish this lesson?

As soon as I finish this lesson, I'm going to ______________________________.

Now think about something in the future that depends on your taking action.

First, make the sentence with "If I don't..."

If I don't ___________________________, then ________________________________.

Ex) If I don’t buy groceries later today, then I won’t have anything to eat

tomorrow.

Now say the same sentence with unless, and practice saying it both ways:

Ex) Unless I buy groceries later today, I won’t have anything to eat tomorrow.

I won’t have anything to eat tomorrow unless I buy groceries later today.

Unless I ______________________________, ____________________________________.

(simple present) (will/won’t/going to)

_________________________________ unless ___________________________________.

(will/won’t/going to) (simple present)

Summary

Conditionals are sentences in which one thing depends on another.

Use the zero conditional for things that happen regularly in daily life - "If

you freeze water, it turns to ice." Both verbs are in the simple present.



The word if implies that a situation happens less frequently, and the

word when implies it happens more frequently. Whenever and every time

mean a certain result always follows the condition.

Use the first conditional for things that are real possibilities in the future: "If

it's sunny tomorrow, then we'll go to the beach." Although both events are

technically in the future, we use the simple present in the condition, and

will/going to in the result.

You can use when instead of if when the condition will definitely happen in

the future.

Use as soon as to emphasize that the result will immediately follow the

condition

Use unless in place of "if not."

You’ve finished Lesson 6! Now continue to the quiz and practice exercises to review

the real conditionals in this lesson.

Writing Task

You have been invited to speak at a graduation ceremony for high school students.

Consider what advice you’ll give them for their lives, careers, and futures, and write

your speech. Try to use at least 3 first conditional sentences describing the results if

the graduates make certain choices or adopt certain attitudes in the future (ex. If you

work hard and value relationships, you’ll be successful).

E-mail me your text at [email protected] – and I’ll review it and send you

back my comments.


mailto:[email protected]


Quiz – Lesson 6 – Real Conditionals

Match the first and second halves of these conditional sentences:

1. If he doesn't pay me back,

2. You won't make a good impression

3. If you annoy the cat,

4. The company will recall the product

5. If our biggest client cancels,

6. We'll arrive at 4

7. When I get my year-end bonus,

8. She'll be happy to help

9. If you go over the speed limit,

10. They won't travel

11. If I buy that lamp,

12. If you don't get a good grade on the

final exam,

a. if any defects are found.

b. if we take the 2:30 train.

c. if you ask her.

d. if you wear flip-flops to a job interview.

e. I'll put it in the bedroom.

f. I'm going to take all my friends out to dinner.

g. she'll scratch you.

h. then I won't lend him any more money.

i. then we'll have to find some new customers.

j. unless they find someone to take care of their

dog.

k. you won't advance to the next level.

l. you'll get a ticket.



Now choose the correct option for each verb:

1. If I don't / won’t find my watch, I have / I'll have to buy a new one.

2. I'm going to take a shower as soon as I get / will get home from the gym.

3. If the surgery isn't / won’t be successful, he'll have just six months to live.

4. You have / You’ll have a great time if you go / you’ll go to Rio.

5. We are / We’ll be disappointed if nobody comes / will come to our party on

Friday.

6. If you forget / you’ll forget your wife's birthday next week, she is / she’ll be

upset.

7. He's in a meeting right now, but I let / I'll let you know as soon as he’s / he’ll

be available.

8. As soon as she graduates / is going to graduate from college, she starts /

she’ll start looking for a job.

9. If we drive / we’ll drive into the city center tonight, we get / we’ll get stuck

in traffic.

10. I give / I’ll give him the documents when I see / I’ll see him later today.

11. When I get / will get married, I have / I’m going to have a simple wedding.

12. We see / We're going to see the movie as soon as it comes / will come out.



Answers

First exercise:

1. h (If he doesn't pay me back, then I won't lend him any more money)

2. d (You won't make a good impression if you wear flip-flops to a job interview)

3. g (If you annoy the cat, she'll scratch you)

4. a (The company will recall the product if any defects are found)

5. i (If our biggest client cancels, then we'll have to find some new customers)

6. b (We'll arrive at 4 if we take the 2:30 train)

7. f (When I get my year-end bonus, I'm going to take all my friends out to

dinner)

8. c (She'll be happy to help if you ask her)

9. l (If you go over the speed limit, you'll get a ticket)

10. j (They won't travel unless they find someone to take care of their dog)

11. e (If I buy that lamp, I'll put it in the bedroom)

12. k (If you don't get a good grade on the final exam, you don't advance to the

next level)



Second exercise:

1. If I don't find my watch, I'll have to buy a new one.

2. I'm going to take a shower as soon as I get home from the gym.

3. If the surgery isn't successful, he'll have just six months to live.

4. You’ll have a great time if you go to Rio.

5. We’ll be disappointed if nobody comes to our party on Friday.

6. If you forget your wife's birthday next week, she’ll be upset.

7. He's in a meeting right now, but I'll let you know as soon as he’s available.

8. As soon as she graduates from college, she’ll start looking for a job.

9. If we drive into the city center tonight, we’ll get stuck in traffic.

10. I’ll give him the documents when I see him later today.

11. When I get married, I’m going to have a simple wedding.

12. We're going to see the movie as soon as it comes out.


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