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Conditionals: 58 The First Conditional

There are three main types of conditional sentences: first, second, and third conditionals. The first conditional refers to possible future events and uses "if + present simple" and "future tense." The zero conditional describes general truths or instructions using "if + present simple" and "present simple." Examples are provided for each type of conditional along with practice exercises for forming conditional sentences in the appropriate tenses.

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134 views

Conditionals: 58 The First Conditional

There are three main types of conditional sentences: first, second, and third conditionals. The first conditional refers to possible future events and uses "if + present simple" and "future tense." The zero conditional describes general truths or instructions using "if + present simple" and "present simple." Examples are provided for each type of conditional along with practice exercises for forming conditional sentences in the appropriate tenses.

Uploaded by

Margarita Alcevska
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Conditionals

There are three main types of conditional. These are usually described as the
first, second and third conditionals.

58 The first conditional


FORM
if + present simple

future

If you drop it,


If you come at ten,
If you phone me,

it'll break.
we'll be ready.
I'll pick you up at the park.

or future
It'll break
We'll be ready
I'll pick you up later

if + present simple
if you drop it.
if you come at ten.
if you phone me.

USE
The first conditional refers to the future. It is used when there is a possibility
that the if-event might happen.
If it rains, we'll go to the cinema. (= It might rain: it might not)
If the sun shines, we'll go to the beach. [ = The sun might shine: it might not)
Note: going to is sometimes used in the first conditional to describe a future plan:
If it rains, we're going to visit my mother.

Practice
Write these sentences, putting the verbs in brackets into the present simple or
the future simple.
1 If the train's late, we (walk).
if the train's late, well walk.

2 She (call) you if she (have) time.


She'll call you If she has
time.
3 If it costs too much, I (buy) a smaller one.
4 If the doctor can't see me, I (go) somewhere else.

79

Verbs

5 If the class (be) full, we (find) another one.


6 What will we do if the taxi (not come)?
7 Will you phone me if there (be) any problems?

8 T (ask) Peter if I (see) him tomorrow.


9 I (go) next week, if 1 (can) get a train ticket.

10 Tf T (have) to, I (complain) to the manager.


11 If he (see) me here, he (be) really angry.
12 Mary (be) worried if you don't come to the airport.

13 If it (snow) this winter, we (go) skiing.


14 I (lend) them some money if they (ask) me.
15 If you (visit) Oxford, you (see) some interesting old buildings.

61 Zero conditional
There is another conditional which is often called zero conditional.
FORM
if + present simple

present simple

If you press the button,


If you go in the best seats,

the machine switches off.


you get a free drink.

or present simple
The machine switches off
You get a free drink

if + present simple
if you press this button.
if you go in the best seats.

USE
If has the same meaning as when here.
The zero conditional is used:
a)
for instructions:
If you select reverse gear, the car goes backwards.

If the camera is on, a red light appears.


b)

for general truths:


if he's got no money, he doesn't go oat.
lie always says hello if he sees you.

Practice
Put the verbs into the correct tense.
1

Water (freeze) if the temperature falls below zero.


Water freezes if the temperature falls below zero,

2 If he's angry, his face always (go) bright red.

3 If you put your money in a savings account, you (get) ten per cent interest.

If the microphone isn't working, you (can not) hear what he's saying.

5 The radio (not work) if the batteries are flat.

6 If there (be} only a few students, we usually close one of the classes.

7 The machine (not work) if it doesn't have enough oil.

8 If a balloon is filled with hot air, it (rise).


9 If water (boil), it changes into steam.
10 The machine stops automatically if something (go) wrong.

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