First, second, third and mixed conditionals
First conditional structure
Examples:
expresses true or very probable
situation in the present or future.
If + Present Simple, Future Simple
Imperative
can/may/might/
must/should
+ bare infinitive
If it is sunny, we will go to the beach.
If you need help, ask me.
If you do your homework, you can go
out.
If you go hiking, you must wear hiking
boots.
1. If you’re free later, we can go for a walk.
2. If they’re hungry, I’ll make some sandwiches.
3. He’ll call if he needs help.
4. Take a break if you’re tired. (Imperative form)
Second conditional structure
expresses untrue or improbable
situations in the present or future.
If + Past Simple, would/could/
might
+ bare infinitive
If I had more free time, I would take
up gardening.
If I won a lot of money in a lottery, I
might give some to charity.
Examples:
1. If I had more time, I’d exercise more. (But I don’t have more time
so I don’t.)
2. If I were rich, I’d spend all my time travelling. (But I’m not rich so
I can’t.)
3. You wouldn’t have to walk everywhere if you bought a bike.
Third conditional structure
expresses unreal, impossible
situations in the past.
If + Past Perfect, would have
+ past participle
If I had seen Robert, I would have
talked to him
.
Examples:
1. If we had left earlier, we would have arrived on time.
2. If you hadn’t forgotten her birthday, she wouldn’t have
been upset.
3. They wouldn’t have hired you if you hadn’t had some
experience abroad.
4. You could have helped me if you’d stayed later.
Mixed conditionals
To make a hypothesis about the
past that has a consequence in
the present.
If + past perfect, would/could
verb
Examples:
1. If you’d studied harder, you’d be at a higher level now.
2. We’d be lying on a beach now if we hadn’t missed the plane.
3. What would you be doing now if you hadn’t decided to study?
Let’s work!
Read the following reading and answer the questions.
Then, identify the conditionals sentences and what type
they are.
The mystery of the Red Truck
By Sally Nicholls, a local reporter It has been confirmed that late on the
night of the sixth of July, a large red truck ran into the bakery on
Maryland Street. After an initial investigation by police, it is now clear
that the truck had no driver at all. The locals are asking a simple
question: “Where was the driver?” If the police want to solve this
mystery, they will need the CCTV footage from the street. One of the
locals said: “We’re all quite worried about a truck with no driver. This
truck has never been seen in the neighbourhood before. If we’d seen
that truck before, we’d solve this mystery now.” Many locals share the
same concerns. They want to know what’s happening in their town.
A witness at the crime scene told police: “There was a loud noise
coming from the truck while it was going towards the building and its
speed.... it was unbelievable. If it had been going slower, I would’ve had
a chance to see the driver. But all I saw was the truck speeding into the
bakery as fast as it could.’’
The police have already spoken with eleven other residents but no one
knows any further details about the incident. Superintendent Amanda
Slippers remarked: “This is a tough case. The truck licence plate
belongs to this town, but nobody has seen it here. According to the
town records, the owner of the truck moved away from here years ago.
No one knows where to. If we located the owner, we'd probably solve
this mystery.’’
If a truck moves, then it has a driver. Well, maybe we should change
this basic assumption on account of this mysterious red truck.
Decide if the statements are true or false according to the
text.
1. The locals knew that the red truck had an old driver.
2. The police have investigated all the people in the town.
3. The CCTV footage of the street will help the police.
4. The locals haven’t seen the truck in the town before.
5. The truck ran into the building very slowly.
0
