Conditional Sentences have two clauses, which are usually connected with

the word “IF”; they indicate that one action or event depends on another.

TERMS
• clause
a group of words, consisting of a subject and a verb.

• sentence
a group of words, usually containing a verb, that expresses a thought in the form of a statement
or question and starts with a capital letter.

• Condition *
something essential to the appearance or occurrence of something else.

• modal verb
A modal verb is an auxiliary that expresses functions or intentions (modality).

(*) Condition. (n.d.). Retrieved July 17, 2017, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/condition

Read this Reflection about appreciating what we have:

The IF Generation

Nowadays, many people have issues with appreciating what they have; it is
always the matter of ‘If I were richer…’, ‘If I were
younger…’, ‘If I were him…’ etc. I don’t have a problem
with the fact that we want more from our lives; what
annoys me is the fact that we keep saying what we would
do ‘IF’…
When I was younger, I thought that if my parents had been
richer I could have been more fortunate with my life. Now, I
keep finding myself the new ‘ifs’ that can successfully keep
me away from being happy. I think that if I had more time,
I would start going to the gym; if I had more money, I
would eat healthy, etc.
‘I’ll visit you if I have time’ usually means ‘I won’t visit you, I’m busy. Why do
we choose to send confusing messages when we can simply say what we
think? We have to be not only politically correct; we must be socially correct,
too.
Adapted from: http://busyteacher.org/17048-conditionals-reading-comprehension-and-speaking.html
Conditionals
Look at this example:

• I’ll visit you if I have time

In this sentence, the promise “I will visit you”, depends on the condition “if I have
time”. This is an example of a Conditional Sentence.

There are some structures in English that are called conditionals - if a particular
condition is true, then a particular result happens:

If I have time, I will visit you.

(Condition) (Result)

Structure of Conditional Sentences

The structure of most conditionals is very simple. There are two basic possibilities.
We add many words and can use various tenses, but the basic structure is usually like
this:

if condition result result if condition

OR
If I have time, I’ll visit you. I’ll visit you if I have time.

Notice the comma in the first sentence (the one that starts with “IF”). In the second
sentence, we do not use a comma.

Types of Conditionals
There are three basic English conditionals that we use more often. There are some
more conditionals that we do not use so often.
The choice of usage depends on the Certainty (certeza) of the condition happening. In
other words, some conditions can be true, possible, imaginary, or impossible.

Conditional zero If you have fever, you feel weak.

TRUE

ALWAYS TRUE Si tienes fiebre, te sientes débil.

First conditional If I feel well tomorrow, I will go to the park.
POSSIBLE IN THE FUTURE Si me siento bien mañana, iré a la plaza.
IMPOSSIBLE

Second conditional If I felt well, I would go to the park.

IMAGINARY SITUATION or WISH Si me sintiera bien, iría a la plaza.
Third conditional * If I had felt well yesterday, I would have gone.
IMPOSSIBLE (IN THE PAST) Si me hubiese sentido bien ayer, habría ido.
Third Conditional will NOT be covered in this material.
Zero Conditional
This type of condition is always true; we generally use it for scientific facts.

• If you touch fire, you get burned.

• When it rains, waterdrops fall from the sky.
Notice that we can use “IF” or “WHEN”, with the same meaning.
The previous sentences are always true. We use the Present Simple for the Condition,
and the Present Simple, as well, for the results.

Conditional Zero – TRUE (Present tense – Present tense)

IF + Present + Present

IF Condition Result Translation

If you touch fire, you get burned. Si tocas el fuego, te quemas.

If you heat ice, it melts. Si calientas el hielo, se derrite.

OR
Present IF + Present

Result IF Condition Translation

You get burned if you touch fire. Te quemas si tocas el fuego.

Ice melts If you heat it. El hielo se derrite si lo calientas.

First Conditional
This type of condition is possible; we use it when there is a real possibility for the
result to happen in the future, and for forecasts, threats, and promises (pronósticos,
amenazas y promesas).

• If you make a mistake, someone will let you know.

• If he asks me, I will consider his proposal carefully.

Note that we can also use negative conditions.

• If Ann asks me, I will not / won’t tell her.
• If I don’t have / do not have to work tomorrow, I will come.
The previous sentences are possible. We use the Present Simple for the Condition, and
the Future (WILL), for the results.

First Conditional – POSSIBLE (Present tense – Future tense)

IF + Present + Future

IF Condition Result Translation

If you make a mistake, someone will let you Si cometes un error, alguien te lo
know. hará saber.
If he asks me, I will consider his Si él me lo pide, consideraré su
proposal carefully. propuesta cuidadosamente.
OR
Future + IF + Present

Result IF Condition Translation

Someone will let you if you make a mistake. Alguien te hará saber si cometes
know un error.
I will consider his if he asks me. Consideraré su propuesta
proposal carefully cuidadosamente si él me lo pide.

We can also use Unless instead of IF: unless means “except if”.
Here are some examples of unless:

• Don't tell Ann what I said unless she asks you. ( = except if she asks you)
No le cuentes a Ann lo que dije, excepto si pregunta / a menos que pregunte.
• I'll come tomorrow unless I have to work. ( = except if I have to work)
Vendré mañana, excepto si / a menos que tenga que trabajar.

Instead of unless it is possible to say if . . . not:

• Don't tell Ann what I said if she doesn't ask you.

No le cuentes a Ann lo que dije si no te lo pregunta.
• We'll be late if we don't hurry.
Llegaremos tarde si no nos apuramos.

Second Conditional
This type of condition is imaginary, or hypothetical; we use it when there is not a
possibility for the result to happen in the future; or when we are speaking about
imaginary situations and whishes (deseos).

• If I liked parties, I would attend more of them.

• If it rained tomorrow, people would dance in the street.

The previous sentences are imaginary or hypothetical. We use the Past Simple for the
Condition, and the modal verb WOULD, for the results.

First Conditional – POSSIBLE (Present tense – Future tense)

IF + Past + Would

IF Condition Result Translation

If I liked parties, I would attend more of Si me gustaran las fiestas,
them. asistiría a más de ellas.
If it rained tomorrow, people would dance in the Si lloviera (o lloviese) mañana, la
street. gente bailaría en las calles.
OR
Would + IF + Past

Result IF Condition Translation

I would attend more parties if I liked them. Asistiría a más fiestas si me
gustaran.
People would dance in the street if it rained tomorrow. La gente bailaría en las calles
si lloviera (o lloviese) mañana.

Note that we use the Past Simple for the condition, even when it is a Future idea: we are not
referring to the past time, we are using the past simple to give an idea that the possibility is
unreal.

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

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

• They might be angry if I didn't visit them

We always use the plural of the verb To Be in imaginary/hypothetical situations:

• If I were you, I wouldn't buy that coat.

• I'd go out if it weren't raining.
• I wish my room were larger.
• If I were rich, I would buy a castle.
• I wish I were taller.
Wish
We also use the past for a present situation after wish; the past tense gives the idea of
something that is not real. We use wish to say that something is not as we would like it
to be:

• I wish I knew Sue's telephone number. (I don't know it.)

Desearía saber el número de teléfono de Sue.

• Do you ever wish you could fly? (You can't fly.)

¿Alguna vez sueñas que puedes volar?

• I wish it didn't rain so much in this city. (It rains a lot.)

Desearía que no lloviera tanto en esta ciudad.

Summary and Practice on Conditionals:

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/0cond.htm

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/330/grammar/1cond.htm

https://ingles-nono.wikispaces.com/Conditional+sentences+-+type+2

References:
Murphy, R. (1998). Grammar in Use - Reference and Practice for Intermediate Students of English.
Cambridge, Reino Unido: Cambridge University Press. Units 34, 35, 36, 39