You will make yourself ill if you eat all those chocolates

We often use it for talking about facts or processes:

If you heat water to 100 degrees, it will boil.

If we stare into the sun, you will hurt your eyes.

Sometimes it is difficult to know when to use the first conditional and when to use the second conditional.

Generally speaking, if you want to talk about something, which is likely to happen, use Conditional 1; if the idea is unlikely, use Conditional 2.

Obviously sometimes we can use either of these types.

If I work too much, I will hurt myself.

If I worked too much, I would hurt myself.

The first example suggests that I think I work too much and I ought to stop; the second example suggests I don't want to work too hard and this is why not.

Using the first or second conditional depends on the point of view of the speaker:

The first conditional uses the present tense and the second conditional uses the past tense, but both of these conditionals can talk about the present or future - the tense does not show time but likelihood.

We use the second conditional to talk about possible but unlikely situations in the future and whether they will happen or not, or we can use it to describe imaginary present situations: If you met the President, what would you say?

If you had a million pounds, what would you do with it?

Tomake the second conditional we use two clauses. The if-clause is in the past tense, the conditional clause uses would and the infinitive:

{if} + {past} | {would} +{infinitive}

There are two clauses: the if-clause can come first or second. When it comes first, we usually put a comma between the two.

If you wrote a bestseller, you would make lots of money.

You would earn lots of moneyif you worked harder.

We also use it for giving advice. This is very common: If I were you, I would...

Note:We use I were instead of I was because we are actually using the subjunctive; many people nowadays, however, say if I was...

We use the third conditional to talk about situations in the past, which cannot be changed; we talk about how the results might be different:

If Beckham had scored, Real Madrid would have won the match.

(But Beckham did not score and Real Madrid lost.)

To make the third conditional we use two clauses. The if-clause is in the past perfect tense and the conditional clause uses would have and the past participle:

{if} + {past perfect} | {would} + {have} +{past participle}

There are two clauses: the if-clause can come first or second. When it comes first, we usually put a comma between the two.

If Blucher had not arrived, Napoleon would have won at Waterloo.

France would have been the most powerful country in Europe if Napoleon had won at Waterloo

In the examples for the conditional, the conditional clauses have been like this:

{subject} + {will/would} + {verb}

However, we can use other modal verbs in place of will and would.

If it rains like this all day, the river will flood.

If it rains like this all day, the river might flood.

If it rains like this all day, the river could flood.

might means will possibly and could means will be able to.

EXCERSICES

13.1 Put the verbs in brackets in the correct tense to form either a first or a second conditional clause.

1. If it (rain) this weekend, we (not be able) to play the tennis.

2. Give me Peter’s letter. If I (see) him, I (give) it to him.

3. I have to work about 80 hours a week, so I’m very busy. But if I (have) any spare time, I (take up) a sport like golf.

4. If I (be) taller, I (can) be a model, but I’m too small.

5. Please start your meal. If you (not have) your soup now, it (go) cold.

6. What noisy neighbors you’ve got! If my neighbors (be) as bed as yours. I (go) crazy.

7. If you (have) any problems, let me know and I (come) and help you straight away.

8. You are a brilliant cook! If I (can) cook as well as you, I (open) a restaurant.

9. If there (be) some nice fish in the supermarket, you (buy) for supper?

10. “We have mice in the kitchen.”

“If you (have) a cat, the mice soon - (disappear).

13.2 Put the verb into the correct form.

Date: 2016-01-03; view: 1451