Hello folks!
There are several structures in English that are called conditionals."Condition" means "situation or circumstance." If a particular condition is true, then a particular result happens.
There are four basic conditionals that we use very often, namely zero, first, second and third conditionals, though I will refer to just two in this post: First and Second conditionals. As usual, we will finish with some quizzes to check your understanding.
Structure of conditional sentences
The structure of most conditionals is very simple. There are two basic possibilities. Of course, we add many words and can use various tenses, but the basic structure is usually like this: [If condition], [result]; or like this: [result] [if condition].
First Conditional: Possible condition
We use the First Conditional to talk about future events that are likely to happen. That is why they are known as open or possible conditions. We use the connectors if or unless plus a present in the subordinate clause, and in the main clause a will-future. Remember that unless means the same as if not.
If we take John, he'll be really pleased.
If you give me some money, I'll pay you back tomorrow.
If they tell us they want it, we'll have to give it to them.
If Mary comes, she'll want to drive.
Unless you study harder this term, you won’t pass the subject.
The if-clause can be used with different present forms, although it is common to have a present simple.
If I go to New York again, I'll buy you a souvenir from the Empire State Building.
If he's feeling better, he'll come.
If she hasn't heard the bad news yet, I'll tell her.
The future clause can contain going to or the future perfect as well as will, and other modal verbs such as can, may and must.
If I see him, I'm going to tell him exactly how angry I am.
Unless we get the contract, we'll have wasted a lot of time and money.
If you go to New York, you must have the cheesecake in Lindy's.
If he comes, you can get a lift home with him.
Second Conditional: Impossible condition
The Second Conditional is used to talk about impossible situations. The condition is not possible to happen because the situation is hypothetical.
If we were in London today, we would be able to go to the concert in Hyde Park.
If I had millions dollars, I'd give a lot to charity.
If there were no hungry people in this world, it would be a much better place.
If everyone had clean water to drink, there would be a lot less disease.
Note that after I / he/ she /it we must use the subjunctive form were and not was. Some people think that were is the only 'correct' form but other people think was is equally 'correct.' It is a matter of accents, for the form was is widely used in American English.
If she were happy in her job, she wouldn't be looking for another one.
If I were in Japan, I'd have sushi every day.
If she were to enter our market, she'd have big problems.
Note the form ‘If I were you’ which is often used to give advice.
If I were you, I'd look for a new place to live.
If I were you, I'd go back to school and get more qualifications.
The Second Conditional is also used to talk about 'unlikely' situations.
If I went to China, I'd visit the Great Wall.
If I was the President, I'd reduce taxes.
If you were in my position, you'd understand.
Note that the if-clause can contain the past simple or the past continuous.
If I were still working in Brighton, I would commute by train.
If she were coming, she would be here by now.
If they were thinking of selling, I would want to buy.
Note that the main clause can contain would, could or might.
If I had the chance to do it again, I would do it differently.
If we met up for lunch, we could go to that new restaurant.
If I spoke to him directly, I might be able to persuade him.
Also note that sometimes the if-clause is implied rather than spoken.
What would I do without you? ("if you weren't here")
Where would I get one at this time of night? ("if I wanted one")
He wouldn't agree. ("if I asked him")
¡Hola amigos!Hay varias construcciones en inglés llamadas condicionales. "Condición" quiere decir "situación o circunstancia". Si una condición particular es verdadera, entonces ocurrirá un resultado particular.
Existen cuatro tipos básicos de oraciones condicionales que usamos muy a menudo, que son las cero, primera, segunda y tercera condicionales, aunque en este artículo sólo me voy a referir a dos de ellas, las de Tipo I y las de Tipo II. Como de costumbre, terminaré con algunos ejercicios para comprobar si lo habéis entendido.
Estructura de las oraciones condicionales
La estructura de la mayoría de las condicionales es muy simple. Hay dos posibilidades básicamente. Naturalemente podemos añadir muchas palabras y usar una gran variedad de tiempos verbales, pero la estructura básica suele ser así: [If condición], [consecuencia]; o así: [consecuencia] [if condición].
First Conditional: Condición posible
Usamos la Primera Condicional para hablar sobre hechos futuros que son probables que ocurran. Por eso se conocen como condiciones abiertas, probables o posibles. Utilizaremos las conjunciones if o unless más un verbo en presente en la oración subordinada, y un futuro con will en la principal. Recuerda que unless significa lo mismo que if not.
If we take John, he'll be really pleased.
If you give me some money, I'll pay you back tomorrow.
If they tell us they want it, we'll have to give it to them.
If Mary comes, she'll want to drive.
Unless you study harder this term, you won’t pass the subject.
La oración de if puede ser usada con distintas formas de presente, aunque lo normal es que se emplee el presente simple:
If I go to New York again, I'll buy you a souvenir from the Empire State Building.
If he's feeling better, he'll come.
If she hasn't heard the bad news yet, I'll tell her.
La oración de futuro puede llevar going to o el futuro perfecto en vez de un futuro con will, y otros modales como can, may o must.
If I see him, I'm going to tell him exactly how angry I am.
Unless we get the contract, we'll have wasted a lot of time and money.
If you go to New York, you must have the cheesecake in Lindy's.
If he comes, you can get a lift home with him.
Second Conditional: Condición imposible
La Segunda Condicional se usa para hablar de situaciones imposibles. La condición no puede ocurrir porque la situación es hipotética.
If we were in London today, we would be able to go to the concert in Hyde Park.
If I had millions dollars, I'd give a lot to charity.
If there were no hungry people in this world, it would be a much better place.
If everyone had clean water to drink, there would be a lot less disease.
Advierte que tras I / he/ she /it debemos usar la forma de subjuntivo were y no was. Algunos piensan que were es la única forma correcta pero otros creen que was es igualmente correcta. En verdad hay un matiz de acentos, pues la forma was es con diferencia la más usada entre los hablantes de inglés norteamericano.
If she were happy in her job, she wouldn't be looking for another one.
If she were happy in her job, she wouldn't be looking for another one.
If I were in Japan, I'd have sushi every day.
If she were to enter our market, she'd have big problems.
Quédate con la expresión ‘If I were you’ que a menudo se usa para dar consejo.
If I were you, I'd look for a new place to live.
If I were you, I'd go back to school and get more qualifications.
La Segunda Condicional también se usa para referirnos a situaciones improbables.
If I went to China, I'd visit the Great Wall.
If I was the President, I'd reduce taxes.
If you were in my position, you'd understand.
Nota que en la oración de if puede aparecer un pasado simple o un pasado continuo.
If I were still working in Brighton, I would commute by train.
If she were coming, she would be here by now.
If they were thinking of selling, I would want to buy.
Fíjate también que en la proposición principal puede aparecer would, could o might.
If I had the chance to do it again, I would do it differently.
If we met up for lunch, we could go to that new restaurant.
If I spoke to him directly, I might be able to persuade him.
A veces la oración condicional puede estar implícita en lugar de hablada.
What would I do without you? ("if you weren't here")
Where would I get one at this time of night? ("if I wanted one")
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