Conditionals

There are Type 0, Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 conditional clauses.​

• ​If you drop this glass, it breaks.

• ​When you lose a game, show your fairplay.

By isabel fonseca​

​Examples:

By isabel fonseca​

• ​If you drop this glass, it breaks.

  ​

  condition​ result/consequence

​

• ​When you lose a game, show your fairplay.

  ​

  condition​ result/consequence

​A conditional clause Type 0 always expresses a general truth or a fact and it's followed by the logical or natural consequence of that condition.

​Structure

Type 0 = If + Present Simple + , + Present Simple/ Imperative

​

• If you heat an ice cube, it melts.

  ​=

• ​An ice cube melts if you heat it.

By isabel fonseca​

​A conditional clause Type 1 always expresses a possible condition and it's followed by the logical or natural consequence of that condition.

​Structure

Type 1​ = If + Present Simple + , + Future Simple / Modal verb

​

• If you drop that bottle , it will break.

  =

• ​That bottle will break if you drop it.

By isabel fonseca​

​NOTICE

​We can change the order of the sentences without changing their meaning.

In this case the two clauses are not separated by a comma.​

​

By isabel fonseca​

​A conditional clause Type 2 always expresses a improbable condition and it's followed by the logical or natural consequence of that condition.

​Structure

Type 2​ = If + Past Simple + , + Conditional Simple

​

If Jane trained harder, she would be a better athlete.​

​

• ​Note: A forma do conjuntivo do verbo “ser” (se ela fosse) é normalmente “were” em todas as pessoas.

• This is the most used form in Type 2.

By isabel fonseca​

​A conditional clause Type 3 always refer to a past situation that in fact didn't happen; it is followed by what would have happenned if things had been different and that condition had been met.

​Structure

Type 3 = If + Past Perfect + , + Conditional Perfect

​

If Jane had trained harder, she would have been a better athlete.​

​

Condition (in fact Jane didn't get to train more)

Consequence (but if she had trained more, she would have been a better athlete)

​

​

By isabel fonseca​

​LET'S PRACTICE

By isabel fonseca​