Theme: Conditionals. Group: 914-22 fio: Polvonniyazov Azamat

First Conditional Sentences

The purpose of a first conditional sentence is to describe possible scenarios. First conditional sentences state an outcome that is likely to happen. However, the outcome is not guaranteed.
These sentences follow this pattern:

• 
  If + simple present, will + base verb.
  

Here is an example:

• 
  If you exercise to burn additional calories and don’t change your eating habits, you will lose weight.
  

It is incorrect to use the future tense in the if-clause, as in:

• 
  If you will exercise to burn additional calories and don’t change your eating habits, you will lose weight. (incorrect verb tense)
  

Here are some additional examples:

• 
  If it rains, I will need to wait before I leave.
  
• 
  If the weather holds, we will play another inning.
  

Second Conditional Sentences

Sometimes in English grammar, we want to state something unlikely to happen. For instance, you likely will not win the lottery, but you might enjoy thinking about what you would do if you did. Second conditional sentences work in these hypothetical scenarios.
These sentences follow this pattern:

• 
  If + simple past, modal + base verb.
  

Here is an example:

• 
  If I won the lottery, I would buy a mansion on a beach.
  

A common mistake is to use the present tense in the conditional clause, as in:

• 
  If I win the lottery, I would buy a mansion on a beach. (incorrect verb tense)
  

Here are some additional examples:

• 
  If she were my sister, I would have a built-in best friend.
  
• 
  If I found an unexpected inheritance, I would build a new house from the ground up.
  

Third Conditional Sentences

The third conditional sentence is for things that did not happen in the past due to the if clause. This sentence structure often indicates a sense of regret.
These sentences follow this pattern:

• 
  If + past perfect, modal + present perfect.
  

Here is the third conditional in a sentence:

• 
  If I had known there was a traffic jam, I would have left 10 minutes early.
  

A common mistake with this type of conditional is using the modal auxiliary in the conditional clause, as in:

• 
  If I would have known there was a traffic jam, I would have left 10 minutes early.
  

Here are some additional examples:

• 
  If it had rained earlier this week, the plants wouldn’t have wilted.
  
• 
  If I had finished my degree, I would have become a dentist.