1. Grammar for PETGrammar for PET
Conditionals: Zero, First, SecondConditionals: Zero, First, Second
Katie Dirksmeier

2. If you study conditionals…If you study conditionals…
 What is a conditional sentence?What is a conditional sentence?
 What do we use them for?What do we use them for?
 What word is often included inWhat word is often included in
conditional sentences?conditional sentences?
 ““Condition” meansCondition” means situationsituation oror
circumstancecircumstance
 IfIf a particular condition is true,a particular condition is true,
thenthen a specific result happens.a specific result happens.

3. Types of ConditionalsTypes of Conditionals
 Zero conditional:Zero conditional: Certainty (present)Certainty (present)
 First conditional:First conditional: Real Possibility (future)Real Possibility (future)
 Second Conditional:Second Conditional: Unreal Possibility orUnreal Possibility or
DreamDream
(future)(future)
 Third Conditional:Third Conditional: No possibility (past)No possibility (past)

5. Zero Conditional: Meaning & UseZero Conditional: Meaning & Use
 If Alan takes his vitamins every dayIf Alan takes his vitamins every day,,
he doesn’t get sick.he doesn’t get sick.
 Are we talking about one specific day?Are we talking about one specific day?
 In general, is it true that Alan doesn’t getIn general, is it true that Alan doesn’t get
sick if he takes his vitamins?sick if he takes his vitamins?
 Use this conditional to show an outcomeUse this conditional to show an outcome
that happens if athat happens if a
specificspecific repeatedrepeated condition is met.condition is met.
 Time:Time: any / in generalany / in general
 Will the condition or situation happen?:Will the condition or situation happen?:
YES! It’s certain.YES! It’s certain.
 What happens when Alan doesn’t takeWhat happens when Alan doesn’t take
his vitamins?his vitamins?
 Can you make a zero conditionalCan you make a zero conditional
sentence that tells us this?sentence that tells us this?

6. Zero Conditional: FormZero Conditional: Form
 If Alan takes his vitamins every day, heIf Alan takes his vitamins every day, he
doesn’t get sick.doesn’t get sick.
 What are the parts of this zero conditionalWhat are the parts of this zero conditional
sentence?sentence?
 What is the condition? What is the result?What is the condition? What is the result?
 Form:Form:
((IfIf) verb in present) verb in present,, ((thenthen) verb in present.) verb in present. (with comma!)(with comma!)
OR…OR…
Verb in present + (Verb in present + (ifif) verb in present.) verb in present. (no comma!)(no comma!)
 Must we always use “if” in the sentence?Must we always use “if” in the sentence?
 Other words that may be used before the condition:Other words that may be used before the condition:
When; UnlessWhen; Unless
 Can we change the order of the two parts of the sentence?Can we change the order of the two parts of the sentence?
 Rewrite the sentence above with the “if” clause at the end.Rewrite the sentence above with the “if” clause at the end.

7. Zero ConditionalZero Conditional
 We can also use…We can also use…
(If / When / Unless) + verb in present , imperative!(If / When / Unless) + verb in present , imperative!
 For example:For example:
 If you want to get a good grade, study!If you want to get a good grade, study!
 (If you want to get a good grade,(If you want to get a good grade, you mustyou must study. = alwaysstudy. = always
true)true)
 Unless you want to get sick, take your vitamins! (=Unless you want to get sick, take your vitamins! (=
Take your vitamins unless you want to get sick!)Take your vitamins unless you want to get sick!)
 What doesWhat does unlessunless mean in the sentence above?mean in the sentence above?
 How can you rephrase these sentences usingHow can you rephrase these sentences using unlessunless??
 If I don’t phone you tomorrow, you’ll start at 9 o’clock.If I don’t phone you tomorrow, you’ll start at 9 o’clock.
 The shop loses customers if the assistants aren’t friendly.The shop loses customers if the assistants aren’t friendly.
 What is the condition in each of these sentences? TheWhat is the condition in each of these sentences? The
result?result?

8. First Conditional: Meaning & UseFirst Conditional: Meaning & Use
 IfIf Emma saves $2000, she’Emma saves $2000, she’ll goll go to South America. =to South America. =
EmmaEmma willwill gogo to South Americato South America ifif she saves $2000.she saves $2000.
 Does Emma have $2000?Does Emma have $2000?
 Does she know if she will have $2000 in the future?Does she know if she will have $2000 in the future?
 If Emma saves $2000, might she use it for somethingIf Emma saves $2000, might she use it for something
else? How likely is it that she will go to South America ifelse? How likely is it that she will go to South America if
she saves up enough money?she saves up enough money?
 Can you rephrase this sentence usingCan you rephrase this sentence using unlessunless??
 Based on the sentence above, what do you think theBased on the sentence above, what do you think the
First Conditional is used for?First Conditional is used for?
 We use this conditional to show aWe use this conditional to show a
likelylikely oror possiblepossible outcome that will probably happen ifoutcome that will probably happen if
a specific condition is met.a specific condition is met.
 Time: FutureTime: Future
 Will the condition or situation happen?:Will the condition or situation happen?: There is aThere is a realreal
possibilitypossibility that this condition will happen.that this condition will happen.

9. First Conditional: FormFirst Conditional: Form
 If Emma saves $2000, she’ll go to South America. =If Emma saves $2000, she’ll go to South America. =
Emma will go to South America if she saves $2000.Emma will go to South America if she saves $2000.
 What are the parts of this first conditionalWhat are the parts of this first conditional
sentence?sentence?
 What is the condition? What will be theWhat is the condition? What will be the
result?result?
 Form:Form:
((IfIf) verb in present, () verb in present, (thenthen) verb in future.) verb in future.
OR…OR…
Verb in future + (Verb in future + (ifif) verb in present.) verb in present.
 Sometimes we useSometimes we use shallshall,, cancan, or, or maymay instead ofinstead of willwill,,
for example:for example: IfIf you are good today, youyou are good today, you cancan watchwatch
TV tonight.TV tonight.

10. Second Conditional: Meaning & UseSecond Conditional: Meaning & Use
 http://youtu.be/q5TPA0bWcP0?t=1mhttp://youtu.be/q5TPA0bWcP0?t=1m
 If IIf I hadhad a million dollars, I’a million dollars, I’d buildd build a tree fort in our yard. = I’a tree fort in our yard. = I’dd
buildbuild a tree fort in our yard if Ia tree fort in our yard if I hadhad a million dollars.a million dollars.
 Do I have a million dollars now?Do I have a million dollars now?
 Does this situation take place in the past, present, orDoes this situation take place in the past, present, or
future?future?
 Is there a possibility that I’ll have a million dollars?Is there a possibility that I’ll have a million dollars?
 Based on the sentence above, what do you think the SecondBased on the sentence above, what do you think the Second
Conditional is used for?Conditional is used for?
 We use this conditional to show anWe use this conditional to show an
unlikelyunlikely oror impossibleimpossible outcome that probably wouldn’toutcome that probably wouldn’t
happen (because a specific, unlikely condition must behappen (because a specific, unlikely condition must be
met).met).
 Time: FutureTime: Future
 Will the condition or situation happen?:Will the condition or situation happen?: It isIt is impossible orimpossible or
nearly impossiblenearly impossible that this condition will happen.that this condition will happen.

11. Second Conditional: FormSecond Conditional: Form
 If IIf I hadhad a million dollars, I’a million dollars, I’d buildd build a tree forta tree fort
in our yard. = I’in our yard. = I’dd buildbuild a tree fort in oura tree fort in our
yard if Iyard if I hadhad a million dollars.a million dollars.
 What are the parts of this firstWhat are the parts of this first
conditional sentence?conditional sentence?
 What is the condition? What will be theWhat is the condition? What will be the
result?result?
 Form:Form:
((IfIf) verb in past*, () verb in past*, (thenthen)) wouldwould + base form.+ base form.
OR…OR…
WouldWould + base form + (+ base form + (ifif) verb in past*.) verb in past*.

12. Second ConditionalSecond Conditional
((IfIf) verb in past*, () verb in past*, (thenthen)) wouldwould + base form.+ base form.
OR…OR…
WouldWould + base form + (+ base form + (ifif) verb in past*.) verb in past*.
 But…But…
 If I were you, I would write to him.If I were you, I would write to him.
 If he weren’t a writer, he’d be an actor.If he weren’t a writer, he’d be an actor.
 Do these sentences follow the sameDo these sentences follow the same
formula as above?formula as above?
 Yes, but we useYes, but we use werewere instead ofinstead of waswas after “Ifafter “If
I/he/she/it…”I/he/she/it…”
 If IIf I waswas you, I would write to him.you, I would write to him.
 If heIf he wasn’twasn’t a writer, he’d be an actor.a writer, he’d be an actor.
 Sometimes, we useSometimes, we use couldcould insteadinstead
ofof wouldwould, for example:, for example:
 If I had more time, IIf I had more time, I couldcould catch up on mycatch up on my
reading.reading.

13. I wish!I wish!
 Examples?Examples?
 Based on your examples, what is theBased on your examples, what is the
formula for “I wish” statements?formula for “I wish” statements?
I wish + verb in pastI wish + verb in past
 Are these statements talking aboutAre these statements talking about
the past?the past?

14. Quiz: Question #1Quiz: Question #1
 Situation: You doSituation: You do notnot have a lottery ticket. Ishave a lottery ticket. Is
it possible to win the lottery? No! No lotteryit possible to win the lottery? No! No lottery
ticket, no win! But maybe you will buy aticket, no win! But maybe you will buy a
lottery ticket in the future. So you can thinklottery ticket in the future. So you can think
about winning in the future (and buying thingsabout winning in the future (and buying things
with the money you win) like a dream. It's notwith the money you win) like a dream. It's not
very real, but it's still possible.very real, but it's still possible.
 Express this idea with a conditional sentence.Express this idea with a conditional sentence.
 Which conditional do you use?Which conditional do you use?
IFIF conditioncondition resultresult
past simplepast simple WOULD + base verbWOULD + base verb
IfIf I won the lotteryI won the lottery I would buy a car.I would buy a car.
(second conditional)(second conditional)

15. Quiz: Question #2Quiz: Question #2
 Situation: You take some ice and put it in aSituation: You take some ice and put it in a
saucepan. You heat the saucepan. Whatsaucepan. You heat the saucepan. What
happens? The ice melts (it becomeshappens? The ice melts (it becomes
water). You would be surprised if it did not.water). You would be surprised if it did not.
 Express what happens during this processExpress what happens during this process
with a conditional sentence.with a conditional sentence.
 Which conditional do you use?Which conditional do you use?
IFIF conditioncondition resultresult
present simplepresent simple present simplepresent simple
IfIf you heat iceyou heat ice it melts.it melts.
(zero conditional)(zero conditional)

16. Quiz: Question #3Quiz: Question #3
 Situation: It is morning. You are at home.Situation: It is morning. You are at home.
You plan to play tennis this afternoon, butYou plan to play tennis this afternoon, but
there are some clouds in the sky. Imaginethere are some clouds in the sky. Imagine
that it rains. What will you do?that it rains. What will you do?
 Express this idea with a conditionalExpress this idea with a conditional
sentence.sentence.
 Which conditional is it?Which conditional is it?
 Can you put this in the form of a question toCan you put this in the form of a question to
ask what you’ll do if it rains?ask what you’ll do if it rains?
IFIF conditioncondition resultresult
present simplepresent simple WILL + base verbWILL + base verb
IfIf it rainsit rains I will stay at home.I will stay at home.
IfIf it rains,it rains, what will you do?what will you do?
(first conditional)(first conditional)

18. SourcesSources
 http://www.esl-http://www.esl-
library.com/blog/2013/03/14/an-library.com/blog/2013/03/14/an-
easy-way-to-teach-conditionals/easy-way-to-teach-conditionals/
 http://busyteacher.org/6506-http://busyteacher.org/6506-
conditional-sentences.htmlconditional-sentences.html
 http://eyv-http://eyv-
bahar.blogspot.com.es/2013/03/condbahar.blogspot.com.es/2013/03/cond
itional-sentencesconditional.htmlitional-sentencesconditional.html
 http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.chttp://www.englishgrammarsecrets.c
om/type0/menu.phpom/type0/menu.php
 http://www.englishclub.com/http://www.englishclub.com/