A quick review of the three kinds of conditional tenses with example sentences. Created by Coleman's Classroom.

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The Conditional Tense
A Quick Review
with Practice

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Conditionals
Consist of at least TWO Clauses
Dependent Clause Uses “If” or
“When
Used to express certain “Conditions”
Have specific forms and functions!
3 general types

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Form Details
Dependent, Independent (DC, IC)
IF + SV, SV
Or
Independent Dependent (IC DC)
SV IF SV

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Form Names
1. Possible Present or Future
2. Unlikely Present
3. Impossible Past

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First Conditional Function
Used for talking about
possibilities in the present
or in the future.

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First Conditional Form
Usually:
IF + S + V (present), S + V (future)
Or
Sometimes:
IF + S + V (present), S + V (present)

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If it's sunny, we'll
go to the park.
Paula will be sad if
Juan leaves.
If you cook the
supper, I'll wash
the dishes.
Maybe it will be
sunny - that's
possible.
Maybe Juan will
leave - that's
possible.
Maybe you will
cook the supper -
that's possible
First Conditional Examples

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First Conditional Practice
State the following scenario in a
conditional clause.
You might get a raise at work.
You would like a new car.

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First Conditional Practice
You might get a raise at work.
You would like a new car.
If I get a raise, I’ll buy a new
car.

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First Conditional Practice
State the following scenario in a
conditional clause.
You plan to work really hard in
ESL 380. You would like to earn
an A.

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First Conditional Practice
You plan to work really hard in
ESL 380. You would like to earn
an A.
If I work really hard, I might
earn an A.

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Second Conditional Form
If S past V, S would + V
If S Past V, S Could + V
If S Past V, S would V
BE EXCEPTION
With Be, use WERE
If I were a millionaire, I would give
money to the poor.

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Second Conditional Function
The second conditional is a
structure used for talking about
unreal (not likely to happen)
situations in the present or in
the future

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If I were you, I
would drive more
carefully in the rain.
Paula would be sad if
Jan left.
If dogs had wings,
they would be able
to fly.
I am not you - this is
untrue.
Jan will not leave -
this is untrue.
Dogs don't have
wings -- this is
untrue.
Second Conditional Example

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State the following scenario in a
conditional clause.
You are not a teacher. You think
students should have less
homework.
Second Conditional Practice

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You are not a teacher. You think
students should have less
homework.
If I were a teacher, I would give
less homework to the students.
Second Conditional Practice

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State the following scenario in a
conditional clause.
You are not perfect. You would like
to make no mistakes.
Second Conditional Practice

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You are not perfect. You would like
to make no mistakes.
If I were perfect, I would not
make so many mistakes.
Second Conditional Practice

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Third Conditional Form
If S Past Perfect V, S Would
Perfect V
If I had been born in the 1900s, I
would have been a pioneer.

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Full form : If I had studied harder, I
probably would have passed the
exam.
Contracted form :If I'd studied
harder, I probably would've passed
the exam.
Third Conditional Form

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Third Conditional Function
The third conditional is a structure
used for talking about unreal (not
possible) situations in the past. In
other words, it is used to talk about
things which DID NOT HAPPEN in
the past.

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The third conditional is used to talk
about things which DID NOT
HAPPEN in the past. If your native
language does not have a similar
construction, you may find this a
little strange, but it can be very
useful. It is often used to express
criticism or regret.
Third Conditional Function

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If you had driven
more carefully,
you would not
have had an
accident.
If we had played
a little better, we
could have won
the game.
Criticism: You had an
accident because
you didn't drive
carefully enough.
Regret: We didn't
play well, so we lost
the game.
Third Conditional Examples

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If you had saved
your money, you
could have bought
a computer.
If it had snowed,
we could have
gone skiing.
Criticism: You
didn't save your
money, so now you
can't afford a
computer.
Regret: It didn't
snow, so we
couldn't go skiing.
Third Conditional Examples

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Third Conditional Practice
State the following scenario in a
conditional clause.
You came to America. You miss
your family.

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Third Conditional Practice
You came to America. You miss
your family.
If I had stayed at home, I
would not miss my family so
much.

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Third Conditional Practice
State the following scenario in a
conditional clause.
Your friend forgot to do her
homework. She earned an F on
the paper.

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Third Conditional Practice
Your friend forgot to do her
homework. She earned an F on
the paper.
If she had done her homework,
she would not have earned an F.

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