Conditionals
(if clauses)
Conditionals describe the result of something that might happen in the present or future
(or might have happened in the past but did not). Conditional sentences are divided into two
parts:
The if clause (condition)
The main clause (result)
Notice: we can put 'if' at the beginning, or in the middle of the sentence. It doesn't change the
meaning. When 'if' is at the beginning of the sentence, we put a comma at the end of the 'if'
clause. We don't use a comma when 'if' is in the middle of the sentence.
Zero conditional
Here, we are talking about a general truth. This type is used when the result will always happen
(the result is guaranteed). We can use “when” instead of “if” without changing in the meaning in
the most zero conditional sentences.
Structure: if + present simple, … present simple.
➢ If there is not have enough RAM, the users may notice that the computer is sluggish when
they have several programs open.
➢ If a monitor has a refresh rate of 75 Hz, it means that the screen is scanned 75 times per
second.
First conditional
First conditional is used to express something that is possible to happen in the present or the
future.
Structure: if + present simple, … future simple.
➢ If you delete a shortcut, it will not delete the actual folder or the files it contains.
➢ If you want to bring a file with you, you will need to navigate to the actual location of the
file and copy it to the flash drive.
Second conditional
While the zero and first conditionals describes a real situation, the second is imaginary. It is used
to talk about thing which are unreal (not true or not possible) in the present or the future.
Structure: if + past simple, … would/wouldn’t + infinitive.
if + past simple, … modal verb + infinitive.
➢ If I were you, I would study harder for this test.
➢ She would pass the exam if she ever studied.
Third conditional
Third conditional is used to talk about the past. It is based on an unreal situation that cannot be
changed (regrets), to describe something that did not happen and imagining the result.
Structure: if + past simple, … would + have + past participale.
➢ If she had studied, she would have passed the exam.
➢ He would have been on time for the interview if he had left the house at nine.
Exercise
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If a printer … (to be) jammed and cannot … (to print), the operating system will stop the
print job and alert the user with a warning message.
If I … (to have) all the necessary data, I could build the model of the process.
If you have more than one window open at the same time, you can quickly … (to switch)
between them by clicking the icon for that window on the taskbar.
If you … (to need) to send a lot of very big attachments, it’s sometimes necessary to
spread them over a number of separate emails.
The teacher will not accept our work if we … (to turn) it in late.
If you … (not update) the antivirus software, your computer will be much more
vulnerable to malware.
I wouldn’t delete the files if I … (to know) that they are important for you.