Carol’s Blog 5 Conditionals

5 Conditionals

Carol’s Blog

I love window-shopping. If you live in Hong Kong like me, you know there are so many places you can do this. However, I do not buy anything unless there is a sale on. I do not want to pay the full price if something is on sale for half price.

I'm busy with my revision at the moment but there are some sales this weekend. If I finish all my revision early, I will go shopping. If I go shopping, I

will first go to Alison's because I need a new pair of shoes.

But if Alison's does not have anything that I like, I will go to The Shoe Place. When I buy shoes, I usually try on over ten pairs. If they are not comfortable, I do not buy them.

If I am lucky this weekend, I will find a great pair of shoes at a great price.

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We use conditionals to talk about the results of different actions and situations. There are four types of conditionals: Type 0 conditionals, Type 1 conditionals, Type 2 conditionals and Type 3 conditionals. In this unit, we are going to look at Type 0 conditionals and Type 1 conditionals.

If you take ice out of the freezer, it melts.

(Type 0 conditional)

If I miss the bus, I will be late for school.

(Type 1 conditional)

All conditionals have two parts: the if-clause (the action or situation) and the main clause (the result). We can put the if-clause before or after the main clause. When the if-clause comes first, we put a comma after it.

If you eat too much, you put on weight.

When the main clause comes first, the two clauses are not separated by a comma.

I will join you if I find my tennis racket.

action/situation result

result action/situation

sample

Usage

Type 0 conditionals

We use Type 0 conditionals to talk about facts or general situations. We use the simple present in both the if-clause and the main clause.

If-clause Main clause

If + simple present simple present

If a bee stings you, it is very painful.

(= It is very painful every time a bee stings you.) We can use when instead of if in Type 0 conditionals.

When you heat water to 100°C, it boils.

(= If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.)

Jessica thinks of her tenth birthday party when she hears that song.

(= Jessica thinks of her tenth birthday party if she hears that song.)

Type 1 conditionals

We use Type 1 conditionals to talk about something that is very likely to happen now or in the future. We use the simple present in the if-clause and the simple future (will + the base form of the verb) in the main clause.

If-clause Main clause

If + simple present simple future (will + base form of the verb) If it is sunny tomorrow, we will go to the beach.

(= It is likely for us to go to the beach on a sunny day.)

We can use unless instead of if…not to say that something is very unlikely to happen. The verb after unless is always in the positive.

Unless you wear a coat, you will be cold.

(= If you do not wear a coat, you will be cold.)

We will start the meal without Sally and Jack unless they arrive soon.

(= We will start the meal without Sally and Jack if they do not arrive soon.)

Other than will, it is also possible to use other ways of talking about the future, or other modal verbs in the main clause, such as be going to, can, may, etc.

If Zoe comes tonight, I am going to show her my new tablet.

If you stand here, you can see the mountains in the distance. (to talk about ability) If I finish my homework in time, I may join you. (the result is less certain)

NOTE NOTE

sample

In the Secondary 3 TSA writing tasks as well as in Paper 2 of the HKDSE exam, some students tried to use conditionals but did so incorrectly.

2016 S3 TSA Writing

If we want to change a song on the MUSE Footwear, we will stop walking.

✘

2015 HKDSE Paper 2 Part B Question 5

If the government did not protect the harbour, the harbour will disappear.

✘

2015 HKDSE Paper 2 Part B Question 6

He would write to the Consumer Council if he hasn’t received our reply this week.

✘

Do the Quiz below. Check your understanding of conditionals.

Tick (✔) the correct answers.

1. If I see Gary this evening, I him the news.

A. tell B. will tell

2. If Helen tickets for the concert, I will go with her.

A. gets B. will get

3. I our bags if you make some tea.

A. unpack B. will unpack

4. If you go camping, you a sleeping bag.

A. would need B. need

5. You will look much better if you a haircut.

A. got B. get

6. Fiona to the party if Brian is there.

A. will not come B. does not come 7. If you practise a lot, you better.

A. get B. got

Exam Report

stop

does

will doesn’t receive

Quiz

✔

sample

Exercise 1

Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Use Type 0 conditionals only.

1. If we (not / use) the air conditioner, we (save)

energy.

2. If you (take) a fish out of water, it (die).

3. When my grandfather (visit), he always (bring)

us a nice present.

4. We (have) an ice cream at Paul’s when

we (go) to Johnson Shopping Centre.

5. The vegetables (become) too soft if you

(cook) them too long.

6. If you (not / use) sunscreen, you

(get) sunburnt.

7. Sally (drink) a lemon and ginger drink

when she (have) a cold.

8. If it (get) really cold, the river (freeze).

Exercise 2

Complete the sentences using the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Use Type 1 conditionals only.

1. If you (help) me wash the dishes, I (get) you an

ice cream.

2. Unless you (go) to bed soon, you (not / wake)

up on time in the morning.

3. We (miss) the train if we (not / hurry) up.

4. I (buy) a house if I (win) first prize.

5. Your dinner (get) cold unless you (come) and

eat it now.

6. Unless you (study) hard, you

(not / pass) the exam.

7. Your battery (be) flat if you

(not / charge) it.

8. If we (win) our next two games,

we (win) the league.

do not / don’t use save

help will get

sample

Exercise 3

Write sentences using the words given. Use ‘if’, ‘when’ or ‘unless’ and the correct form of the verbs.

1. We / catch the 10 am bus — we / get there by 10:45 am

2. Tom / have time tomorrow — he / visit Monica

3. We / go to the cinema — we / always sit near the back

4. I / get some vegetables while I am out — I / not forget

5. In this season it / get cold pretty quickly — the sun / go down

6. I / not ride my bike — it / be cold outside

7. It / rain this Sunday — we / cancel our barbecue

8. Sam / join us this evening — he / have to work late

Exercise 4

Read the article. Fill in the blanks using the correct form of the verbs in the box. Use Type 0 conditionals only.

not sleep try drink need affect feel not want be

When you have the flu, you (1) weak. When you feel weak, you

(2) to do anything. That is OK and it is natural. When you have the flu, you (3) plenty of rest. If you (4) to carry on as usual, you always feel worse. When you are not well, it (5) important that you drink plenty of water. Also make sure you get plenty of sleep. And how can you do this? If you sleep in a room that is too light, you (6) very well. If you (7) caffeine after five in the afternoon, you don’t sleep as well. We all like to keep up to date by using our phones or laptops, but if you look at a screen for too long before you go to sleep, it (8) your sleep.

If we catch the 10 am bus, we will get there by 10:45 am.

feel

sample

Exercise 5

Read the conversation. Fill in the blanks by choosing one of the options in brackets. Use Type 1 conditionals only.

Jenny : Hi Albert. What are you doing on Sunday?

Albert : Hi Jenny. I don’t know. It depends on the weather. If it rains, I (1) (stay / will stay) home.

Jenny : If you stay home, you (2) (feel / will feel) bored.

Albert : Not really. I need to do some homework but if there (3) (will be / are) any interesting programmes on TV, I (4) (probably watch / will probably watch) something. Or rather, I will watch something unless my father

(5) (wants / will want) to watch some sports programmes. He often does that on a Sunday. What about you?

Jenny : (6) (Unless / If) my cousin Emily visits, I (7)

(study / will study) most of the day. Of course if she (8) (will come / comes), we will do something together. She likes hiking so if it (9)

(won’t rain / doesn’t rain), we will probably go hiking somewhere. But if it

(10) (rains / will rain), then hiking (11)

(won’t be / isn’t) a good idea and we (12) (will probably go / probably go) shopping.

Albert : That sounds good.

will stay

sample

Exercise 6

Read the text messages. Choose the best option to complete each blank and circle the correct letter.

1. A. do you do B. did you do C. will you do

2. A. took B. will take C. take

3. A. will be B. are C. were

4. A. need B. will need C. needed 5. A. will be

B. is C. isn’t

6. A. sat B. will sit C. sits

7. A. isn’t going B. won’t have to go C. doesn’t have to go

8. A. will catch B. catch C. are catching 9. A. are

B. will be C. were

10. A. wants B. will want C. doesn’t want

11. A. am B. won’t be C. will be Hi Tom. If a bee stings you, you the sting out and put ice on the sting. But if you in a lot of pain, you

to go to hospital. Why do you ask?

(2) (3) (4)

If he’s not in a lot of pain, he fine. If he down somewhere for a while, the pain will slowly go away and he to hospital.

(5) (6)

(7)

OK. Unless my mum me to stay home, I able to make it.

(10) (11)

I have no plans.

Hi Mandy. What (1) if a bee stings you?

What are you doing later?

A bee just stung Mike. We don’t have any ice.

We are in a country park.

We are hoping to get the 4 pm bus. If we

that one, we back before 5 pm. Do you want to meet up after I see Mike home?

(8) (9)

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Wrap-up

Read the following email. Fill in the blanks using the correct form of the verbs in the box.

Two of the verbs can be used more than once.

get drop need spend want go let be come have not know

Write a short email to a friend about a trip you might make or a day out you might have. Write about 100 words.

You try

A common text type in S3 TSA Writing and HKDSE Paper 2

goes goes

sample