What would you do if....

Conditionals

FOCUS ON GRAMMAR

Often referred to as the "past" conditional because it concerns only past situations with hypothetical results. Used to express a hypothetical result to a past given situation.

CONDITIONAL 3 If he had known that, he would have decided differently.

Jane would have found a new job if she had stayed in Boston.

Often called the "unreal" conditional because it is used for unreal - impossible or improbable - situations. This conditional provides an imaginary result for a given situation.

NOTE

The verb 'to be', when used in the 2nd conditional, is always conjugated as 'were'. If I were but If he was / were ...

CONDITIONAL 2If he studied more, he would pass the exam.

I would lower taxes if I were the President.

They would buy a new house if they had more money.

Usage Examples

If somebody asked me to do a parachute jump for charity,

I would jump just for charity.

If I could change one thing about myself,

I WOULD CHANGE MY GLASSES

IF SHE SPOKE LESS AND LISTENED MORE,

SHE WOULD HAVE MORE FRIENDS

WE WOULD SAVE A LOT OF ELECTRICITY

IF WE TURNED OFF THE LIGHT

YOU WOULD BE HAPPIER

IF YOU STUDIED FOR YOUR EXAMS

IF SPIDERS WERE THE SIZE OF DOGS,

THEY WOULD BE DANGEROUS

I WOULD SPEND MORE TIME IN MY ROOM

IF I HAD A COMPUTER

The world would be a better place

if we learned to be careful

If I lived in Cancun,

I would go to the beach everyday.

If I could take vacations,

I would go to Paris

Time for Practicing(Second Conditional)

1. I can’t take you to the airport because I don’t have a car.

If I had a car, I could take you to the airport.

• I want to go on vacation but I don’t have enough money. ___________________________________________

• I want to change my job, but I don’t know what to do. ___________________________________________

• I want to buy a new dress, but I can’t find one I like. ___________________________________________

KEYS

• If I had enough money, I would go on vacation.

• If I knew what to do, I would change my job.• If I could find one I liked, I would buy a new

dress.

1. My friend wants to have a party, but her parents hate the idea. ___________________________________________

2. I want to phone my friend, but I don’t have his telephone number with me. ___________________________________________

3. I don’t know the answer, so I can’t tell you. ___________________________________________

4. I don´t have money, so I can´t buy anything for your present. ___________________________________________

KEYS

• If her parents didn't hate the idea, my friend would have a party.

• If I had his telephone number with me, I would phone my friend.

• If I knew the answer, I would tell you.• If I had money, I would buy something for

your present.

Time for Practicing(Third Conditional)

• I wasn’t hungry, so I didn’t eat anything. If I’d been hungry, I would have eaten something._

• The accident happened because the road was icy. If the road _________________________________

• I didn’t know that Joe had to get up early, so I didn’t wake him up.

If I _______________________________________

• I bought the car only because Jane lent me the money. ___________________________________________

• You didn’t have any breakfast – that’s why you’re hungry now. ___________________________________________

KEYS

• If the road hadn't been icy, the accident wouldn't have happened.

• If I had known that Joe had to get up early, I would have woken him up.

• If Jane hadn't lent me the money, I wouldn't have bought the car.

• If you had had breakfast, you wouldn't have been hungry now.

Time for Practicing(Third Conditional)

• I didn’t get a taxi because I didn’t have any money. ___________________________________________

• Gaby wasn’t injured in the crash because she was wearing a seat belt. ___________________________________________

• Pepe didn’t do his homework during this term, so he failed it.

___________________________________________

• The dogs were not in front of the house, so they didn´t noticed about the thief. ___________________________________________

KEYS

• If I had had some money,I would have got a taxi.

• If she hadn't worn a seat belt, she would have injured in the crash.

• If Pepe had done his homework during this term, he wouldn't have failed it.

• If the dogs had been in front of the house, they would have noticed about the thief.