The first conditional

ThefirstconditionalWeusetheFirstConditionaltotalkaboutfutureeventsthatarelikelytohappen.lIfwetakeJohn,he'llbereallypleased.lIfyougivemesomemoney,I'llpayyoubacktomorrow.lIftheytellustheywantit,we'llhavetogiveittothem.lIfMarycomes,she'llwanttodrive.The'if'clausecanbeusedwithdifferentpresentforms.lIfIgotoNewYorkagain,I'llbuyyouasouvenirfromtheEmpireStateBuilding.lIfhe'sfeelingbetter,he'llcome.lIfshehasn'theardthebadnewsyet,I'lltellher.The"futureclause"cancontain'goingto'orthefutureperfectaswellas'will'.lIfIseehim,I'mgoingtotellhimexactlyhowangryIam.lIfwedon'tgetthecontract,we'llhavewastedalotoftimeandmoney.The"futureclause"canalsocontainothermodalverbssuchas'can'and'must'.lIfyougotoNewYork,youmusthavethecheesecakeinLindy's.lIfhecomes,youcangetalifthomewithhim.FirstConditional:realpossibilityWearetalkingaboutthefuture.Wearethinkingaboutaparticularconditionorsituationinthefuture,andtheresultofthiscondition.Thereisarealpossibilitythatthisconditionwillhappen.Forexample,itismorning.Youareathome.Youplantoplaytennisthisafternoon.Buttherearesomecloudsinthesky.Imaginethatitrains.Whatwillyoudo?IFconditionresultpresentsimpleWILL+baseverbIfitrainsIwillstayathome.Noticethatwearethinkingaboutafuturecondition.Itisnotrainingyet.Buttheskyiscloudyandyouthinkthatitcouldrain.Weusethepresentsimpletensetotalkaboutthepossiblefuturecondition.WeuseWILL+baseverbtotalkaboutthepossiblefutureresult.Theimportantthingaboutthefirstconditionalisthatthereisarealpossibilitythattheconditionwillhappen.Herearesomemoreexamples(doyourememberthetwobasicstructures:[IFconditionresult]and[resultIFcondition]?):　IFconditionresultpresentsimpleWILL+baseverbIfIseeMaryIwilltellher.IfTaraisfreetomorrowhewillinviteher.Iftheydonotpasstheirexamtheirteacherwillbesad.Ifitrainstomorrowwillyoustayathome?Ifitrainstomorrowwhatwillyoudo?resultIFconditionWILL+baseverbpresentsimpleIwilltellMaryifIseeher.HewillinviteTaraifsheisfreetomorrow.Theirteacherwillbesadiftheydonotpasstheirexam.Willyoustayathomeifitrainstomorrow?Whatwillyoudoifitrainstomorrow?Sometimes,weuseshall,can,ormayinsteadofwill,forexample:Ifyouaregoodtoday,youcanwatchTVtonight.SecondConditional:unrealpossibilityordreamThesecondconditionalislikethefirstconditional.Wearestillthinkingaboutthefuture.Wearethinkingaboutaparticularconditioninthefuture,andtheresultofthiscondition.Butthereisnotarealpossibilitythatthisconditionwillhappen.Forexample,youdonothavealotteryticket.Isitpossibletowin?No!Nolotteryticket,nowin!Butmaybeyouwillbuyalotteryticketinthefuture.Soyoucanthinkaboutwinninginthefuture,likeadream.It'snotveryreal,butit'sstillpossible.IFconditionresultpastsimpleWOULD+baseverbIfIwonthelotteryIwouldbuyacar.Noticethatwearethinkingaboutafuturecondition.Weusethepastsimpletensetotalkaboutthefuturecondition.WeuseWOULD+baseverbtotalkaboutthefutureresult.Theimportantthingaboutthesecondconditionalisthatthereisanunrealpossibilitythattheconditionwillhappen.Herearesomemoreexamples:IFconditionresultpastsimpleWOULD+baseverbIfImarriedMaryIwouldbehappy.IfRambecamerichshewouldmarryhim.IfitsnowednextJulywouldyoubesurprised?IfitsnowednextJulywhatwouldyoudo?resultIFconditionWOULD+baseverbpastsimpleIwouldbehappyifImarriedMary.ShewouldmarryRamifhebecamerich.WouldyoubesurprisedifitsnowednextJuly?WhatwouldyoudoifitsnowednextJuly?Sometimes,weuseshould,couldormightinsteadofwould,forexample:IfIwonamilliondollars,Icouldstopworking.