FIRST,SECOND,and THIRD CONDITIONAL

 

Uses of the Conditional

1. First conditional
1. Nature: Open condition, what is said in the condition is possible.
2. Time: This condition refers either to present or to future time.
   e.g. If he is late, we will have to go without him.
   If my mother knows about this, we are in serious trouble.

2. Second conditional
1. Nature: unreal (impossible) or improbable situations.
2. Time: present; the TENSE is past, but we are talking about the present, now.
   e.g. If I knew her name, I would tell you.
   If I were you, I would tell my father.
   Compare: If I become president, I will change the social security system. (Said by a presidential candidate)
   If I became president, I would change the social security system. (Said by a schoolboy: improbable)
   If we win this match, we are qualified for the semifinals.
   If I won a million pounds, I would stop teaching. (improbable)

3. Third conditional
1. Nature: unreal
2. Time: Past (so we are talking about a situation that was not so in the past.)
   e.g. If you had warned me, I would not have told your father about that party.(But you didn't, and I have).

First Conditionals

We use First Conditionals to talk about events which are possible. The Conditional clause can refer to the present or the future.

Conditional clause     main clause

If+ Present Simple     - will + bare infinitive

If it rains,       we will stay at home.

• The Conditional clause can come before or
after the main clause. We use a comma at the
end of the Conditional clause when it comes
first:

If you don't try harder, you will fail.
You will fail if you don't try harder.

• Other structures are possible, depending on what you want to say:

Conditional clause                             main clause

If+ Present Simple                             - modal verb

If you behave yourself,                     you can come.

If+ Present Simple                             - be going to (future)

If you don't work,                             you're going to fail.

If+ Present Simple                             - imperative

If you need anything,                                    ask.

If+ Present Continuous                                - will + bare infinitive

If we're leaving soon,                                    I'll get my coat.

If+ Present Perfect                            - will + bare infinitive.

If I've finished,                                              I'll be able to come.

If+ Present Perfect                            - modal verb

If you've finished,                              you can go out.

Imperative                                                      - and /or + will

Eat less                                                           and you’ll get slim

Second Conditional

We use the Second Conditional for unlikely 'situations in the present or future:          

Conditional clause                             main clause

If+ Past Simple                                   -would

If I had enough money,                    I’d retire.

• Instead of would we can use other modal verbs:

If I lost my job, I might go abroad for a while.

• Compare First and Second Conditionals:

If I lose my job, I’ll find life very difficult.

 (= there is a possibility - First Conditional)

If I lost my job, I'd find life very difficult.

(= there is no evidence - Second Conditional)

Third Conditional: no possibility

The first conditional and second conditionals talk about the future. With the third conditional we talk about the past. We talk about a condition in the past that did not happen. That is why there is no possibility for this condition. The third conditional is also like a dream, but with no possibility of the dream coming true.
Last week you bought a lottery ticket. But you did not win. :-(

	condition	result
	Past Perfect	WOULD HAVE + Past Participle
If	I had won the lottery	I would have bought a car.
IF	condition	result
	past perfect	WOULD HAVE + past participle
If	I had seen Mary	I would have told her.
If	Tara had been free yesterday	I would have invited her.
If	they had not passed their exam	their teacher would have been sad.
If	it had rained yesterday	would you have stayed at home?
If	it had rained yesterday	what would you have done?

 

result	IF	condition
WOULD HAVE + past participle		past perfect
I would have told Mary	if	I had seen her.
I would have invited Tara	if	she had been free yesterday.
Their teacher would have been sad	if	they had not passed their exam.
Would you have stayed at home	if	it had rained yesterday?
What would you have done	if	it had rained yesterday?

http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-conditional_4.htm

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/conditional2.htm

2OO7, ILP BOOK, PAIS &AES