First and second conditional
CONDITIONALS
There are many different forms of Conditionals, but basically, Conditionals talk about situations with the word IF involved. This lesson focuses on two of the basic Conditionals, the 1st and the 2nd Conditional.
1ST CONDITIONAL
- is formed like this:
IF + PRESENT SIMPLE VERB, WILL + INFINITIVE VERB
The 1st Conditional is used to talk about future situations that we think are very likely to happen or be true, with the idea that if you do something now, something else will almost certainly happen in the future.
If Jane leaves now, she will make her train.
This means we think that if Jane leaves now, she will have no problem to arrive in time for her train. Also, we think that it is likely that she is going to leave. In this example, we know what time it is, what time Jane's train is, and how long it normally takes to go to the train station, so we can be fairly sure about the fact that she will make it if she leaves now.
If I go to the store, I will buy you some bread.
Here, the speaker is indicating that there is a very good chance or real possibility that he is going to the store, and of course if he does he will be able to buy some bread.
2ND CONDITIONAL
- is formed like this:
IF + PAST SIMPLE VERB, WOULD + INFINITIVE VERB
The 2nd Conditional can be used to imagine what would happen in a few different situations:
- situations which are untrue or impossible:
If I were younger, I would join the army.
In this example, we talk about a situation that cannot possibly happen, because it is impossible to become younger. But we talk about what we would do if things were different than they really are.
- this form is also commonly used to give advice:
If I were you, I would accept that job offer.
Again, this describes an imaginary situation for the speaker – I cannot possibly be you. However, here the speaker tells the second person (for whom the situation is real!) what he thinks is best for them to do.
After IF, it is possible to use WERE instead of WAS, both "If I were you" and "If I was you" are possible. In these situations, "If I were" is more formal, but "If I was" is also very common and normal.
- possible but very unlikely situations:
If I had ten million dollars, I would buy a huge mansion.
In this situation, the speaker does not have ten million dollars, and doesn't expect to have ten million dollars in the future. Perhaps it is possible that he will get ten million dollars somehow, but most likely not. Again, the focus is on what the speaker would do if something in his life were different. He is using his imagination.
1st & 2nd CONDITIONALS
Now compare the difference in meaning when describing situations in the 1st and the 2nd Conditionals…
a) Thomas Cook is a candidate for mayor. He says:
"If I become mayor, I will build a new football stadium.”
b) Tommy Cook is a ten-year old schoolboy. He says:
"If I became mayor, I would build a new football stadium.”
The first example uses the 1st Conditional because Thomas Cook has a good chance of becoming mayor, and if he does, it is entirely possible that he will build a new stadium.
The second example uses the 2nd Conditional because Tommy Cook is only ten and very unlikely to ever become mayor – he is just imagining what he would do if this somehow happened.
a) My friend needs some help painting his house on Saturday. I think I will probably have some free time then, and I am happy to help him. So, I say:
"If I have some free time on Saturday, I will help you paint your house.”
b) My friend needs some help painting his house on Saturday. I know I will be out of town on business that day, but I want him to know that if things were different I would help. So I say:
"If I had some free time, I would help you paint your house.”
The first example uses 1st Conditional because there is a good probability that I will have some free time, and if so I will definitely help him.
The second example uses 2nd Conditional because there is no possibility for me to help him, but I am imagining what I would do if the situation were changed.
In these conditional sentences, COULD, MIGHT and MAY are also possible:
If you leave now, you might make your train.
If we went to the game, it might be fun!
If you make the same mistake again, you could lose your job.
If it stopped snowing, we could use the car.
If you cheat, you may be disqualified.