05. Conditional forms

The zero conditional describes general truths: When you get stressed, you start to lose it. To form it, use the present simple in both the if and result clauses.

The first conditional describes present and future possibilities: If you’re tense, you’ll make mistakes. To form it, use the present simple in the if clause and will + infinitive (without to) in the result clause.

The second conditional describes present and future hypotheses: If he weren’t so easy going, he wouldn’t run so fast. To form it, use the past simple in the if clause and would + infinitive (without to) in the result clause.

1. Answer questions 1-3 about the form of conditional sentences.
   1. In which type of conditional can when be used instead of if?
   2. In the first conditional, which modal verbs and verb forms can be used instead of will?
   3. In the second conditional, which other modal verbs can be used instead of would?

Because the second conditional describes a hypothesis, we use the second person form of the past simple in the if clause (subjunctive).

Continuous forms can be used instead of simple forms.

1. Decide how likely these sentences are, and use the words in brackets to make questions. Then work in pairs and ask each other the questions.
   1. If (you/become) a famous film star, who (you/want) to act with?
   2. If (you/win) a lot of money, what (you/spend) it on?
   3. If (you/learn) another language, which one (you/choose)?
   4. If (you/have) the money to go to any place in the world, where (you/go)?
   5. If (you/have) the chance to do anything this evening, what (you/do)?
   6. If (the weather/be) good this weekend, what (you/do)?
   7. If (you/get married) next year, what kind of ceremony (you/have)?
   8. If (someone/follow) you down the street, what (you/do)?
2. Complete the sentences so that they are true for you.
   1. If I didn’t live in , I …
   2. If I could change one thing in the world, …
   3. If I found some money in the street, …
   4. If I could meet three people, …
3. If you could live twenty-four hours in the life of anyone in history, who would you chose and why?