Welcome to love English. Today and in fact over the next few weeks I'm going
to be teaching you all about conditionals. Now so many students want to learn mixed conditionals-
third conditional right away. We are going to go step by step
through all the conditionals. From 0 to 3 to mixed conditionals. So over the next
few weeks subscribe here to love English to learn all about conditionals and if
you have any questions don't forget to post them in the comment box below.
Are you ready? If you study with us, you'll improve your English fast!
Today we're going to be looking at zero and first conditional... zero and first
conditional. It is helpful to look at these both in context so that you can
understand the difference between when that we use zero and when we use first.
In fact, we will be comparing and contrasting all the conditionals as we
go along. So you really understand when to use them. Right, zero conditional.
Really really simple.Zero conditional is used for general truths (always true/facts) . For example...
If you heat water to 100 degrees Celsius, it boils. Simple. Another example...
When the sun goes down, it gets dark.
If you push that button, the lights go out. Oh okay!
I think they get it. (Understand) Turn the lights back on please! There we go..
So, zero conditional, the structure. This is a nice and easy one.
We would have if, plus present simple comma plus present simple. Not forgetting of course...
your subjects and objects, and that's it really guys
that's when we use zero conditional.
Now when to use first conditional? Remember it is a real possible future or
present situation that we are referring to. 'If' of course is used to refer to the
hypothetical. So it's an imagined situation if you
If you study with us you'll learn English fast. That would be a promise.
Another reason we use first conditional.. for threats and warnings! If you don't do
your homework, you won't pass the exam. Logical consequences... well it's raining
outside. If I go out, I'll get wet. We can also use first conditional for offers.
If you like, I'll help you. Another reason we use first conditional is to negotiate.
That is to say 'make a deal' with somebody. If you come to the cinema with me I'll
go to the football with you! Sounds very much like a boyfriend/girlfriend situation.
Now first conditional. At the beginning of the lesson I said to you, if you study
with us you will improve your English fast. So first of all the structure.
Let's have a look. So of course we've got if, we've got present simple, we've got a
comma there and then we also have will but is it present simple that comes
after 'will'? No 'will' is of course a modal verb so remember after all modal verbs
you would have the infinitive form.Now, as we know there are two clauses in all
conditionals you have the if or hypothetical clause
and you have the result clause. Where you have your 'will', (it) could be 'going to'
(it) could be 'may' could be' might' and that formulates our whole conditional.
Now, remember it doesn't matter if you switch those around..So, I could say 'you'll learn
English fast if you study with us.' Notice the difference though... well there isn't a
big difference except that you don't need a comma between the two clauses now
when we do change these around it really just changes the emphasis slightly of
the sentence. So, I'm focusing more on 'you'll learn fast' rather than 'if you
study with us', but the meaning has not changed.
Do not forget to contract. In all conditionals and in fact in English it's
important to make sure we contract some of our verbs and subjects and negatives.
So that you sound more natural.In the case of first conditional you would
never hear, if I go to the shops I will buy you some chocolate. No. It would be:
If I go to the shops I'll buy you some chocolate. Let's just recap those
contractions: I'll, you'll, we'll, he'll she'll and they'll...oh
not forgetting' it'll' Now that's a strange one, it'll on its own sounds very
odd however if I put it into a conditional sentence...If the weather is
good tomorrow it will be a great day. Now don't forget these contractions are
important to know as well to help you with your listening. English people
always contract their words and that's often where the confusion comes. So..
you'll remember that now.
If we want to look at making a conditional negative we would use 'will not'
However, do we use will not? No, we use won't. So, if you don't work hard, you
won't pass your exams. Now, listen again for the pronunciation.' Won't' often gets
confused with 'want'. won't- don't, want -font The difference is a long 'o' won't and a
short ('o') 'want'. Now, if you want to practise that a bit more, there's a link to my
pronunciation lesson above. Now, not to forget 'unless' we can use' unless' if you
want to use 'if not'. If I don't see you, I won't call you. You could say 'Unless I
see you, I won't call you. If the weather isn't nice tomorrow, we won't go to the
beach. Unless that the weather is nice tomorrow, we won't go to the beach.
There we go. Unless so simple. okay, now I'm sure lots
of you have understood the lesson but you might be thinking I need more
practice. So, I'm going to suggest a few ways you could possibly do that. One of
the first things I love to do with conditionals, in fact all conditionals is
make a conditional chain. So, what I'm going to ask you to do is what I would
ask my students to do as homework. I would like you to complete a conditional
chain. So let's think of an imagined situation that is quite possible...
If I improve my English, (I'll...). So, I want to start in the comment box with 'If I improve my
English. I'll.....' now what might that be let's have a think. If I improve my English,
I'll go to England. If I go to England, I'll visit London.
if I visit London I'll have a cream tea if I have a cream tea I'll feel rather
full. If I feel a rather full, I'll need to have a walk. if I have a walk, I'll walk
around London. if I walk around London, I might go to Buckingham Palace. If I go
to Buckingham Palace,... well you have a go! Conditional chains guys , that's your
homework. Comment below and I'll tell you if you've got them correct. Thank you for
watching. Don't forget to subscribe to love English to learn more about 2nd, 3rd
and mixed conditionals and to find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat
we're everywhere. Thank you so much for watching and I look forward to seeing
you with the second conditional.