First Conditional

Get This!

Listen and read.

Discuss!

  1. What do we call it when we believe something good or bad will happen under certain conditions (e.g. If you break a mirror, you will have seven years of bad luck.)?
  2. How did Jackson break the mirror?
  3. What do you think happened next in the dialogue?

First Conditional

We use the First Conditional to talk about the result of a possible situation in the present or future.

In the First Conditional sentences, the subordinate clause[explanation: subordinate clause [səˌbɔːdɪnət ˈklɔːz] – kõrvallause] starts with if. When we are sure something will happen, we can also use when.

Statements

If you practise more, you’ll get better at playing the guitar.

if + Present Simple, willbase form of the main verb

Negative sentences

If we bake her favourite cake, she won’t be upset any more.

if + Present Simple, will + notbase form of the main verb

Questions

If you win the lottery, what will you do?

if + Present Simple, (question word)will + subjectbase form of the main verb

We usually put a comma when the if-clause comes first. Compare:

If we leave now, we won’t miss the film.

We won’t miss the film if we leave now.

unless = if ... not

Unless we leave now, we’ll miss the film.

If we don’t leave now, we’ll miss the film.

Let’s Practise!

  • If these training shoes cost less, I would definitely buy them.
  • If we have free time, we will visit some museums.
  • I would have visited you if I had known you were sick.
  • If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.
  • He will buy a new laptop next month if he saves enough money.
  • She would be extremely happy if she won the lottery.
  • If you mix red and blue, you get purple.
  • They won’t catch the train if they arrive at 7 p.m.

Exercise 2

Listen and choose the option that suits you best.

1.

  • I’ll call my friend.
  • I’ll take a nap.

2.

  • I’ll run away.
  • I’ll take a picture.

3.

  • I’ll scream.
  • I’ll call my mum.

4.

  • I’ll go to the police station.
  • I’ll go shopping.

5.

  • I’ll dance like nobody is watching.
  • I’ll sing like nobody is listening.

6.

  • I won’t care.
  • I’ll never talk to them again.
  • Unless
  • will go
  • won’t hide
  • If
  • I’ll ask
  • won’t bring
  1. If I see a frog in the forest, I  it home.
  2.  I want to have a sleepover,  for my parents’ permission.
  3. When I want to play football, I  outside.
  4.  a surprise inside the cake when it’s my mum’s birthday.
  5.  I’m tired after school, I’ll walk home.

Exercise 4

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form to make sentences in the First Conditional.
  1. When we  back from our trip, I  some photos to social media.
  2. He  if he  an alarm.
  3. If you , you  the train.
  1. We  our pets inside if there  a storm.
  2. Unless they  the game, they  through to the semi-final.
  3. What  if you  your wallet?

Exercise 5

Match the parts of the superstitions[explanation: superstition [ˌsuːpəˈstɪʃ(ə)n] – ebausk]. Then you and your partner take turns saying them in Estonian.
  1. If you break a mirror, 
  2. If you find a four-leaf clover, 
  3. If you see a rainbow, 
  4. If a black cat walks onto a ship, 
  5. If you walk under a ladder[annotation: ladder [ˈlædə(r)] - redel]
  1. If the bottom of your feet itch[annotation: itch [ɪtʃ] - sügelema]
  2. If your right palm[annotation: palm [pɑːm] - peopesa] itches, 
  3. If you drop a fork, 
  4. If it rains when you move, 
  5. If your right eye itches, 

Pairwork 1

A. In turns, ask and answer questions about the superstitions from Exercise 5.

If you find a four-leaf clover, will you

cry     laugh     sing     sit down     dance
be scared     tell anyone​     be happy
smile​     call me

B. In turns, ask and answer questions using the superstitions from Exercise 5.

If it rains when you move, what will you do?

I will wear a raincoat.

Pairwork 2

Discuss with your partner.

What will/won’t you do if ...

  • your favourite artist comes to town?
  • you forget your mobile phone at home?
  • your best friend moves abroad?
  • you find a stray[explanation: stray [streɪ] – hulkuv] animal?

How Am I Doing?

I can explain how to form the First Conditional.

I can recognise the First Conditional in sentences.

I can use the First Conditional to describe possible everyday situations and their results.