CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

ZERO CONDITIONAL

If + present simple, present simple

Examples:

a) If you heat ice, it melts.

b) If you freeze water, it becomes ice.
c) Plants die if they dont get enough water.

Se utiliza para expresar leyes naturales, verdades universals

FIRST CONDITIONAL

If + present simple, will / modales / imperative

Examples:

a) If you dont hurry, well miss the plane.

b) If you ask George, he may be able to help you.
c) If you go London, you should take a boat trip on the river.
d) If there is a chance to study abroad, go for it.

Se utiliza para expresar situaciones que son posibles o probables.

SECOND CONDITIONAL

If + past simple, would / could / might + infinitive without to

Ejemplos:

a) If you went to bed earlier, you wouldnt be so tired.

b) If I were rich, I would buy a castle in Scotland.
c) If I could, Id live in the country.

Se utiliza para expresar situaciones hipotticas en el presente o en el futuro.

Con el verbo to be, utilizamos siempre were (se puede utilizar was en situaciones
informales)

THIRD CONDITIONAL

If + past perfect, would/could/might have + past participle

Ejemplos:

a) If it had rained, you would have got wet.

 b) If you had worked harder, you could have passed the exam.
c) If I had known you were coming, Id have baked a caked.

Se utiliza para situaciones hipotticas en el pasado, no llegaron a ocurrir nunca y son

imposibles.

OTRAS CONJUNCIONES

Adems de if, nos podemos encontrar otras conjunciones como:

Unless
Se puede usar como alternativa a if not. Suele aparecer en la primera condicional.
Provided that / Providing that / As long as / On condition that
Todas significan lo mismo que if pero enfatizan la condicin.
Time clauses (when, as soon as, etc)

I WISH / IF ONLY

Podemos expresar deseos o lamentarnos de algo que ha ocurrido en el pasado utilizando I

wish / If only. Las dos formas significan lo mismo (ojal), pero If only se usa para dar ms
nfasis.

IF ONLY / I WISH + PAST SIMPLE

Nos referimos al tiempo present. Para expresar algo que nos gustara que fuera diferente en el
presente.

I wish I had a car!

IF ONLY / I WISH + PAST PERFECT

Nos referimos al pasado. Expresan arrepentimiento por algo que ocurri en el pasado.

I wish I hadnt said that to you.

IF ONLY / I WISH + WOULD + INFINITIVE

Se refiere al futuro.
I wish it wouldnt rain tomorrow. I want to go the beach.
Tambin se utiliza con situaciones que ocurren siempre y nos molestan.
If only you would stop complaining!