First Conditional: real possibility

We are talking about the future. We are thinking about a particular condition or situation in the future, and the result of this condition. There is a real possibility that this condition will happen. For example, it is morning. You are at home. You plan to play tennis this afternoon. But there are some clouds in the sky. Imagine that it rains. What will you do?

Eg.

If + condition + result

If + pres. simp. + will + vb. inf. (Grammar of the First Conditional)

If it rains I will stay inside.

Notice that we are thinking about a future condition. It is not raining yet. But the sky is cloudy and you think that it could rain. We use the present simple tense to talk about the possible future condition. We use WILL + base verb to talk about the possible future result. The important thing about the first conditional is that there is a real possibility that the condition will happen. Here are some more examples (do you remember the two basic structures: [IF condition result] and [result IF condition]?):

Examples:

If I see Mary tomorrow I’ll tell her.

If they don’t pass the exam their teacher will be sad.

If it rains tomorrow what will you do?

Result + If + Condition (Reverse grammar for First Conditional)

I will tell Mary if I see her.

Their teacher will be sad if they fail the exam.

What will you do if it rains tomorrow?

Note: Sometimes, we use shall, can, or may instead of will, for example: If you are good today, you can watch TV tonight.

Free Daily Lesson courtesy of http://www.internetenglishlearnonline.com

Learn and Speak English Online with IELO – Internet English Learn Online – Speaking Lessons, General English Classes, Exam Preparation Courses, English for Special Purposes, Jobseekers English, Document Editing and Custom English Courses designed just for you!

We use the so-called zero conditional when the result of the condition is always true, like a scientific fact.

Take some ice. Put it in a saucepan. Heat the saucepan. What happens? The ice melts (it becomes water). You would be surprised if it did not.

Eg.

If + Condition + Result

If + Pres. Simple + Pres. Simple (= Zero Conditional form)

If you heat ice, it melts

Notice that we are thinking about a result that is always true for this condition. The result of the condition is an absolute certainty. We are not thinking about the future or the past, or even the present. We are thinking about a simple fact. We use the present simple tense to talk about the condition. We also use the present simple tense to talk about the result. The important thing about the zero conditional is that the condition always has the same result.

Note: We can also use when instead of if, for example: When I get up late I miss my bus.

More Examples:

If + Condition + Result

If I miss the 8 o’clock bus, I am late for work.

If I am late for work, my boss gets angry.

If people don’t eat, they get hungry.

If you heat ice, does it melt?

Result + if + Condition:

I am late for work if I miss the bus.

My boss gets angry if I’m late for work.

People get hungry if they don’t eat.

Does ice melt if you heat it?

Free Daily Lesson courtesy of http://www.internetenglishlearnonline.com

Learn and Speak English Online with IELO – Internet English Learn Online – Speaking Lessons, General English Classes, Exam Preparation Courses, English for Special Purposes, Jobseekers English, Document Editing and Custom English Courses designed just for you!

Used to do

We use ‘used to’ for something that was true  in the past but no longer happens. It is a way to contrast the differences between the present and the past.

• I used to smoke a packet a day but I stopped two years ago.
• Ben used to travel a lot in his job but now, since his promotion, he doesn’t.
• I used to drive to work but now I take the bus.
• I didn’t use to like him but now I do.

‘Used to do’ is different from ‘to be used to doing’ and ‘to get used to doing’

to be used to doing

We use ‘to be used to doing’ to say that something is normal, not unusual.

• I’m used to living on my own. I’ve done it for quite a long time.
• Hans has lived in England for over a year so he is used to driving on the left now.
• They’ve always lived in hot countries so they aren’t used to the cold weather here.

to get used to doing

We use ‘to get used to doing’ to talk about the process of something becoming normal for us.

• I didn’t understand the accent when I first moved here but I quickly got used to it.
• She has started working nights and is still getting used to sleeping during the day.
• I have always lived in the country but now I’m beginning to get used to living in the city.

Free Daily Lesson courtesy of http://www.internetenglishlearnonline.com

Learn and Speak English Online with IELO – Internet English Learn Online – Speaking Lessons, General English Classes, Exam Preparation Courses, English for Special Purposes, Jobseekers English, Document Editing and Custom English Courses designed just for you!