First Conditional
(The real conditional / or likely future outcomes)
The most common conditional
If + Present Simple, Will + Bare infinitive
If I graduate, I will get a good job
(Is it likely I will graduate)
When I graduate, I will get a good job (more confident)
When I wake up, I'll have a cereal
We don't use will in the 'if' clause
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(Is it likely I will graduate)
When I graduate, I will get a good job (more confident)
When I wake up, I'll have a cereal
We don't use will in the 'if' clause
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- If I. (go) out tonight, I. ...
- If you. (get) back late, I ...
- If we. (go) on holiday this summer, we. ...
- If the weather. (not/improve) , we. ...
- If I. (not/go) to bed early, I.
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We can use the 1st and the 2nd conditional to express many of the same ideas.
1st
If I miss the bus I will take a taxi
(now)
2nd
If I missed the bus I would take a taxi
(an imagined situation)
1st
If I run out of butter, I'll just use oil
2nd
If I ran out of butter, I would just use oil
(unreal, imagined situation)
Modals to replace 'will'
If you ask George, he may/might be able to help you. (possibility)
You can/may leave the room if you've finished the test. (permission)
If he doesn't come soon, we must / will have to leave without him. (obligation)
If you ever go to Chicago, you should take a boat trip on the river. (suggestion)
If you don't watch your steps, you are going to fall over. (prediction)
If you ask George, he may/might be able to help you. (possibility)
You can/may leave the room if you've finished the test. (permission)
If he doesn't come soon, we must / will have to leave without him. (obligation)
If you ever go to Chicago, you should take a boat trip on the river. (suggestion)
If you don't watch your steps, you are going to fall over. (prediction)