Present Conditionals
Present Real Conditional
FORM
[If / When ... Simple Present ..., ... Simple Present ...]
[... Simple Present ... if / when ... Simple Present ...]
USE
The Present Real Conditional is used to talk about what you normally do in reallife situations.
Examples:







If I go to a friend's house for dinner, I usually take a bottle of wine or
some flowers.
When I have a day off from work, I often go to the beach.
If the weather is nice, she walks to work.
Jerry helps me with my homework when he has time.
I read if there is nothing on TV.
A: What do you do when it rains?
B: I stay at home.
A: Where do you stay if you go to Sydney?
B: I stay with my friends near the harbor.
IMPORTANT If / When
Both "if" and "when" are used in the Present Real Conditional. Using "if" suggests
that something happens less frequently. Using "when" suggests that something
happens regularly.
Examples:

When I have a day off from work, I usually go to the beach.
I REGULARLY HAVE DAYS OFF FROM WORK.

If I have a day off from work, I usually go to the beach.
I RARELY HAVE DAYS OFF FROM WORK.
Present Unreal Conditional
FORM
[If ... Simple Past ..., ... would + verb ...]
[... would + verb ... if ... Simple Past ...]
USE
The Present Unreal Conditional is used to talk about what you would generally
do in imaginary situations.
Examples:







If I owned a car, I would drive to work. But I don't own a car.
She would travel around the world if she had more money. But she
doesn't have much money.
I would read more if I didn't watch so much TV.
Mary would move to Japan if she spoke Japanese.
If they worked harder, they would earn more money.
A: What would you do if you won the lottery?
B: I would buy a house.
A: Where would you live if you moved to the U.S.?
B: I would live in Seattle.
EXCEPTION If I were ...
In the Present Unreal Conditional, the form "was" is not considered
grammatically correct. In written English or in testing situations, you should
always use "were." However, in everyday conversation, "was" is often used.
Examples:





If he were French, he would live in Paris.
If she were rich, she would buy a yacht.
I would play basketball if I were taller.
I would buy that computer if it were cheaper.
I would buy that computer if it was cheaper. Not Correct (BUT OFTEN SAID IN
CONVERSATION.)
IMPORTANT Only use "If"
Only the word "if" is used with the Present Unreal Conditional because you are
discussing imaginary situations. "When" cannot be used.
Examples:

I would buy that computer when it were cheaper. Not Correct
 I would buy that computer if it were cheaper. Correct
EXCEPTION Conditional with Modal Verbs
There are some special conditional forms for modal verbs in English:
would + can = could
would + shall = should
would + may = might
The words "can," "shall" and "may" cannot be used with "would." Instead, they
must be used in these special forms.
Examples:

If I went to Egypt, I would can learn Arabic. Not Correct
 If I went to Egypt, I could learn Arabic. Correct
 If she had time, she would may go to the party. Not Correct
 If she had time, she might go to the party. Correct
The words "could," should," "might" and "ought to" include conditional, so you
cannot combine them with "would."
Examples:

If I had more time, I would could exercise after work. Not Correct
 If I had more time, I could exercise after work. Correct
 If he invited you, you really would should go. Not Correct
 If he invited you, you really should go. Correct
Conditional 1
Often called the "real" conditional because it is used for real - or possible - situations. These
situations take place if a certain condition is met.
NOTE
In the conditional 1 we often use unless which means 'if ... not'. In other words, '...unless he
hurries up.' could also be written, '...if he doesn't hurry up.'.
If it rains, we will stay at home.
He will arrive late unless he hurries up.
Peter will buy a new car, if he gets his raise.
Conditional 1 is formed by the use of the present simple in the if clause followed by a comma
will verb (base form) in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first without using
a comma between the clauses.
If he finishes on time, we will go to the movies.
OR
We will go to the movies if he finishes on time.
Conditional 2
Often called the "unreal" conditional because it is used for unreal - impossible or improbable situations. This conditional provides an imaginary result for a given situation.
NOTE
The verb 'to be', when used in the 2nd conditional, is always conjugated as 'were'.
If he studied more, he would pass the exam.
I would lower taxes if I were the President.
They would buy a new house if they had more money.
Conditional 2 is formed by the use of the past simple in the if clause followed by a comma
would verb (base form) in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first without
using a comma between the clauses.
If they had more money, they would buy a new house.
OR
They would buy a new house if they had more money.
Conditional Statements - Reviewing the
First and Second Conditional
Making conditional statements are an important part of fluency. This lesson focuses on helping
students improve their recognition of the structure and use it in conversation.
Aim: Improve recognition of the first and second conditional forms used in conditional
statements, while inductively reviewing the structures.
Activity: Reading Short prepared text with first and second conditional forms included,
Speaking Replying to student generated conditional questions, Writing Developing structurally
correct questions using the first and second conditionals
Level: Intermediate
Outline:










Ask students to imagine the following situation: You’ve arrived home late at night and
you find that the door is open to your apartment. What would you do? - Refresh students
awareness of the conditional in this relaxed introductory portion of the lesson.
Have students read prepared extract using conditionals.
Ask students to underline all conditional structures.
In groups, students complete fill-in activity based on previous reading.
Correct worksheets in small groups. Move about the room helping students with their
corrections.
Go over corrections as a class.
Answer any questions they may have on first and second conditional structure at this
point.
In groups, have students prepare two “What if…” situations on a separate piece of
paper. Ask students to employ first and second conditionals.
Ask students to exchange their prepared situations with another group.
Students in each group discuss the "what if..." situations. Move about the class and
help students - especially concentrating on the correct production of the first and second
conditional forms.
Exercise 1: Emergency Procedures
Directions: Underline all conditional structures with either 1 (first conditional) or 2 (second
conditional)
If you take a look at the handout, you’ll find all the telephone numbers, addresses and other
necessary information. If Tom were here, he'd help me with this presentation. Unfortunately,
he couldn't make it today. OK, let's get started: Today’s subject is helping guests with
emergency situations. We'd certainly have a worse reputation if we didn't handle these
situations well. That's why we like to review these procedures every year.
If a guest looses his passport, call the consulate immediately. If the consulate isn’t nearby,
you’ll have to help the guest get to the appropriate consulate. It would be great if we had
some more consulates here. However, there are also a few in Boston. Next, if a guest has an
accident which is not so serious, you’ll find the first-aid kit under the reception desk. If the
accident is serious, call an ambulance.
Sometimes guests need to return home unexpectedly. If this happens, the guest might need
your help making travel arrangements, re-scheduling appointments, etc. Do everything you
can to make this situation as easy to cope with as possible. If there is a problem, the guest
will expect us to be able to handle any situation. It’s our responsibility to make sure ahead of
time that we can.
Exercise 2: Check Your Understanding
Directions: Fill in the blanks with the correct missing half of the sentence
you’ll have to help the guest get to the appropriate consulate
you’ll find all the telephone numbers, addresses and other necessary information
the guest will expect us to be able to handle any situation
if we didn't handle these situations well
If Tom were here
If this happens
If a guest looses his passport
call an ambulance
If you take a look at the handout, _____. _____, he'd help me with this presentation.
Unfortunately, he couldn't make it today. OK, let's get started: Today’s subject is helping
guests with emergency situations. We'd certainly have a worse reputation _____. That's why
we like to review these procedures every year.
_____, call the consulate immediately. If the consulate isn’t nearby, _____. It would be great
if we had some more consulates here. However, there are also a few in Boston. Next, if a
guest has an accident which is not so serious, you’ll find the first-aid kit under the reception
desk. If the accident is serious, _____.
Sometimes guests need to return home unexpectedly. ______, the guest might need your
help making travel arrangements, re-scheduling appointments, etc. Do everything you can to
make this situation as easy to cope with as possible. If there is a problem, _____. It’s our
responsibility to make sure ahead of time that we can.
Time Clauses
Using Before, After, While and When
We use these words (before, after, while and when) to introduce
time clauses to tell when something happens.
Rudy washed the floor before he watched the soccer match.
Rudy washed the floor after the soccer match.
Rudy washed the floor when the soccer match ended.
Rudy washed the floor while he was watching the soccer match.
In all of these cases, Rudy washed the floor. However, we have to look
at the time clauses to see when the floor was washed.
Time
clauses:
before he watched the soccer
match
after the soccer match
when the soccer match ended
while he was watching the soccer
match
In all of these examples, the main (independent) clause is "Rudy
washed the floor". The time clause simply states the relationship
of other actions (watching the soccer match) to the activity in the
main clause.
Let's analyze the time sequence--with another example.
The phone rang after we ate dinner.
(First we ate our meal, and then the phone rang.)
The phone rang before we ate dinner.
(First the phone rang, and then we ate.)
The phone rang when we started dinner.
Also: The phone rang as we ate dinner.
(We started to eat and the phone rang at the same time.)
The phone rang while we were eating dinner.
Also: The phone rang as we were eating dinner.
(This is the same as above, but with the progressive tense [-ing]).
The Grammar
Independent clause
The phone rang
Dependent clause
before we ate dinner.
The phone rang is an independent clause. It can stand alone
grammatically.
before we ate dinner is a dependent clause. It needs an
independent clause to be a complete sentence. It is a sentence
fragment when it is used alone.
Punctuation
The phone rang before we ate dinner.
Before we ate dinner, the phone rang.
When the independent clause comes first in the sentence, no
comma is needed.
When the dependent clause comes first in the sentence, the
clauses are separated by a comma.
Different verb tenses
Look at these verb tenses:
two past tense
It started to rain before I got home.
events
Jaime had a drink before he played tennis.
modal
auxiliary and I have to get home before it starts of rain.
present tense
Jaime has to have a drink before he plays
tennis.
two past tense
Henry went to the movie after he had dinner
events
Prof. Simon gave a test after the spring
break ended.
modal
Henry may go to the movie after he has
auxiliary and
present tense dinner.
Secretary Simon ought to negotiate with the
rebels before the situation gets out of hand.
an on-going
event
Myra was reading a book when the phone
interrupted by
a single event rang.
in the past
past tense
cause and
effect
Myra had to get up when the phone rang.
two past tense Ben asked for a ride when Myra answered
events
the phone.
two future
events
Myra will leave to pick up Ben when she
hangs up.
two past tense
I was listening carefully while the manager
continuous
was explaining the problem.
activities
one past tense
continuous
The doorbell rang while I was taking a
event
interrupted by shower.
single action
Cause and Effect
You can use when or after to explain some cause and effect
situations.
Effect: He got a flat tire (puncture).
Cause: He ran over some glass.
He got a flat tire after he ran over some
glass.
After he ran over some glass, he got a
flat tire.
Cause: It rained.
Effect: Our paint job was ruined.
When it rained, our paint job was
ruined.
Our paint job was ruined when it
rained.
ESL PRACTICE SITES:
http://www.voanews.com/vietnamese/dynamic_english.cfm
http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/
http://a4esl.org
http://www.englishlearner.com/tests/test.html
Grammar, Vocabulary, Crossword Puzzles, Readings, Quizes, Hangman (word game)
http://www.studygs.net/
Study Guide and Strategies
http://www.eslcafe.com/
Idoms, phrases, Verbs, Quizzs, Slang
http://www.edufind.com/learning/index.cfm
Online English Grammar
http://www.esl-lab.com/
Listening
http://focusenglish.com/
Listening, Idoms, Vocabulary, Conversation practice
http://esl.about.com/
listening, Quizzes, Games, Vocabulary and more content frequently change
http://owl.english.purdue.edu
Writing lab
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/eslstudent.html
http://www.wordsmith.org/awad/
Vocabulary
http://www.better-english.com/exerciselist.html
Business English { http://www.stroppycat.com/thankyou.html }
http://www.manythings.org/
Word games, Puzzles, Listening and more.
http://www.eslpartyland.com/students/inter.htm
Discussion Forum.
http://ohiou.edu/esl/english/index.html
Grammar, Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking, Vocabulary
http://www.everydayenglish.com/
Listenting Practice – Basic
http://www.collegedirectory-esl.edu
College search for Collegr/University accept ESL 109 or 112 instead of TOEFL.
khicon
http://www.petalia.org/Englishpage.htm
trang này có nhiều link học tiếng Anh + giải thích nữa
from the site:
# English School
# Kiểm tra kiến thức ( Toefl, ielts, gre... )
# Nghe và phát âm
*
*
*
*
Trang luyện nghe
Listening to podcasts
Watch TV
Cool clips
03-03-2007, 08:24 AM
*
*
*
*
Movies
Songs
Stories
Tests download
#
#
#
#
Ngữ pháp - Từ vựng
Luyện kỹ năng đọc
Kỹ năng viết
Download tài liệu
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
General documents
Toefl
IELTS
GMAT
TOEIC
Gre & SAT
Listening
# Xem TV online
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
News
Movie trailers
Cartoon
Chat show
Music channels
Entertainment
Sport & Lifestyle
# English 4 Fun
# Tài nguyên khác
tbtlmq
03-22-2007, 12:29 PM
These are some good websites for learning English. Please visit and joint yourself!
ESL PRACTICE SITES:
http://www.voanews.com/vietnamese/dynamic_english.cfm
http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/
http://a4esl.org
http://www.englishlearner.com/tests/test.html
Grammar, Vocabulary, Crossword Puzzles, Readings, Quizes, Hangman (word game)
http://www.studygs.net/
Study Guide and Strategies
http://www.eslcafe.com/
Idoms, phrases, Verbs, Quizzs, Slang
http://www.edufind.com/learning/index.cfm
Online English Grammar
http://www.esl-lab.com/
Listening
http://focusenglish.com/
Listening, Idoms, Vocabulary, Conversation practice
http://esl.about.com/
listening, Quizzes, Games, Vocabulary and more content frequently change
http://owl.english.purdue.edu
Writing lab
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/eslstudent.html
http://www.wordsmith.org/awad/
Vocabulary
http://www.better-english.com/exerciselist.html
Business English { http://www.stroppycat.com/thankyou.html }
http://www.manythings.org/
Word games, Puzzles, Listening and more.
http://www.eslpartyland.com/students/inter.htm
Discussion Forum.
http://ohiou.edu/esl/english/index.html
Grammar, Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking, Vocabulary
http://www.everydayenglish.com/
Listenting Practice – Basic
http://www.collegedirectory-esl.edu
College search for Collegr/University accept ESL 109 or 112 instead of TOEFL.
Thanks for your useful website, I have been learning E for nine months, my E is not good. So that I
hope you will help me to study. Thanks so much!
traicocxanh
05-08-2007, 08:50 PM
Thank you very much for a lot of useful link! I hope it will help me study English!
crespius
coa' trang nao` day. tieng' anh voi' dao dien tieng' viet. ko ?
raddanesh
Free IELTS Samples: http://www.ielts-exam.net
hung_tutor
Hi Everyone,
06-11-2007, 04:56 PM
06-18-2007, 05:01 AM
06-30-2007, 08:53 AM
I just wanna ask you guy that:
-How Do You learn English Vocabulary everyday?
-What is the best way for you to memorise English vocabulary?
The traditional method of learning Vocabulary is that you write repeatedly again and again the
English words and their equivalent Vietnamese words.
For example, you may write like this "critical: có tính chỉ trích; critical: có tính chỉ trích; critical: có
tính chỉ trích;critical: có tính chỉ trích;critical: có tính chỉ trích;critical: có tính chỉ trích;critical: có
tính chỉ trích; etc" in many pages in order to memorise the word "Critical".
I used to use this method to learn vocabulary before. But it turns out that this method really
SUCKs, because you only learn superficially the word & you don't understand in depth the meaning
of the word!
Second, each word has many meanings. For example, the word Critical also means "nguy cập" or
"sống còn". Therefore, each word will be used differently in different situation depending on its
specific meanings.
If you wanna learn English vocabulary effectively, you gotta understand in depth the meanings of
English word and the meanings of Vietnamese word as well.
Hence, in my opinion, the best way to learn Vocabulary is to practise to create the relationship
between English meaning and Vietnamese meaning.
If you can do this, I am sure you can improve your vocabulary memorization because you can
understand in depth the meanings of English word and the meanings of Vietnamese word.
Luckily, I have just develop a website that allow you to create the relationship between English
meaning and Vietnamese meaning. That website is BraveKing.com (http://BraveKing.com). It
contains BraveKing English Meaning against Vietnamese Meaning Dictionary
(http://Dict.BraveKing.com). Please visit BraveKing.com (http://BraveKing.com) & check it out.:)
vitec
Trang web học tập tiếng anh rất bổ ích và hiệu quả
Luyện thi tiếng Anh online đây =>>
09-17-2007, 09:55 PM
http://luyenthianhvan.org/
techron
Yes. There is a very good website.
09-24-2007, 05:10 AM
check out http://triviatime.awardspace.com or snipr.com/triviafun for short. It's a chat room for
talking about things like java basics in English and meeting with more experienced programmers
and English speekers, and it's a Java-based game also. Good luck!
[http://triviatime.awardspace.com|triviatime.awardspace.co m]
http://triviatime.awardspace.com
camdorac_likom
www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish (http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish)
www.britishcouncil.org (http://www.britishcouncil.org)
09-24-2007, 07:39 PM
Chúc mọi người học tốt
camdorac_likom
09-26-2007, 09:40 PM
These are some good websites for learning English. Please visit and joint yourself!
ESL PRACTICE SITES:
http://www.voanews.com/vietnamese/dynamic_english.cfm
http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/
http://a4esl.org
http://www.englishlearner.com/tests/test.html
Grammar, Vocabulary, Crossword Puzzles, Readings, Quizes, Hangman (word game)
http://www.studygs.net/
Study Guide and Strategies
http://www.eslcafe.com/
Idoms, phrases, Verbs, Quizzs, Slang
http://www.edufind.com/learning/index.cfm
Online English Grammar
http://www.esl-lab.com/
Listening
http://focusenglish.com/
Listening, Idoms, Vocabulary, Conversation practice
http://esl.about.com/
listening, Quizzes, Games, Vocabulary and more content frequently change
http://owl.english.purdue.edu
Writing lab
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/eslstudent.html
http://www.wordsmith.org/awad/
Vocabulary
http://www.better-english.com/exerciselist.html
Business English { http://www.stroppycat.com/thankyou.html }
http://www.manythings.org/
Word games, Puzzles, Listening and more.
http://www.eslpartyland.com/students/inter.htm
Discussion Forum.
http://ohiou.edu/esl/english/index.html
Grammar, Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking, Vocabulary
http://www.everydayenglish.com/
Listenting Practice – Basic
http://www.collegedirectory-esl.edu
College search for Collegr/University accept ESL 109 or 112 instead of TOEFL.
Making suggestions
The following words and expressions are all used to make suggestions and give
advice to people.
should
"You should try to practise English."
"You shouldn't translate too much."
Why don't you
"Why don't you join an English club?"
ought to
"You ought to read more."
If I were you, I'd
"If I were you, I'd watch more television."
All these expressions are followed by a verb, without to. For
example: "He should visit the Eiffel Tower" (not "he should to visit
the Eiffel Tower.")
suggest and recommend
Either use a verb + ing
"I suggest visiting the Eiffel Tower" (we should all go).
Or use that + a verb without to
"I suggest that you visit the Eiffel Tower" (I'm not going)
Or you use a noun
"I recommend the lasagne" (it's a very good dish to choose in this restaurant)
advise
"I advise you to buy a good dictionary."
advice
Advice is an uncountable noun. This means that we can't say an advice. Instead,
we say some advice or a piece of advice.
"Let me give you some advice."
"She gave me a very useful piece of advice: to buy a good dictionary."