What are conditionals / if clauses?

Conditionals are used to describe the result of a real or hypothetical condition.

There are four main types of conditionals in English. Each is used to indicate the likelihood of a situation occurring, or the likelihood that it would have occurred under particular circumstances.

The Zero and First conditionals are known as ‘real conditionals’, because they are used for situations that are certain or highly likely.
The Second and Third conditionals are often called ‘unreal conditionals’ because they are used for situations which are improbable or impossible.

Conditionals in academic writing

Conditionals have many uses in academic writing: facts, habitual actions, implications, interferences, predictions, plans, possibities and hypothetical situations (see next tab for conditional examples). Conditionals are also used frequently in hedging language to make criticisms and judgements softer.

Present unreal conditionals

The evidence is not strong enough because it is based on a limited number of particpants.

The evidence would be stronger IF it had been based on more participants.

Past unreal condition

The paper was not persuasive because the author failed to relate the findings to previous theories on the topic.

The paper would have been more persuasive IF the author had related the findings to previous theories on the topic.

Conditional sentences examples

State scientific facts in the present tense: If the corn is milled, starch can be extracted.
Show habitual actions in the present or past: If we misinterpreted the results, we indicated this immediately.
Show implications: If there was legislation for X, it could prevent….
Make inferences about the past: If the project had had more investment, it may have succeeded.
Make predictions about the future: If the results are analysed from an economical perspective, it will define the problem more clearly.
Show possible plans or actions: If you assess the data thoroughly, you might establish the cause of the problem.
Give advice / possibilities: If these solutions are applied, it should reduce the homeless problem significantly..
Refer to impossible situations in the present or past: If the proposal had focused on financial incentives, it would have been more useful.

Adapted from https://www.adelaide.edu.au

PDF Lesson Download

Conditionals [new 2021]

This lesson helps improve students’ awareness of conditionals. It includes a language review section, lots of guided practice and freer paragraph writing practice. (see worksheet example) Time: 60mins. Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Conditionals Language Review

Conditionals: exercise 1

Task 1: Practice the zero conditional by reordering the following sentences. Add punctuation where necessary.

watered plants wither if are not die and they

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Plants wither and die if they are not watered.