The first conditional

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Did you know that you can use going to and might instead of will in first conditional sentences? Grab a coffee and get ready for some clips!

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Introduction to theory part 1

Meet Sarah! She's busy planning her weekend and figuring out what she has to do. Take a look at Sarah's notes about her weekend plans. For each of her notes, decide if the statement is true for your weekend as well.

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Which tense is used after ‘if’? Which tense is used in the second part of the sentence? Are those sentences describing the past, present or future?

Theory part 1

Exercise 1

Answer the following questions.

If a stray dog approaches you, will you pet it?

If you drop your phone and the screen cracks, will you buy a new one?

If you have a headache today, will you take a painkiller?

If you lose your keys, what will you do?

If your childhood friend calls you today, what will you do?

If you get hungry after this class, what will you do?

If you find a wallet on the ground, what will you do?

Theory part 2

Exercise 2

Fill in the gaps and watch the clip to check your answers. In all of the examples, characters will use the future simple in the main clause.

A “Think about what you're doing. If you …, corporate … furious. (leave, be) They'll never let you back.”

B “If you … to do this, we … supportive like crazy.” (decide, be)

C "Well, if you … a problem, I … you a problem.” (want/give)

D "You just said no to $25,000. You said no. If this … out well for you, you … home with $1,000." (not work/go)

E "Get Riley there, cause if you ... (not)" "I'll get him there" "And, Buffy..." "If you … me to hurry, I … your ass.” (tell/kick)

Exercise 3

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The next clip will be a bit more interesting. Fill in the gaps and watch it.

"This is nice" "If you … this up and … her in any way, I … you in jail for the rest of your life” (screw/hurt/throw)

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Each conditional sentence consists of two clauses: the main clause and the if-clause. Example: If I get hungry, I will eat something. Each clause, however, can contain more than one verb. Just like in the clip we’ve just watched. Example: If I get hungry and feel like it, I will go to the shop and buy something to eat.

Exercise 4

Answer the following questions.

If you finish work early today and feel tired, will you go home and relax or will you go out and meet friends?

If a new cafe opens nearby and serves breakfast, will you try it out and perhaps make it a regular spot?

If the weather is nice this weekend and the park isn't too crowded, will you take a walk and enjoy a picnic?

If your friend invites you to a movie and offers to buy snacks, will you accept and join them for a fun evening?

Introduction to theory part 3

The Future Simple is not the only grammatical construction you can use in the first conditional. Fill in the gaps based on what you know and then watch the clip.

“Hey, is this true that you write a lot of your own lines?” “Remember last week when Alex was in the accident? The line in the script was "If we … (not/get) this woman to a hospital, she … (die)". But I made it "if this woman … (not/get) to a hospital, she … (not/live).”

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-Which construction did Joey use? -Is there a difference in meaning between these two sentences? If we don’t get this woman to a hospital, she will die. If we don’t get this woman to a hospital, she’s going to die.

Theory part 3

Exercise 5

Now, let’s practise using going to/gonna instead of will with some clips.

A. “I have to research a paper on Bosnia for tomorrow, but if the world's ending, I … (not/bother)." "Of course. But if the world … (not end), I … (need) a note.”

B. "She's married. She has a husband." "What if the husband person is the wrong guy and you are the right guy? If you … (not/meet) her now, you … (be) kicking yourself when you're 80, which is hard to do and that's how you break a hip.”

C. "Here they come. If she … (kiss) him good night, I … (kill) myself, I swear. I can't watch...”

E. "We were on a break!" "Oh, my god! If you … (say) that one more time, I … (break up) with you.”

Did you notice?

Chandler actually says, “I’m gonna break up with you” but the subtitles say “I’ll break up with you”.

D. “If your supreme klutziness out there today … (take) me out of the running, you … (be) so very beyond sorry.”

Vocabulary

→ klutziness - clumsiness → klutz - a clumsy person. This word has origins in German klotz, which means a wooden block acc. grammarist.com → out of the running - not having a chance of winning something

Introduction to theory part 4

Fill in the gaps and listen to the song. Which clause comes first in this sentence: the if-clause or the main clause? Do you think swapping the order of the clauses changes the meaning of the sentence?

“It’s my party and I … (cry) if … to.” (want) (start watching at 1:00)

Pity Party - Melanie Martinez [Lyrics]

Pity Party, by Melanie Martinez from her album "Cry Baby" ❤ - - - Another lyric video with hand drawn lyrics (done on a graphics tablet). This means that the writting in this video is unique due to the fact it is my own writting and my own edited brush tool.

https://youtu.be/DTwQl18hlkY?t=60

Theory part 4

Exercise 6

Fill in the gaps and watch the clip:

"I always think I … (have) a lot of fun if I … (be) alone, but when I'm alone, isn't that much fun at all.”

“Dad, … you … care of Edison while I'm in Antarctica, and also for forever if I … and … while I'm there?” (take, freeze, die)

"I need you to sign this form." "What is it?" "Nothing, school stuff" "Later perhaps, if you …" (behave) "I will if she ….” (do)

Exercise 7

Finish those sentences:

I will quit my job if…

If it rains this weekend, …

If I bump into my friend today, …

I will drink another coffee if…

I’m gonna go to the police …

If I see cool shoes at the shop today…

I’m gonna buy a new car…

If I get a lot of homework, …

I’ll be angry…

If I eat the whole cake in one sitting, …

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What about the punctuation? As we know we can start conditional sentences with the if-clause or the main clause. If, however, the if-clause comes first, we should put a comma after it. If you don’t leave now, you might be late. → there’s a comma after the if-clause You might be late if you don’t leave now. → there is no comma after the main clause

Exercise 8

Create first conditional sentences based on the given prompts. Use the future simple or be going to in the main clause. Don’t forget that you can start either with the main clause or the if clause!

miss bus, be late

set alarm, wake up on time

wear a coat, stay warm

eat vegetables, be healthy

stay healthy, exercise regularly

improve skills, practise piano

Introduction to theory part 5

Look at the dialogue provided, featuring two speakers, A and B. Decide which speaker is the mother and which is the daughter.

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- Did all the sentences include the future simple in their main clauses? - What was the difference between them meaning-wise? - Have you had similar conversations with your parents when you were a teenager?

Theory part 5

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Compare those sentences: If you don’t leave now, you’re gonna/will be late. (I’m sure) If you don’t leave now, you might/may/could be late. (I’m not sure)

Exercise 9

Fill in the gaps and watch the video.

“Those are my travel orders. You unfold it. If I … (do) it, I … (could/get) a paper cut”

"In Colombia, if you … (snoop) around the wrong box, you … (might/end) up inside that box.”

🙂 Yes, it really is that simple. 🙂

“We are stuck down here, and the Backson is still up there.” ”Oh, dear! Wait for me.” ”No, Piglet! No, no, Piglet. Stay. You … (can) help us if you … (stay) up there!”

Exercise 10

Fill in the gaps so that the sentences are true about you. Use will/going to or may/might/could.

If I don't drink another coffee today, I ____ feel sleepy in the afternoon.

If I forget to set my alarm for tomorrow, I ____ oversleep.

I ____ get hungry before lunchtime if I skip breakfast tomorrow.

If I spend too long on my phone before bed, I ____ have trouble falling asleep.

I ____ end up buying more snacks than I need if I go to the shop hungry.

If I check my work emails before going to bed, I ____ have a hard time switching off and relaxing.

If I watch the news first thing in the morning, I ____ start my day feeling stressed.

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One, last thing! Read the sentences below: If you will wait a moment I'll go and tell him that you are here. In this context, "will" means "be willing to." When "will" is used to express willingness or a polite request, it is acceptable to use it in the if-clause.

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The First Conditional