Conditional

The " Conditionals " are certain structures of English in which, if a certain condition , event or circumstance is true, then a particular result happens . Here we see several usual types of "conditional"


The use of the conditional mean that depends on another action. The conditional is used to talk about real or unreal. In general, conditional sentences have the word "if" (if).

Note that there is no conditional tense for the English and Spanish exists. At the same time, use the auxiliary verb "would" to form the conditional in English.

There are four types of conditional sentences and using either reflects the probability of action.


Zero Conditional (Type 0)

It uses conditional such as the condition and the result is always true, such as scientific facts.

examples:

If you heat water to 100 ° C, it boils. / Water boils if you heat it to 100 ° C. (If heat water boils at 100 ° C.)
If I do not practice the piano everyday I play poorly. / I play the piano poorly if I do not practice everyday. (If I do not practice the piano every day I play bad.)

Does your mom get mad if you do not call her? / If you do not call your mom, does she get mad? (If not you call your mother angry?)

Note: We can change the order of the sentences without changing the meaning. Also, in general this type of conditional, we can replace "if" with "when" without altering the meaning.

First Conditional

Conditional such uses in the future and in cases where it is likely that the condition will.

examples:

If Bill studies, I will pass the exam. / Bill will pass the exam if I studies. (If Bill studies, approve the test.)

If it does not rain, we will go to the beach. / We will go to the beach if it does not rain. (If it rains, we'll go to the beach.)

Will you take the train if you miss the bus? / If you miss the bus, will you take the train? (Will you take the train if you miss the bus?)

Note: You can use some modal verbs instead of "will" to change the probability or express an opinion. For more information, see the lesson on modal verbs.

Second Conditional

Type 2 is used to express an unreal possibility in the present, as a wish or a dream, or a future action not as likely.

examples:

If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world. / I would travel around the world if I won the lottery. (If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world.)

If Rachel had more time, she would learn to play the guitar. / Rachel would learn to play the guitar if she had more time. (If Rachel had more time, learn to play guitar.)

Would you be happy if you were to get married? / If you were to get married, would you be happy? (Would you be happy if you married?)

Note: As in type 1, you can use other modal verbs instead of "would" to change the meaning and possibility.

Third Conditional

 Unlike the types 1 and 2 , using the third type of conditional when we talk about a condition in the past that has not happened.IF Condition ResultIf Past perfect "Would have" + past participle

examples:

If I had known then what I know now , I Would have done things differently . / I Would have done things differently if I had known then what I know now . ( If I had known in the past what I know now , I would have done things differently. )
Suzanne had no idea what the heart would not attack if she had gone on a diet as her Dr. recommended. / If Suzanne had gone on a diet as her physician recommended she had no idea what the heart would not attack . ( Suzanne had not had the heart attack if he dieted as your doctor recommends. )

PlayWould you have liked to go to university if you had been Able to afford it ? / If you had been Able to afford it , would you have liked to go to university ? ( Would you have liked to go to college if I had allowed to pay ? )

Note : As in types 1 and 2 , you can use other modal verbs instead of "would" to change the meaning and probability.


















 Past continuos

FORM

[was/were + present participle]

Examples:

• You were studying when she called.
• Were you studying when she called?
• You were not studying when she called.

USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Past

Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.

Examples:

• I was watching TV when she called.
• When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
• While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.
• What were you doing when the earthquake started?
• I was listening to my iPod, so I didn't hear the fire alarm.
• You were not listening to me when I told you to turn the oven off.
• While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.
• Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.
• While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly went off.
• A: What were you doing when you broke your leg?
  B: I was snowboarding.

USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption

In USE 1, described above, the Past Continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the Simple Past. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.

Examples:

• Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
• At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.
• Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.

IMPORTANT

In the Simple Past, a specific time is used to show when an action began or finished. In the Past Continuous, a specific time only interrupts the action.

Examples:

• Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.
  I started eating at 6 PM.
• Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
  I started earlier; and at 6 PM, I was in the process of eating dinner.

USE 3 Parallel Actions

When you use the Past Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.

Examples:

• I was studying while he was making dinner.
• While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.
• Were you listening while he was talking?
• I wasn't paying attention while I was writing the letter, so I made several mistakes.
• What were you doing while you were waiting?
• Thomas wasn't working, and I wasn't working either.
• They were eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.

USE 4 Atmosphere

In English, we often use a series of parallel actions to describe the atmosphere at a particular time in the past.

Example:

• When I walked into the office, several people were busily typing, some were talking on the phones, the boss was yelling directions, and customers were waiting to be helped. One customer was yelling at a secretary and waving his hands. Others were complaining to each other about the bad service.

USE 5 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"

The Past Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happened in the past. The concept is very similar to the expression "used to" but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."

Examples:

• She was always coming to class late.
• He was constantly talking. He annoyed everyone.
• I didn't like them because they were always complaining.

While vs. When

Clauses are groups of words which have meaning, but are often not complete sentences. Some clauses begin with the word "when" such as "when she called" or "when it bit me." Other clauses begin with "while" such as "while she was sleeping" and "while he was surfing." When you talk about things in the past, "when" is most often followed by the verb tense Simple Past, whereas "while" is usually followed by Past Continuous. "While" expresses the idea of "during that time." Study the examples below. They have similar meanings, but they emphasize different parts of the sentence.

Examples:

• I was studying when she called.
• While I was studying, she called.

REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Past Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Past.

Examples:

• Jane was being at my house when you arrived. Not Correct
• Jane was at my house when you arrived. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

• You were just studying when she called.
• Were you just studying when she called?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

• The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the store. Active
• The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came into the store. Passive

Past simple
There are many ways to talk about the past in English, but the past simple is the most common form. The English simple past is equivalent to preterite imperfect and Spanish. We use the past simple for completed actions in the past. The time period of these actions is not important as in Spanish. In the past simple regular verbs and verbs are irregular.

The simple past expresses an action in the past taking place once, never, several times. It can also be used for actions taking place one after another or in the middle of another action.

Form of Simple Past

	Positive	Negative	Question
no differences	I spoke.	I did not speak.	Did I speak?

For irregular verbs, use the past form (see list of irregular verbs, 2nd column). For regular verbs, just add “ed”.

Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ‘ed’

Exceptions in spelling when adding ed	Example
after a final e only add d	love – loved
final consonant after a short, stressed vowel or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled	admit – admitted travel – travelled
final y after a consonant becomes i	hurry – hurried

Use of Simple Past

• action in the past taking place once, never or several times
  Example: He visited his parents every weekend.
• actions in the past taking place one after the other
  Example: He came in, took off his coat and sat down.
• action in the past taking place in the middle of another action
  Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang.
• if sentences type II (If I talked, …)
  Example: If I had a lot of money, I would share it with you.
 

 

 

Use

1) action finished in the past 

I visited Berlin last week.

2) series of completed actions in the past

First I got up, then I had breakfast

3) together with the Past Progressive/Continuous - The Simple Past interrupted an action which was in progress in the past.

They were playing cards when the telephone rang.

Signal words

yesterday, last week, a month ago, in 2002

Form

- with regular verbs: infinitive + -ed
- with irregular verbs: 2nd column of the table of the irregular verbs

Examples

Affirmative sentences:

regular verbs	irregular verbs
I played football.	I went to the cinema.
We visited Alaska last year.	We were in Rome yesterday.

Negative sentences:

You must not negate a full verb in English. Always use the auxiliary did (Simple Past of to do) for negations.

I		played	football.
I	didn't	play	football.
He	didn't	play	football.

Questions:

Use the auxiliary did (Simple Past of to do).
Did you play football?
Did he play football?