First Conditional

1. Introduction to Conditional Sentences

Conditional sentences explain the relationship between a cause and its effect. They often talk about what happens if something occurs. In English, there are four main types:

• 1. Zero Conditional: Facts or general truths (e.g., “If you heat water, it boils.”) 🌡️
• 2. First Conditional: Real future possibilities (e.g., “If I study, I’ll pass the exam.”) 📆
• 3. Second Conditional: Hypothetical or unlikely situations (e.g., “If I won the lottery, I would travel.”) 💭
• 4. Third Conditional: Past situations that did not happen (e.g., “If I had studied, I would have passed the exam.”) ⏳

2. Understanding the First Conditional

The first conditional is used to express real and possible future events that will happen if a certain condition is met.

A. Definition and Structure

The structure is: If + present simple, … will + base verb.

For example: “If I study, I’ll pass the exam.” This means that passing the exam is a real possibility if you study.

B. Examples of the First Conditional

• 1. If I study hard, I’ll pass the exam. 📚
• 2. If it rains tomorrow, I’ll take an umbrella. ☔
• 3. If you call me, I’ll answer. 📞
• 4. If we leave early, we’ll catch the bus. 🚌
• 5. If he practices every day, he’ll improve his skills. 🏀
• 6. If she cooks tonight, we’ll have a delicious dinner. 🍽️
• 7. If they invite me, I’ll attend the party. 🎉
• 8. If you work hard, you’ll get a promotion. 💼
• 9. If the weather is good, we’ll go for a picnic. 🌞
• 10. If I get enough sleep, I’ll feel better tomorrow. 😴

3. Usage of the First Conditional

The first conditional is used when the condition is realistic and there is a good chance the result will happen.

A. Real Future Possibilities

Use the first conditional to make predictions and discuss future events that depend on a condition.

• 1. If the sun shines tomorrow, we’ll go to the beach. 🏖️
• 2. If you study, you’ll succeed in your career. 🎓
• 3. If I save money, I’ll travel next year. ✈️
• 4. If she finishes her work, she’ll join us for lunch. 🍴
• 5. If it snows, school will be canceled. ❄️
• 6. If you eat healthy, you’ll feel more energetic. 🍎
• 7. If he arrives on time, we’ll start the meeting promptly. ⏰
• 8. If the movie is interesting, we’ll watch it again. 🎬
• 9. If the team wins, we’ll celebrate afterward. 🏆
• 10. If you listen carefully, you’ll understand the lesson. 👂

4. Forming First Conditional Sentences

A. Affirmative Sentences

Affirmative first conditional sentences use the structure: if + present simple, will + base verb.

• 1. If I study, I’ll pass the exam. 📚
• 2. If it rains, I’ll bring an umbrella. ☔
• 3. If they invite me, I’ll go to the party. 🎉
• 4. If you exercise, you’ll get fit. 🏋️‍♂️
• 5. If she cooks, we’ll enjoy dinner. 🍽️
• 6. If I have free time, I’ll read a book. 📖
• 7. If the store is open, I’ll buy some milk. 🥛
• 8. If the sun shines, we’ll visit the park. 🌞
• 9. If my friend calls, I’ll answer immediately. 📞
• 10. If he practices, he’ll perform better. 🎸

B. Negative Sentences

To make negative sentences, add “not” (or the contraction “won’t” for will) in the main clause.

• 1. If I do not study, I won’t pass the exam. 🚫📚
• 2. If it does not rain, I won’t take an umbrella. 🚫☔
• 3. If they do not invite me, I won’t go to the party. 🚫🎉
• 4. If you do not exercise, you won’t get fit. 🚫🏋️‍♂️
• 5. If she does not cook, we won’t have dinner. 🚫🍽️
• 6. If I do not have free time, I won’t read a book. 🚫📖
• 7. If the store is not open, I won’t buy milk. 🚫🥛
• 8. If the sun doesn’t shine, we won’t visit the park. 🚫🌞
• 9. If my friend doesn’t call, I won’t answer the phone. 🚫📞
• 10. If he doesn’t practice, he won’t perform better. 🚫🎸

C. Questions

To form questions, invert the subject and “will” in the main clause.

• 1. If I study, will I pass the exam? ❓📚
• 2. If it rains, will you take an umbrella? ❓☔
• 3. If they invite you, will you go to the party? ❓🎉
• 4. If you exercise, will you get fit? ❓🏋️‍♂️
• 5. If she cooks, will you enjoy dinner? ❓🍽️
• 6. If I have free time, will I read a book? ❓📖
• 7. If the store is open, will you buy milk? ❓🥛
• 8. If the sun shines, will we visit the park? ❓🌞
• 9. If my friend calls, will I answer immediately? ❓📞
• 10. If he practices, will he perform better? ❓🎸

5. Variations and Advanced Points

A. Using “Unless”

“Unless” means “if not” and can be used in first conditional sentences to express a negative condition.

• 1. Unless I study, I won’t pass the exam. 🚫📚
• 2. Unless it stops raining, we won’t go out. 🚫🌧️
• 3. Unless they invite me, I won’t attend the party. 🚫🎉
• 4. Unless you exercise, you won’t get fit. 🚫🏋️‍♂️
• 5. Unless she cooks, we won’t have dinner. 🚫🍽️
• 6. Unless I have free time, I won’t read a book. 🚫📖
• 7. Unless the store is open, I won’t buy milk. 🚫🥛
• 8. Unless the sun shines, we won’t visit the park. 🚫🌞
• 9. Unless my friend calls, I won’t answer the phone. 🚫📞
• 10. Unless he practices, he won’t perform better. 🚫🎸

6. Common Mistakes and Clarifications

It is important to use the correct tenses in the first conditional:

A. Tense Consistency

In the first conditional, use the present simple tense in the if-clause, not the future simple.

• 1. Incorrect: If I will study, I’ll pass the exam. ❌
• → Correct: If I study, I’ll pass the exam. ✅
• 2. Incorrect: If it will rain, I’ll take an umbrella. ❌
• → Correct: If it rains, I’ll take an umbrella. ✅
• 3. Incorrect: If she will finish her work, she’ll join us. ❌
• → Correct: If she finishes her work, she’ll join us. ✅
• 4. Incorrect: If they will invite me, I’ll go to the party. ❌
• → Correct: If they invite me, I’ll go to the party. ✅
• 5. Incorrect: If you will exercise, you’ll get fit. ❌
• → Correct: If you exercise, you’ll get fit. ✅
• 6. Incorrect: If I will have free time, I’ll read a book. ❌
• → Correct: If I have free time, I’ll read a book. ✅
• 7. Incorrect: If he will practice, he’ll perform better. ❌
• → Correct: If he practices, he’ll perform better. ✅
• 8. Incorrect: If it will be sunny, we’ll visit the park. ❌
• → Correct: If it is sunny, we’ll visit the park. ✅
• 9. Incorrect: If my friend will call, I’ll answer. ❌
• → Correct: If my friend calls, I’ll answer. ✅
• 10. Incorrect: If you will drive fast, you’ll get a ticket. ❌
• → Correct: If you drive fast, you’ll get a ticket. ✅