First Conditional: if + present, … + will
About future events or « if » clause
First Conditional: Construction:
if + present simple, … will + infinitive
About things which might happen in the future.
We don’t know if it will happen, but it’s possible. It could come true.
First Conditional : uses:
First Conditional is about possible events in the present or the future.
If I have enough money, I will buy some new shoes.
If I don’t leave now, I will miss the plane.
If you don’t come tonight, you won’t see him.
If you don’t study harder, you won’t pass your exam.
If it rains, I won’t run.
If the plane is delayed, I will be late.
The « if clause » contains the present tense (simple or continuous).
If I get my exam, I will go to London.
If she is not ill, she will come tomorow.
The « main clause » contains the future tense (will or « going to »).
If you come, you will see him.
If you come, you’re going to see him.
The main clause can contain modal verbs as « can » or « must ».
If you come, you can see him.
If you go to London, you must send me postcards.
Zero Conditional versus First Conditional:
Zero Conditional: if + present, present clause / general situation, what is going to happen.
First Conditional: if + present, future clause / particular situation, possible future results.
Zero conditional: if you sit in the sun, you get burned
First conditional: if you sit in the sun, you’ll get burned
First Conditional versus Second Conditional:
First Conditional:
if + present, you + future. / I think it can likely happen in the future.
First conditional: If he studies harder, he’ll pass the exam
(I think it’s possible he will study harder and so he’ll pass)
Second Conditional:
if + past, you + would + infinitive. / I don’t think it’ll really happen (it’s my point of view).
Second conditional: If she studied harder, she would pass the exam
(I think that she won’t study harder, or it’s very unlikely, and so she won’t pass).