B1 Grammar: First & Second Conditionals

B1 Grammar: First & Second Conditionals
ESL Structure Curriculum

ESL Grammar Course

B1: Intermediate

A split image showing a real possibility (rain with an umbrella) and an unreal one (winning the lottery)

First & Second Conditionals

Conditionals are sentences with ‘if’ that describe a condition and a result. The First Conditional talks about real, possible future situations, while the Second Conditional talks about unreal or imaginary situations in the present or future.

Structures:

  • First: `If + Present Simple, …will + base verb`
  • Second: `If + Past Simple, …would + base verb`

⚠️ Attention: Common Challenges

1. Real vs. Unreal: This is the most important difference.

  • First (Real Possibility): “If it rains tomorrow, I will take an umbrella.” (It’s possible it will rain).
  • Second (Unreal/Imaginary): “If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house.” (I probably won’t win the lottery).

2. The Verb in the ‘If’ Clause: Notice that in the First Conditional, we use the Present Simple to talk about the future. In the Second Conditional, we use the Past Simple, but the meaning is about the present or future.

3. `If I were you…`: For giving advice with the Second Conditional, it is very common and correct to use `were` for all subjects, including `I`, `he`, and `she`.

  • “If I were you, I would study more.”

Practice Quiz

1. If I ____ more money, I would travel the world.

2. If you ____ hard, you will pass the exam.

3. What would you do if you ____ a million dollars?

4. She ____ angry if you are late.

5. If I ____ you, I would apologize.

6. We will miss the bus if we ____ now.

7. If he could speak French, he ____ for the job in Paris.

8. If the weather is nice tomorrow, we ____ for a picnic.

9. I ____ that car if I had enough money.

10. If you ____ the red button, the machine starts.