True Conditionals

Lesson 2 True Conditionals

 

 Essential Question

 

How do we talk about things that happen often?

 


Grammar in the World

 

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What Do I Know?

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Use the interactive below to find out how much you already know about true conditionals:

 

Building Blocks

Grammar is a complex system and structure of language. Mizzou Academy Grammar Lab spotlights one skill (or block) at a time, but it’s often helpful to see how a skill works together with other, related blocks to build the language structure as a whole. You may find the following resource topics helpful as context for this lesson:

 

Learn About True Conditionals

Review: Untrue Conditionals in the Present/Future and Untrue Conditionals in the Past

You can learn in the Grammar Lab about Untrue Conditionals in the Present and Future. These conditionals allow us to talk about situations that are not a fact. We use this type of conditional to fantasize about something or make a good guess about a situation. We call them “untrue” conditionals because they aren’t based on the facts of what is happening right now. 

  • If I were in the woods right now, I might see a snake.
  • If I had no fear of snakes, I would not scream.

You can also learn about Untrue Conditionals in the Past. These conditionals give us a way talk about something that did not happen. Untrue Conditionals in the Past consider events that are over and finished—too late for any possible new outcome. They allow us to consider a hypothetical situation or imaginary event that never happened, and then express what would happen if it had taken place.

  • If I had seen a snake, I would have screamed.
  • If they had taken a different path, they would not have seen the snake.

 

True Conditionals give us a way to talk about routines or habits—either in the present or future.

  • If I see a snake, I scream!
  • If I scream too loudly, I will scare my little brother.

 

They follow this pattern:

 

If this action or event happens, 

then this other action or event happens or will happen.

Present, True Conditionals

present tense verb + present tense verb

If I have enough time, 

I listen to podcasts in the evening.

If it snows, 

we build a snowman.

If the sun shines,

the snow melts.

Future, True Conditionals

present tense verb + will + present tense verb

If he has all the ingredients, 

he will make lasagna tonight.

If you mix red and blue paint,

you will get purple paint.

If we save our money,

we will buy a new kitchen table.

 

Look at the following examples of True Conditionals in the Present and Future. What patterns do you notice that show you when you might use these conditional statements?



Dependent (If/When) Clause

Independent Clause

If (or when) this action or event happens, 

then this other action or event happens or will happen.

If you heat water to 212 degrees (F),

it will boil.

When it sleets,

our driveway gets slippery.

If he practices several hours a day, 

he will be prepared for the recital.

If I eat too much chocolate,

I don’t feel good.

If I have enough money,

I go to the mall on the weekends.



What patterns do you notice from this chart? 

  1. There is a dependent clause beginning with the subordinating conjunction “if” or “when,” and an independent clause.

  2. Each independent clause is true and real; it happens or will happen.  

    True Conditionals show what happens on a regular basis:

            • When it sleets, our driveway gets slippery.

    True Conditionals show what happens as a routine or habit:

            • If I have enough time, I listen to podcasts in the evening.

     

    True Conditionals show what happens as a result of a possibility:

            • If he practices for several hours a day, he will be prepared for his recital.



  3. You might also notice that we could flip the order of the dependent and independent clauses. You can say either:
      • If I eat too much chocolate, I don’t feel good.
      • I don’t feel good if I eat too much chocolate.



Do I Get It?

Use the interactive below to test your knowledge of true conditionals.  In the exercise, read each sentence, then choose the best word to create a true conditional statement: