Welcome to this interesting and important topic. You will work with an action that is done in the present, and it will have a consequence or result in the future.
N.A. (2016). Demo class. Retrieved from: https://www.emaze.com/@ALWWLQZO/Demos-Class-Two---First-Conditional.
By the end of this topic you will:
Use the structure of the first conditional (if...will...) to refer real situations which will present a consequence in the future.
In the following chart, you will see information about “the first conditional”. Read carefully the explanation, structure and the order required for the first conditional. It is essential that you understand it because it will help you to practice and use it in other sections.
The first conditional is a grammatical form used to express a consequence or result in the future due to a specific situation in the present that is being accomplished or not.
The first conditional has two sentences:
1. An "if" sentence (the condition) in simple present tense
2. The main sentence (the result) in the simple future tense
Example:
If sentence: If I study hard (simple present)
Main sentence: I will pass the test (simple future)
Let’s analyse the situation:
If I study hard, I will pass the exam
The result or consequence expressed in the first conditional is likely to happen when the condition is satisfied.
The common order of the sentences is:
condition result
However, we can change the order of the sentences, and the meaning is the same.
result condition
Notice, when the "if" sentence comes second, there is no need for a comma.
Look at the following examples:
| If Susan marries me, | we will travel to Paris on our Honeymoon. |
| If Tom gets good grades, | he will go with us to Canada on vacation. |
| If I finish my career, | I will get a good job. |
| If you lend me the money, | I will spend my vacation in England. |
| Susan won´t ski | if she doesn´t go to Canada. |
| We will bet in the casinos | if we go to Las Vegas. |
| We will get a job in USA | if we learn English. |
| I will not buy the English book | if my father does not give me the money. |
Activity 1
Differences in winter in Canada and MexicoActivity 2
Winter time in CanadaDo you like cold climates?
Samoen, J. (2013). https://pixabay.com/en/winter-frost-snow-plants-234721/. Consultado el: 9/nov/2016
What about going to Canada on your next vacation? In the following text, you will know something about the differences between the Mexican and Canadian winter. A Mexican girl who spent three years in Canada gives her point of view.
https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/04/07/03/03/canada-2209960_960_720.jpg
The following is a short reading about a girl who worked in Canada for a while. She talks about some differences between Mexico and Canada. Let’s read about them in the following text and do the activities.
Activity 3
Checking comprehensionTo sum up, in activity one you identified the keywords of the reading. In activity two you identified the condition and the consequence, therefore in this last activity, you will decide if the following statements are True (T) or False (F) by choosing the appropriate option.
Activity 4
What a dilemma!Listen to the conversation between two men, Jason and Ian. They talk about a job's opportunity in the US.
Click here to hear the audio.
Geralt. (2017). Application. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/en/application-request-ipad-tablet-1883453/
Activity 5
If I get a good job…Imagine you have just got a promotion in your job. This means you will double your salary immediately. You will have two assistants under your control, and you will have the opportunity to select your working schedule.
Jcomp. (n.d.). Handshake. Retrieved from: http://www.freepik.com/free-photo/business-people-handshake-greeting-deal-at-work_1024706.htm#term=handshake&page=1&position=11
Therefore,
If I get a good job… I will earn a good salary, if I earn a good salary, I will buy my dream car, if…
Write at least eight sentences about the job you have always wanted. In those sentences, you need to write the kind of promotion you have got and some of the activities you could do if you got that job. Be careful with the punctuation and begin all your sentences using: If I get a good job…
Use the checklist to evaluate yourself.
Activity 6
My weekend plans…Do you have plans for next weekend? Are you planning to work/study/ date someone? What are your plans?
It is time to practice your speaking, record a short report answering the previous questions. Additionally, you have to mention the following:
• Your name
• Five plans you have for next weekend in which you use the first conditional
Sankowsky, D. (2013). Map. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/en/old-retro-antique-vintage-classic-1130731/
Seonghak, L. (2013). Beach. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/en/busan-light-mens-wool-bokeh-1113822/
Takazart. (2013). Couple. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/en/couple-love-tenderness-sweethearts-168191/
Before recording yourself, study the aspects that will be taken into account for your self-evaluation. They are described in the following rubrics. Click here to listen to an example. Record at least for one minute.
Activity 7
Vacations in CaliforniaPress the Activity 7 button to read the conversation between Jessica, a girl who wants to spend her holidays in California, and her mother.
Jessica is a Mexican girl who has a friend in California, USA and got an invitation to spend her holidays at her house. She is telling her mother the advantages she will have if she goes to California.
By Freepik. Retrieved from:http://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/design
Activity 8
If I go to California…Now that you have completed the conversation give four more conditions a Mom would give to a daughter, answer it orally.
For example:
Record at least one minute, remember to use the first conditional.
Remember to check the rubric of the elements for your self-evaluation.
Self-assessment 1
Ann and BrunoListen to the conversation and choose True (T) or False (F).
Click here to hear audio:
Self-assessment 2
What will I do with millions and millions?Brian and Sharon are at the university coffee shop talking about what Brian will do if he wins the 100 million prize with a ticket for the lottery, he bought.
Freepik. (2017). Bingo. Retrieved form: http://www.freepik.com/free-vector/bingo-game-background_1137651.htm#term=lottery&page=1&position=11
Drag the correct option to the appropriate space. You have two attempts to answer every item. You can check your score at the end of the exercise.
For example: If I win 100 million, I will do many things...
Basic references
• Sasha. (2016, April 8). First Conditional -Grammar and Examples. [Video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxdxZ3tVVjY
• SA. (2016, May). First conditional. [Video file]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtR1ttauLLQ
• SA. (2015, November 8). The First Conditional - Conditional Sentences. [Video File]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-pbSEu9GS4
• Seonaid. (n.d.). Perfect English Grammar. Retrieved from: https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/first-conditional-exercise-1.html.
• SA. (n.d.). English Exercises.org. Retrieved from: https://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=3226
• Pahlow, Heike. (2000). Exercises on Conditional Sentences Type 1. Retrieved from: https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/conditional-sentences/type-1/exercises?02.
• SA. (n.d.). Curso de inglés. Lesson 19. Retrieved from: http://www.saberingles.com.ar/curso/lesson19/05.html.
Complementary references
• Latham-Koenig C. (2013) American English File. New York, USA. Oxford University Press.
• McCarthy M. (2014) Touchstone 2. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press.
• Redston C. (2011). Face2Face Intermediate Student's Book with DVD-ROM. New York. Cambridge University Press.
• Richards, J. (2012).Interchange Level 2 Full Contact with Self-study DVD-ROM. New York. Cambridge University Press.
• Saslow, J. (2013) Top Notch 2 with ActiveBook. NewYork. Pearson-Longman Education