THE FIRST CONDITIONAL
In a Type 1
conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if clause is the simple
present, and the tense in the main clause is the simple
future
|
'IF' CLAUSE
(CONDITION) |
MAIN CLAUSE (RESULT)
|
|
If + simple present
If it rains
If you don't
hurry |
Simple future
you will get wet
we will miss the
train. |
In these sentences, the time is the present or
future and the situation is real. They refer to a possible
condition and its probable result. They are based on facts, and they
are used to make statements about the real world, and about particular
situations. We often use such sentences to give warnings:
-
If you don't leave, I'll call
the police.
-
If you don't drop the gun, I'll
shoot!
Examples:
-
If you drop that glass, it will break.
-
Nobody will notice if you make a
mistake.
-
If I have time, I'll
finish that letter.
-
What will you
do if you miss the
plane?
NOTE: We can use modals to express the degree of certainty of the
result:
|
