15. The First Conditional

Learning Outcomes

After completing this chapter, students will know how to:

  • use the function of the First Conditional.
  • form the First Conditional.
  • apply the First Conditional.

Function of the First Conditional

The First Conditional is used to show the future consequence for real, possible or likely situations.

Some example sentences are:

  • If it rains, I will take an umbrella.
  • If Hazza doesn’t show up to class, the teacher will write him an email.
  • The EAP students at Georgian College are going to be happy if the weather is good for their field trip.
  • Alma won’t give a test if the students do well on their assignment.

 

Form of the First Conditional

It doesn’t matter when we switch the clauses; the meaning will still stay the same. However, let us explore how the First Conditional is formed:

1st Conditional – If Clause, Main Clause by Virginia McHardy, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
1st Conditional – Main Clause + if Clause by Virginia McHardy, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Some Tips:

  • A comma is used after the “if” clause when it starts the sentence. There is no comma when the main clause is at the beginning.
  • The condition is in the “if” clause and the possible/likely outcome is in the main clause.
  • The negative form can be used in either of the clauses, or both of them, as long as the meaning makes sense.
  • The Present Continuous Tense can also be used in the main clause if it is used as a future function.

 

Watch the short video below to review and practice the first conditional.

 Watch First conditional – Grammar & Verb tenses (5 mins.)

Video Source: Ellii (formerly ESL Library). (2021, July 19). First conditional – Grammar & Verb tenses [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s59ygVYxpag

First Conditional Verb Practice

First Conditional Verb Practice (Text version)

Fill in the missing word in the blanks:

  1. If it __________[Blank a – rain]  tomorrow, I __________[Blank b – take] an umbrella.
  2. John __________[Blank c – see] a movie if he __________[Blank d – have] time.
  3. Celina __________[Blank e – give/not] us a test if we __________[Blank f – do] well on the assignment.
  4. If Georgian College __________[Blank g – close] early because of the snow storm, we __________[Blank h – need] to find a way home.
  5. Sari __________[Blank i – go]                 to Thailand if the committee __________[Blank j – approve] her proposal.
  6. If Stephen __________[Blank l – lose] his phone again, he __________[Blank m – buy] a cheaper one.
  7. If Yumi __________[Blank n – go/not] on the field trip, her teacher __________[Blank o – give] her an extra assignment to do.
  8. I  __________[Blank p – tell/not] if you __________[Blank q – tell/not].
  9. If Hannah __________[Blank r – help] you in the Language Help Centre, your grades __________[Blank s – improve].
  10. Amanda __________[Blank t – tell] us if Conversation Circle __________[Blank u – be] cancelled today.

Check your answer [1]

Activity source: “First Conditional” by Virginia McHardy, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

Best Answer for 1st Conditionals

The Best Answer for 1st Conditionals (Text version)
  1. If John [Blank 1] poker on Saturday night, he will probably sleep in the next day.
    1. will play
    2. don’t play
    3. doesn’t play
    4. won’t play
    5. plays
  2. If Taylor Swift marries Travis Kelce, they __________[Blank 1] a very powerful couple.
    1. aren’t
    2. won’t be
    3. are
    4. will be
  3. If the Grizzlies win the game tonight, everyone __________[Blank 1] in TLC afterwards.
    1. celebrates
    2. is going to celebrate
    3. won’t celebrate
    4. doesn’t celebrate
  4. If I __________[Blank 1] the train at 2:00, I will catch the next one.
    1. am going to miss
    2. won’t miss
    3. misses
    4. miss
  5. The EAP students are going to fail if they __________[Blank 1] the final exam.
    1. won’t pass
    2. will pass
    3. don’t pass
    4. aren’t going to pass

Check your answers[2]

Activity source: “Best Answer for First Conditional” by Virginia McHardy, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

First Conditional Meaning Practice

Match for meaning (Text version)

Fill in the blanks using the following phrases:

  • Olivia will come to class late
  • If supermarket prices don’t come down,
  • people are going to sell their houses.
  • we won’t have to tip the servers.
  • If the teacher lets us out early,
  • The instructors will be happy
  • if Starbucks has any left.
  • I will help you,
  • they use the VR headsets to practice English.
  • teachers are going to give them zeros.
  1. If we eat in the Georgian Dining Room, __________[Blank 1]
  2. __________[Blank 1] if the students hand in their assignments on time.
  3. If the interest rate goes up again, __________[Blank 1]
  4. __________[Blank 1] students are going to starve.
  5. If students keep using AI to help them on their assignments, __________[Blank 1]
  6. __________I’m going to get a pumpkin spice latte [Blank 1]
  7. __________[Blank 1] if her kids don’t hurry up.
  8. The students will learn faster if __________[Blank 1]
  9. __________[Blank 1] I’m going to go to the mall.
  10. __________[Blank 1] if I have some free time.

Check your answers[3]

Activity source: “Match for Meaning” by Virginia McHardy, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

The Use of Commas

The use of commas (Text version)

Indicate if a comma should be added in each of the sentences at the spot indicated by __________[Blank 1]

  1. If the bell rings __________[Blank 1] we will have to enter the building.
  2. Lisa is going to play basketball __________[Blank 1] if she remembers to bring her sneakers.
  3. If Mike walks to school __________[Blank 1] he is going to cut through the park.
  4. If Virginia drives at night __________[Blank 1] she will wear her glasses.
  5. If we cook dinner tonight __________[Blank 1] the kids are going to wash the dishes.
  6. The bus will stop __________[Blank 1] if you ring the bell.
  7. Our teacher is going to let us go earlier __________[Blank 1] if we finish our work.
  8. I will shovel the snow __________[Blank 1]  if you clean off my car.

Check your answers [4]

Activity source: “The Use of Commas” by Virginia McHardy, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

Conditional Meaning Practice

  1. If you fail your EAP level, what are you going to do?
  2. If it snows tomorrow, what are you going to wear?
  3. If you have a problem, who will you call first?
  4. What will you do if you get into a car accident?
  5. What are you going to do if you forget to bring your homework to school?

 

Image by GDJ,  Pixabay License

Verb Tenses in Music

For a fun activity, search the web and find the following songs:

  • Count on Me by Bruno Mars
  • If You Don’t Know Me by Now by Simply Red

Can you hear the First Conditional in the lyrics?

1st Conditional Joke by Virginia McHardy, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Attribution & References

Except where otherwise noted, “The First Conditional” by Virginia McHardy is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

    1. If it rains tomorrow, I will take/am going to take an umbrella.
    2. John is going to see/will see a movie if he has time.
    3. Celina won't give/will not give/isn't going to give us a test if we do well on the assignment.
    4. If Georgian College closes early because of the snow storm, we will need to find a way home.
    5. Sari is going to go/will go to Thailand if the committee approves her proposal.
    6. If Stephen loses his phone again, he is going to buy/will buy a cheaper one.
    7. If Yumi doesn't go/does not go on the field trip, her teacher will give/is going to give her an extra assignment to do.
    8. I won't tell/will not tell/am not going to tell if you  don't tell/do not tell.
    9. If Hannah helps you in the Language Help Centre, your grades are going to improve/will improve.
    10. Amanda  will tell/is going to tell us if Conversation Circle is cancelled today.
    ↵
    1. e) plays
    2. d) will be
    3. b) is going to celebrate
    4. d) miss
    5. c) don't pass
    ↵
    1. If we eat in the Georgian Dining Room, we won't have to tip the servers.
    2. The instructors will be happy if the students hand in their assignments on time.
    3. If the interest rate goes up again, people are going to sell their houses.
    4. If supermarket prices don't come down, students are going to starve.
    5. If students keep using AI to help them on their assignments, teachers are going to give them zeros.
    6. I'm going to get a pumpkin spice latte if Starbucks has any left.
    7. Olivia will come to class late if her kids don't hurry up.
    8. The students will learn faster if they use the VR headsets to practice English.
    9. If the teacher lets us out early, I'm going to go to the mall.
    10. I will help you, if I have some free time.
    ↵
    1. Yes. If the bell rings, we will have to enter the building.
    2. No. Lisa is going to play basketball if she remembers to bring her sneakers.
    3. Yes. If Mike walks to school, he is going to cut through the park.
    4. Yes. If Virginia drives at night,she will wear her glasses.
    5. Yes. If we cook dinner tonight, the kids are going to wash the dishes.
    6. No. The bus will stop if you ring the bell.
    7. No. Our teacher is going to let us go earlier if we finish our work.
    8. No. I will shovel the snow if you clean off my car.
    ↵

License

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Verb Tenses for English for Academic Purposes Copyright © 2019 by Sari Martin and Virginia McHardy is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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