Conditionals
AdvancedConditionals.
- Zero: facts (If you water a plant, it grows) · First: real future (will)
- Second: unreal present (if + past, would) — If I were… (never was)
- Third: unreal past (if + past perfect, would have + V-en)
文體小知識：Four types: zero, first, second, third conditional — real vs unreal.
§Text Passage
1Our form teacher, Mr Chan, always says that success is built on small daily choices. If you water a plant every day, it grows strong; if you revise a little every night, you will remember far more before the exam. Unless you hand in your homework on time, you cannot join the after-school activities. These rules may sound strict, but they help us build good habits.
2During our class meeting last Friday, we talked about our own choices. I said that I would join the debate team if I had more free time. If I were the head prefect, I would organise a study corner in the library where anyone could get help. My friend Wendy said she could lend me her notes provided that I return them the next day. If Wendy had slept earlier the night before, she might not have felt so dizzy in the maths test.
3Mr Chan smiled and told us that ifs are not excuses; they are maps. If we choose carefully, small decisions will lead us to good results. If you have never tried something new, you will never know what you are good at. Unless we learn from our mistakes, we will repeat them. Life is full of ifs, but careful choices usually lead to good results.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
Our form teacher, Mr Chan, always says that success is built on small daily choices.
我們班主任陳老師常常說，成功是由每日的小選擇累積回來。
If you water a plant every day, it grows strong; if you revise a little every night, you will remember far more before the exam.
如果你日日澆花，植物就會茁壯；如果你每晚溫一點書，考試前就會記得更多。
Unless you hand in your homework on time, you cannot join the after-school activities.
除非你準時交功課，否則不可以參加課外活動。
These rules may sound strict, but they help us build good habits.
這些規矩聽起來好像很嚴，但它們幫我們培養好習慣。
During our class meeting last Friday, we talked about our own choices.
上星期五班會，我們談了自己的選擇。
I said that I would join the debate team if I had more free time.
我說如果有多些空閒時間，我會參加辯論隊。
If I were the head prefect, I would organise a study corner in the library where anyone could get help.
如果我是總領袖生，我會在圖書館設一個自修角，讓任何人都可以得到幫助。
My friend Wendy said she could lend me her notes provided that I return them the next day.
我朋友Wendy說，只要我第二天歸還，她就可以借些筆記給我。
If Wendy had slept earlier the night before, she might not have felt so dizzy in the maths test.
如果Wendy前一晚早些睡，她數學測驗那時可能就不會這麼頭暈。
Mr Chan smiled and told us that ifs are not excuses; they are maps.
陳老師笑著對我們說，「如果」不是藉口，而是地圖。
If we choose carefully, small decisions will lead us to good results.
如果我們小心選擇，小決定就會帶我們走向好結果。
If you have never tried something new, you will never know what you are good at.
如果你從未試過新事物，你就永遠不會知道自己擅長什麼。
Unless we learn from our mistakes, we will repeat them.
除非我們從錯誤中學習，否則只會重複犯錯。
Life is full of ifs, but careful choices usually lead to good results.
人生充滿「如果」，但小心的選擇通常都會帶來好結果。
1Summary 重點摘要
Conditionals.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Supposition.
On condition that.
Hypothetical result.
Ability/possibility.
Possibility.
If not.
3Step by step Steps
- ZeroIf + present simple, present simple — for facts. Example: If you water a plant every day, it grows strong. Both clauses state a truth; this is the simplest conditional.
- FirstIf + present simple, will + verb — for a real future. Example: If you revise a little every night, you will remember far more before the exam. Never put will inside the if-clause: not If you will revise.
- SecondIf + past simple, would + verb — for an unreal present. Example: If I were the head prefect, I would organise a study corner. Even with I, use were (the subjunctive), never was.
- ThirdIf + past perfect, would have + V-en — for an unreal past. Example: If Wendy had slept earlier the night before, she might not have felt so dizzy in the maths test — the pure regret pattern.
- unless and provided thatunless = if not: Unless you hand in your homework on time, you cannot join the activities. provided that = on condition that: Wendy could lend me her notes provided that I return them the next day.
- Choosing the typeThree steps: decide real or unreal (a real future takes the first; an unreal one the second or third), decide the time (present or past), then match the formula. If I had studied, I would pass is wrong — an unreal past needs would have passed.
- Golden linesMr Chan says: Ifs are not excuses; they are maps. Also remember: Unless we learn from our mistakes, we will repeat them. Learn both by heart — they lift any writing conclusion.
5Worked example Example
Rewrite from the passage: I am not the head prefect. I can't organise a study corner. Use the second conditional.
- Step 1: An unreal present → second conditional.
- Step 2: if + past — If I were the head prefect (use were, never was).
- Step 3: would + base verb — I would organise a study corner in the library.
- Step 4: Compare the first conditional (real future) — If you revise, you will remember more.
- Step 5: unless = if not — Unless we learn from our mistakes, we will repeat them.
- Answer: If I were the head prefect, I would organise a study corner in the library. The second conditional (if + past, would + V) describes an unreal present — note were, not was. For a real future use the first conditional: If you revise a little every night, you will remember far more. For an unreal past use the third conditional: If Wendy had slept earlier, she might not have felt so dizzy. And unless = if not: Unless we learn from our mistakes, we will repeat them.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1Zero conditional?
Q2First conditional?
Q3Second conditional?
Q4Third conditional?
Q5Correct?
Q6unless = ?
8Recap Recap
- Zero: facts (If you water a plant, it grows) · First: real future (will)
- Second: unreal present (if + past, would) — If I were… (never was)
- Third: unreal past (if + past perfect, would have + V-en)
- unless = if not — Unless you hand in homework, you cannot join activities.
- Key line: Ifs are not excuses; they are maps.