In Unit 6, we reviewed the modal verbs must and should. In this Unit, we will review the modal verbs will and would.
We can use will and would in conditional grammar. We use will for first conditional and would for second conditional.
Conditionals
First Conditional
- If I win, I will smile.
- If the weather is good, we will go to the beach.
Second Conditional
- If it rained money, I would be rich.
- If you ate hamburgers every day, you would get fat.
First Conditional Form
| If | subject | present simple verb | , | subject | will | infinitive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| If | I | win | , | I | will | smile. |
Second Conditional Form
| If | subject | past simple verb | , | subject | would | infinitive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| If | I | rained money | , | I | would | be rich. |
Use
We use first conditional when we talk about things we are pretty sure will happen. We feel 50-90% sure.
- If it snows this weekend, I will build a snowman. - (I am 50-90% sure it will snow this weekend.)
- If I finish my homework before 5pm, I will go to the party. - (I am 50-90% sure I will finish my homework before 5pm.)
We use second conditional when we talk about things we are pretty sure will NOT happen. We often use second conditional for impossible situations.
- If I had a pet dinosaur, I would be popular. - (Pet dinosaurs are not real.)
- If she had a time travel machine, she would meet Shakespeare. - (I will probably not get a time travel machine.)
Exercise
Open the exercise to begin the activity. Follow the instructions in the document.