The 1st (First) Conditional English Sentence Structure
Grammar is the way words are organized into sentences. It’s important to remember that not all English sentences follow grammar “rules.” However, there are sentence structures you can learn that make it easier for you to express your thoughts.
A conditional sentence is used in English to talk about a result that may happen IF a condition happens first.
The 1st (first) conditional sentence structure is also called the future possible or real conditional.
If I eat too much, I will get fat.
This sentence structure is used to talk about a result, “I’ll get fat,” that is likely to happen or is almost certainto happen in the future IF the condition in the if clause, “if I eat too much,” occurs.
Generally, in the 1st conditional structure the if clause has a 50% or better chance of happening. If I eat too much, it’s possible that I will get fat. I may not get fat, but it’s more than likely that I will get fat if I eat too much.
The 1st conditional form:
If + simple present, will + verb
Even though this sentence structure is used to talk about the future, the condition clause “If I eat too much” uses the simple present tense.
Uses of the sentence structure
1. Possibilities
You’ll miss the train if you don’t hurry!
If I miss the train today, I’ll drive to work.
I will pass my math exam if I study hard.
If it rains, we won’t have our picnic.
If you stay out in the rain too long, you’ll get sick!
My mom will be angry if I’m late tonight!
2. Superstitions
If you see a penny on the ground and pick it up, it will bring you good luck!
If you break a mirror, you will have 7 years of bad luck!
If you rub a rabbit’s foot, it will bring you good luck!
If you walk under a ladder, you will have bad luck!
You will have bad luck if you open an umbrella indoors.
3. Future plans
If you’re going shopping today, I’ll come with you!
If you can get me a ticket, I’ll go to the concert with you!
If you see Ken later today, will you tell him to call me?
4. Warnings and threats
If you don’t come to my birthday party, I’ll never speak to you again.
If you eat too much ice cream, you’ll make yourself sick!
If you say that again, I will hurt you!
Variations of this sentence structure
1. The imperative can be used in the result clause.
If you call your mother tonight, tell her I said “hello”!
Remember to buy some bananas if you go to the supermarket.
If anyone calls for me, tell them I’m not home!
2. Modals can be used in the result clause, particularly for offers and suggestions.
If you get a new job, you should really buy nicer clothes!
I can get you a ticket to the Madonna concert if you want to go!
Use may or might to say that the future event is possible, but not definite.
If you need someone to help you move, I might be able to help.
If it’s a sunny day tomorrow, we might have a pool party.
be going to
I’m going to buy a new car next year if I have enough money.
If you don’t give me back my sweater right now, I’m going to scream!
She’s going to take a vacation next week if she gets time off work.
3. Conjunctions can be used to talk about the future.
The 1st conditional sentence structure can also be used to talk about the future. You can use conjunctions of time, like when, before, after, as soon as, or until, instead of if in the condition clause. They are always followed by the present simple tense.
When
I’ll wash the dishes when my TV show is over.
I’ll come inside when it gets dark.
He’s going to be a policeman when he’s older!
Before
I’ll finish this report before I leave tonight.
Please take the garbage out before you go to work today.
He’ll call you before he goes out tonight.
After
I’ll eat dinner after I finish my homework
After she graduates from university she’ll need to find a job!
He’ll look for a place to live after he finds a job.
Until
I’ll sit outside until it gets dark.
I will keep looking for my car keys until I find them!
We’ll wait until the rain stops, then we’ll go outside.
As soon as
I’ll wash the dishes as soon as this TV show is over.
Call me as soon as you get in.
We’ll start the meeting as soon as the CEO arrives.
The band will start playing as soon as everyone arrives.
4. The present perfect can be used with the 1st conditional
The present perfect can be used in the result clause with when and after.
There is no change in the meaning of the sentence when the present perfect is used with after:
Tell me what you think of the movie after you see it!
Tell me what you think of the movie after you’ve seen it.After I find a job, I’ll look for a place to live.
After I’ve found a job, I’ll look for a place to live.I’ll finish my homework after I eat dinner.
I’ll finish my homework after I’ve eaten dinner.
When means that the event/action must happen before a future event/action occurs:
When I have saved enough money, I’ll buy a car!
When I have saved enough money, I’m going to buy a car!When I find a job, I’ll look for a place to live.
When I’ve found a job, I’ll look for a place to live.
If you have trouble with conditional sentences, please read Conditional Sentences: An Introduction
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[…] 1st (first) conditional – future possible/real conditional […]
Hi Melanie,
There are two parts in conditional sentence, if clause and main clause. In type 1 conditional, I don’t know the possibility of the situation belongs to which part.
Eg: If I go to school, I will see Peter. (future)
The possibility of the situation is “I go to school” or “I will see Peter” ???
If I don’t go to school, maybe I can see Peter near my home.
If I really go to school, maybe I cannot see Peter because he is sick.
I am confused with which part of the conditional sentence should be assumed be the possibile situation. For my opinion, I don’t know if we should look at the whole sentence, let’s the whole sentence be a possible situation.
It is difficult to express my question, hope you can understand what I mean.
Thanks very much.
Hi, Kim!
This is a lot easier than you think it is!
“If I go to school, I will see Peter.”
Always remember that the ‘if’ clause is the ‘condition.’ The ‘result’ clause is what is possible IF the ‘condition’ clause occurs.
If clause: If I go to school …
result clause: I will see Peter / I might see Peter (if he’s not sick!)
If I go to school, it is possible and it is more than likely that I will see Peter. If Peter is sick, I won’t see Peter at school
If I don’t go to school ….
– I won’t see Peter
– Peter might be able to come over to my house.
= )
Thanks Melanie,
Based on your explanation in type 1 conditional, I think the situation in “result” clause will not 100 % occur even we use”will” in it. It is just a likely and possible situation.
For example, “If I eat too much, I will get fat”. Maybe I won’t get fat even I eat too much!
Obviously, we can use other modals to decrease its certainty such as might, may, can etc.
If the situation in “result” clause is always true, like a habitual action or general facts, we should use type 0 conditional.
Am I correct??
Thanks again;)
You are correct, Kim! Well done!
Hi Melanie! May I ask?
In this example: If I went to school,I could see Peter.
I used type 2 conditional because in fact I do not go to school now,maybe I am in a restaurant imaging that I go to school,so the possible situation still belongs to the main clause,but “If clause” decides that we use the second conditional.So I am confused which part will decide type of conditional we use? “If clause” or “Main clause” ?
Fogive me If I use wrong grammar,I just want to know, hic.
Thanks melanie!
Hi, Mitle!
It’s the ‘if clause’ that decides which conditional to use. In your example sentence, you are just imagining a present situation that is different from your REAL present situation. You are imagining what life would be like if you went to school. You don’t go to school now, but if you did go to school, you could see Peter. When you are imagining a different life from the life you currently have, use the 2nd conditional.
All the best,
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I got it,thanks again!
Hello Melanie!
I’m from Kazakhstan. I’m a kazakh. I learn English. My english is bad, but I speak kazakh and russian languages very well. So I read this grammar and I understand very well. Thank you
Hi Melanie,
Great job all around. Website and content.
Compliments!
English teacher in Italy
thanks melanie
Hi!
I’ve read your article about zero and first conditionals. Both of them are different, aren’t they? The zero conditional is used to express the habitual actions, facts, or scientific phenomena, while the first conditional is used to state possibilities. May I conclude that the zero conditional doesn’t include the word “will (or any kinds of modal, e.g may, might, could)? For example: If you heat water to 100 Celsius, it boils.
Then, the confusion comes when I find questions such as:
1. We (not pass) ________ the exam unless we study harder.
2. I (receive) __________ a prize if my composition wins the contest.
I think, both of them can be answered using “do not pass and will not pass”, “receive and will receive”.
How can I know that those sentences use zero or first conditional?
Hi, Afia!
This is a great question. You should use the 1st conditional form for both your example sentences. Although it seems that these sentences are expressing facts, they aren’t general facts or truths. The zero conditional is used for absolute truths:
Ice melts if you heat it.
I always ask for directions if I get lost.
Your example sentences are not in the same category. Each sentence is about one specific, future event.
1. We won’t pass the exam unless we study harder. [The exam is not happening now. It is happening on a specific date in the future.]
2. I will receive a prize if my composition wins the contest. [There is only one contest. The contest is happening in the future.]
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I got it. Thanks a lot
Hi!
these answer are very much helpful to us,,, very right and well written sentenses.
good,keep it up!! 🙂
hi
you are doing a great thing , keep it up
hi melanie
can u explain the difference between the word shall and will . for many learners of English ,*including me*. they look bit confuse
ferdi
Hi, Ferdi,
Thank you for your kind words!
‘Shall’ is rarely used in American English. ‘Will’ is used to talk about the future. Use ‘will’ to talk about things that are going to happen that you can’t control (“Tomorrow is her birthday. She’ll be 26.”) , or things you decide at the moment of speaking (“I think I’ll go shopping today.”). ‘Will’ is also used in the 1st conditional sentence structure.
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Hi Melanie
I just wanted to say well done for your great website and thanks for all of the hard work you have put into this! I am preparing for my first TEFL interview, which is taking place tomorrow, and your website is really helpful. I’m also finding the student questions and your answers to be really insightful.
Thanks again, Deborah.
l learned whatever i wanted to learn i had some problem in condition sentences that page helped me in conditional sentences my problem has got solved thanks allot (y)
I want to subscript is it free or you must pay
Hi Melanie,
Thank you for your great job.
Can you show me a differences between 0 and 1st conditionals when we use modals? Unfortunately I don’t see them because, I can use modals in result clauses for both conditionals. Also for both conditionals, the condition clause is present simple.
Hi, Gowocek!
Can you give me an example sentence? Do you mean that you can’t see the difference in meaning when modals are used in the 0 & 1st conditional?
The difference is in the result clause. In the 1st conditional whatever the result is, it will happen in the future.
The 0 conditional is not talking about something that has happened. It used for general truths, not something specific that actually happened.
0 Conditional: “If I cook fish, the house always smells.”
= I haven’t actually cooked fish. I’m not going to cook fish right now. The house doesn’t/isn’t going to smell. I’m just saying that whenever I do this, the result is always the same.
1st Conditional: “If I cook fish (for dinner), the house will always smell.”
I’m thinking about cooking fish for dinner tonight. If I do that, the house is going to smell.
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Melanie u really born to teach!As a teacher I appreciate u so much…
Hi. Is it correct if I say: only children do not must suffer from any lack of social skills if their parents would carry on their childhood properly? I mean if i can use do and would. Thanks
Hi, Judi!
I think you wanted to say,
“Children would not suffer from a lack of social skills if their parents would let them be normal children.”
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Dear Teacher,
I’m from Sri Lanka and am receiving your email containing lessons. I kindly request you to add audio files to each lesson so that we could download them. Thanks a lot for preparing the lessons.
Hello Mealanie, your website is awesome and the contents are very well explained though I’ve been looking for some way to “introduce” first conditional to my students but Iam a teacher in practice so I don’t have too much experience making up lessons. It would be really great if you could give me some advice or an idea to introduce 1st conditional in a funny way.
Thanks in advance!
Hi, Marietta!
You could use superstitions to introduce the 1st conditional, especially now around Halloween / All Hallows’ Eve / All Souls Day / Day of the Dead etc.
You could also have student pretend they are roommates or married couples & have them divide up the housework: “I’ll do the dishes if you clean the bathroom.”
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hi melanie thnx 4 the great wrk ur doing im happy wit ur wrk it have helped me
very good Lessons
Hi ! I am an MA. English Lit cum Soft Skills Trainer in A.P, India.I research a lot on Grammar and Pronunciation to learn n to teach. I keep my class very active with activity based learning.Would you suggest me a few techniques to inculcate effective communicative skills for the school students?