Phần 5: What is a conditional? Conditionals with Georgie

Hello and welcome to Conditionals with Georgie.

That's me.

Conditionals can be tricky.

We sometimes think of them like they're mathematical equations.

Use this structure plus this structure.

In this situation, but not this situation.

But sometimes it's best to just relax, get your head out of the books, and hear how they're used in real life.

So, what is a conditional?

Conditionals have two parts.

The condition or a situation, and the possible consequences or results of that situation.

If this happens, this happens.

Look.

Usually when I finish work, I play guitar.

So, if I don't do that, then I kind of feel a bit stressed out maybe.

Now, there are different types of conditionals that express different things.

The type in the first example expresses things that are generally true or facts.

If George doesn't play the guitar, he usually feels stressed out in general.

But what else can you do with conditionals?

Well, you can use conditionals to express a likely future situation and the possible consequences of that.

If all the tubes are cancelled, then I will cry and get three buses home.

If all the tubes, that's underground trains, are cancelled, which is a likely situation in London, Andrew will cry.

But only if the tubes are cancelled.

It depends on that condition.

You can talk about situations that are unlikely to happen in the future.

Hypothetical scenarios and the consequences of that.

If I won a million pounds, I'd probably go travelling all around the world.

Now, it's unlikely Pippa will win a million pounds, but she's kind of imagining and dreaming about what she could do if she won a million pounds.

Why weren't you at the meeting?

Because you didn't tell me about it.

If you told me about it, I would have been there.

You can use conditionals for past situations too.

So, these are things that have already happened, so you can't change them, but you're imagining alternative situations and their results.

So, I've given you a quick overview of the main conditionals, and now, later in the series, we'll look at them in more detail, not forgetting about the mixed conditionals too.

Don't forget to check out our website and download the free worksheet to help you practise.

See you next time.