A235–45 minutes on your own60 minutes with a tutor

First Conditional: Real Future Possibilities

By the end: I can discuss a possible future situation and its result.

Created by Denis M., British English teacher.

I’m studying:

Try the activities, then check your answers.

Start here

You plan to meet a friend outside tomorrow. Make a plan for rain.

Read each explanation, say your answer aloud, then open the model and try again. You may write your answer if you prefer. Use invented personal details whenever you like.

Useful preparation: Existing present simple; lesson 18 will/won’t; lesson 29 regular results as optional preparation.

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Learn 1

A possible future situation

Use if + present simple, will + base verb for a possible future condition and result. If it rains tomorrow, we’ll stay inside. The if part is about the future, but this pattern uses present simple there.

If it rains tomorrow, we’ll stay inside.

If I finish early, I’ll call you.

Two possible weather situations, two meeting places

The recorded plan for rainIf it rains tomorrow, we’ll meet at the café.

The café is the planned meeting place in that situation.

The recorded plan for sunIf it’s sunny, we’ll meet in the park.

The park is the planned meeting place in that situation.

These are two stated possibilities. They do not predict the weather or specify a plan for every other kind of weather.

Learn 2

Lesson scene for If it rains tomorrow, we'll stay inside. People and essential props on white. — If it rains tomorrow, we’ll stay inside.A possible future result: present simple after if, will in the result.

Change the order

The result can come first: We’ll stay inside if it rains. Keep the same verb forms. A sentence beginning with the if part normally has a comma after it. Do not treat punctuation as more important than the meaning when speaking.

We’ll stay inside if it rains.

I’ll call you if I finish early.

Learn 3

Negatives and questions

Use don’t/doesn’t in a negative if part: If the bus doesn’t come, we’ll walk. Use won’t for a negative result: If I’m busy, I won’t come. Ask What will you do if it rains? Keep the if part in the present simple for this pattern.

If the bus doesn’t come, we’ll walk.

What will you do if it rains?

The call time depends on finishing work

Finish earlyIf I finish early, I’ll call you at six.

Six is the planned call time in this case.

Still busyIf I’m still busy, I won’t call until later.

The call is delayed; the recording gives no exact later time.

Won’t call until later does not mean never call. Until later places a limit on how early the call will happen.