General English Level 4 Version 2.1 © 2004 acl Pty Ltd GELEV4 Unit 03 Topic 01.doc LANGUAGE FOCUS 06 The first conditional In this activity you will find out how to use the first conditional to talk about the future. Steve writes: If it does open on time, we'll have a party! …If these people come to the centre, it will be very good for the community. …If we can get a room at the new centre, we'll have our meetings there. Steve is talking about possible events in the future - having a party, benefits to the community, having club meetings. These events might happen but they depend on something else happening first - the centre opening on time, people coming to the centre, getting a room at the centre. Steve uses the first conditional. We make a sentence in the first conditional by using two clauses. Look Conditional clause Main clause If + the present simple tense + If we hurry, will/can/might + base verb we'll catch the bus. Examples Read the examples. 1. If the council builds a new sports centre, New Town people will be happy. 2. If there's a heated pool, the children will train better. 3. New Town will be able to hold official competitions if the pool is 50 metres long. 4. Young people won't make trouble if they can play basketball. 5. If it doesn't rain, the builder will complete the centre in six months. 6. We'll have a big party if the centre opens on time. WRITING Chain story A chain story is a story written by several people. In this activity the whole class is going to write a chain story! 1. Your teacher will give you a sheet of paper with the beginning of a story on it. 2. Read the story so far. 3. With your partner, write a sentence in the first conditional to continue the story. 81