English Grammar: Conditionals, Values, Vocabulary, and More

Conditional Sentences

First Conditional

Expresses a possible condition and its probable result.

Form: (If/Unless + Present Simple) + (will + infinitive)

Examples:

• If she trains hard, she will get fit.
• Unless she trains hard, she won't get fit.
• She will get fit if she trains hard.

Second Conditional

Expresses a hypothetical condition and its probable result.

Form: (if + Past Simple) + (would + infinitive)

Example:

• If I won the lottery, you wouldn't see me again.

Third Conditional

Expresses an unreal past condition and its probable past result.

Form: (If + Past Perfect) + (would have + past participle)

Example:

• If she had taken the drug, she would have gotten a better mark.

Vocabulary

Values

• Go without: Do without something
• Have a big heart: Be kind and generous
• Let down: Disappoint someone
• Rely on: Depend on someone or something
• Say what you mean: Speak directly and honestly
• Stand by: Support someone
• Stand up for what you believe in: Defend your beliefs
• Take responsibility for: Accept responsibility for something
• Tell the truth: Be honest
• Treat: Behave towards someone in a particular way
• Bravery: Courage
• Compassion: Sympathy and concern for others
• Fairness: Justice
• Generosity: Willingness to give
• Honesty: Truthfulness
• Loyalty: Faithfulness
• Self-reliance: Independence

Phrasal Verbs and Synonyms

• Break into: Force entry into a place
• Bring: Take something or someone with you
• Carry out: Complete a task
• Come across: Find something unexpectedly
• Get on: Enter a vehicle
• Give back: Return something
• Give up: Stop trying
• Go ahead: Proceed
• Kick off: Begin
• Pull over: Stop a vehicle at the side of the road
• Put up: Stay somewhere temporarily
• Rip off: Steal something
• Run over: Hit someone with a vehicle
• Take out: Remove something
• Tell off: Scold someone
• Turn up: Appear suddenly

Negative Prefixes

• Dishonest
• Disloyal
• Disobedient
• Illegal
• Immature
• Improbable
• Irrational
• Irresponsible
• Unethical
• Unfaithful
• Unpredictable
• Unreliable
• Unsurprising
• Untrustworthy

If Only / I Wish

• If only/I wish + Past Simple: Expresses a wish for something different in the present.
  • Example: I wish I was good at tennis. / If only I had some hi-tech trainers.
• If only/I wish + Past Perfect: Expresses regret about something in the past.
  • Example: I wish I'd eaten some pasta before the race. If only it hadn't been raining.
• If only/I wish + would: Expresses a complaint about something.
  • Example: I wish you would stop making excuses. If only it would stop raining.