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How to Learn Basic English (Chinese Edition) | Lesson No.046 | First Conditional for Real Plans | 第一条件句与真实计划

Series ID: EDKS-BASIC-ZH-0046 · Lesson No.046 · A2 First Conditional

First Conditional for Real Plans | 第一条件句与真实计划

If it rains, we’ll take the bus.
如果下雨，我们就坐公交。

The first conditional connects a real future possibility with the action or result that follows.

第一条件句适合谈“未来可能发生的真实情况”和“如果发生，我会怎么做”。

Chinese Edition Hub · 中文版入口 · ← Lesson No.045 · Present Perfect with For and Since

The conditional map | 条件句路线

  • if + present
  • will + base verb
  • can / may / might
  • imperative result
  • condition first or result first
  • weather plans
  • transport plans
  • schedule plans
  • shopping and service problems
  • backup plans
  • unless recognition
  • when vs if
  • Mandarin 如果…就… transfer

1. Core structure | 核心结构

If + present simple, will + base verb.

  • If it rains, we’ll stay inside.
  • If the train is late, I’ll call you.

2. Real future possibility | 真实未来可能

Use the first conditional when the condition is possible, not purely imaginary.

3. If-clause | if 从句

  • If it rains…
  • If I finish early…
  • If she calls…

Use present form in the basic if-clause.

4. Result clause | 结果句

  • …I’ll take the bus.
  • …we’ll go out.
  • …she’ll tell us.

5. No basic “will” in the if-clause | if 从句不要放 will

  • If it will rain, we’ll stay home. ✗
  • If it rains, we’ll stay home. ✓

This is the core A2 rule for first conditional planning.

6. Condition first | 条件在前

  • If I’m tired, I’ll go home early.

Use a comma when the if-clause comes first.

7. Result first | 结果在前

  • I’ll go home early if I’m tired.

No comma is normally needed in this simple order.

8. Same meaning, different order | 顺序不同，意思基本相同

  • If it rains, we’ll take a taxi.
  • We’ll take a taxi if it rains.

9. Negative condition | 否定条件

  • If it doesn’t rain, we’ll walk.
  • If I don’t finish today, I’ll do it tomorrow.

10. Negative result | 否定结果

  • If the shop is closed, we won’t wait.

11. Question with condition | 条件问句

  • What will you do if it rains?
  • Where will you go if the café is full?

12. Short answer | 简答

  • If it rains, I’ll stay home.
  • If it’s full, we’ll go somewhere else.

13. Weather plans | 天气计划

  • If it’s sunny, we’ll go to the park.
  • If it rains, we’ll bring umbrellas.
  • If it’s too hot, we’ll leave earlier.

14. Transport plans | 交通计划

  • If the train is delayed, I’ll take the bus.
  • If traffic is bad, we’ll use the train.

15. Schedule plans | 时间表计划

  • If the meeting finishes early, I’ll call you.
  • If class ends at four, I’ll take the 4:20 train.

16. Shopping plans | 购物计划

  • If they have my size, I’ll buy it.
  • If it’s too expensive, I won’t buy it.

17. Service problems | 服务问题

  • If the link still doesn’t work, I’ll email support.
  • If the attachment is missing, I’ll ask them to resend it.

18. Health-language plans | 健康沟通计划

  • If I still feel unwell tomorrow, I’ll contact a healthcare professional.

This is communication practice, not medical advice.

19. Study plans | 学习计划

  • If I have twenty minutes, I’ll review vocabulary.
  • If I make the same mistake again, I’ll add it to my error log.

20. Can in the result | 结果用 can

  • If you finish early, you can leave.
  • If the file opens, you can continue.

21. May / might in the result | may/might 表可能

  • If the weather gets worse, the train may be delayed.
  • If we leave late, we might miss the bus.

This gives a possible result, not certainty.

22. Imperative in the result | 结果用祈使句

  • If you need help, call me.
  • If the light is red, stop.

23. Should in the result | 结果用 should

  • If you’re unsure, you should ask.

Useful when the result is advice.

24. Backup plan | 备用计划

Main plan + condition + backup:

We’ll take the train. If it’s cancelled, we’ll take the bus instead.

25. Plan A / Plan B | A 计划 / B 计划

  • Plan A: picnic outside.
  • Condition: rain.
  • Plan B: café.

Sentence: If it rains, we’ll meet at the café instead.

26. Multiple conditions | 多个条件

Keep them separate at first:

  • If the weather is good, we’ll walk.
  • If we’re tired, we’ll take the bus back.

27. Do not build giant conditional chains | 不要一次塞太多条件

Two clear sentences are better than one unstable sentence with four if-clauses.

28. When vs if | when 与 if

  • If she calls, I’ll answer. → maybe she will call.
  • When she calls, I’ll answer. → speaker expects the call.

when often presents the future event as expected/certain.

29. Future time clause also uses present | future time clause 用现在时

  • When I finish, I’ll call you.
  • After I arrive, I’ll send a message.

Do not use will in these basic time clauses.

30. Before / after | before / after

  • Before I leave, I’ll check the weather.
  • After I arrive, I’ll call you.

31. As soon as | 一……就……

  • As soon as I arrive, I’ll message you.

Useful A2 future-time connector.

32. Unless | 除非 / 如果不

Recognition/useful:

  • We won’t go unless the weather improves.

Meaning: if the weather does not improve, we won’t go.

33. Unless = if not | unless ≈ if not

  • Unless you hurry, you’ll miss the bus.
  • If you don’t hurry, you’ll miss the bus.

34. Do not double the negative with unless | unless 不要再加否定

  • Unless you don’t hurry… ✗ for intended meaning
  • Unless you hurry… ✓

35. Prediction vs plan | 预测 vs 计划

  • If it rains, roads may be busy. → prediction.
  • If it rains, I’ll take the train. → plan.

36. Condition + advice | 条件 + 建议

  • If you’re tired, you should rest.
  • If you’re unsure, ask for clarification.

37. Condition + permission | 条件 + 许可

  • If you finish the task, you can leave.

38. Condition + warning | 条件 + 提醒

  • If the floor is wet, walk carefully.

39. Mandarin transfer: 如果…就… | if…(then)…

Chinese often uses 如果…就…. English usually does not need then in a simple first conditional.

  • 如果下雨，我们就坐公交。 → If it rains, we’ll take the bus.

40. Mandarin transfer: future marker in both clauses | 英语不是两边都加 will

English marks the future mainly in the result clause for this structure.

41. Mandarin transfer: 要是 | if

  • 要是太贵，我就不买。 → If it’s too expensive, I won’t buy it.

42. Common error: if it will rain | 错误

  • If it will rain, we’ll stay home. ✗
  • If it rains, we’ll stay home. ✓

43. Common error: if I will finish | 错误

  • If I will finish early, I’ll call you. ✗
  • If I finish early, I’ll call you. ✓

44. Common error: if + present, result present when future plan intended | 结果缺未来

  • If it rains tomorrow, we take the bus. △
  • If it rains tomorrow, we’ll take the bus. ✓

45. Reading practice A: day trip | 阅读 A

Mei and Anna are planning a day trip. If the weather is good, they’ll take the early train and walk from the station to the lake. If it rains, they’ll visit a museum instead. If the train is delayed, they’ll send a message to their friend before changing the plan.

  1. What will they do if the weather is good?
  2. What if it rains?
  3. What if the train is delayed?

46. Reading practice B: work plan | 阅读 B

David has an important presentation tomorrow. If he finishes the slides before six, he’ll review them once more tonight. If he finds a problem, he’ll fix it before bed. If everything is ready, he’ll stop working early and rest.

  1. What happens if he finishes before six?
  2. What will he do if he finds a problem?
  3. What will he do if everything is ready?

47. Reading practice C: shopping decision | 阅读 C

Anna wants to buy a coat. If the shop has the blue one in her size, she’ll try it on. If it fits and the price is reasonable, she’ll buy it. If it’s too expensive, she’ll wait for another option.

  1. What is the first condition?
  2. What two conditions lead to buying?
  3. What is the backup plan?

48. Writing practice: four real plans | 写四个真实计划

Write one conditional for:

  • weather
  • transport
  • study
  • shopping

49. Speaking practice: What will you do if…? | 口语

  • What will you do if it rains?
  • What will you do if the train is late?
  • What will you do if you forget a word?

50. Decision-tree practice | 决策树

Start with one situation and create two branches:

  • If A happens → action A.
  • If B happens → action B.

51. Error clinic | 常见错误

ErrorBetter EnglishWhat broke?
If it will rain… ✗If it rains… ✓present in if-clause
If I will finish… ✗If I finish… ✓future in result
If it rains, I taking bus. ✗If it rains, I’ll take the bus. ✓result form
Unless you don’t hurry… ✗Unless you hurry… ✓double negative
When I will arrive… ✗When I arrive… ✓future time clause

52. First weak link diagnosis | 第一个卡点诊断

  • I put will after if → clause-form problem.
  • I understand form but cannot make plans → scenario transfer.
  • I confuse if/when → certainty expectation.
  • I cannot build backup plans → decision-tree practice.
  • I use only will → expand to can/may/imperative/should.

53. Retrieval lab | 提取练习

  • 如果下雨，我们就坐公交。 → ______
  • 如果火车晚点，我会打电话。 → ______
  • 如果你完成了，可以走。 → ______
  • 如果不确定，就问。 → ______
  • 我到以后会发信息。 → ______
  • 除非天气好转，否则我们不去。 → ______

Suggested answers: If it rains, we’ll take the bus. / If the train is late, I’ll call. / If you finish, you can leave. / If you’re unsure, ask. / After I arrive, I’ll send a message. / We won’t go unless the weather improves.

54. Ten-minute daily practice | 每天十分钟

2 minif + present条件
2 minwill result结果
2 mincan/may/should结果变化
2 minwhen/after/as soon as未来时间
2 minone backup plan备用计划

55. Seven-day training cycle | 七天训练

Day 1if + present/will基本结构
Day 2negative conditions否定
Day 3can/may/imperative结果类型
Day 4weather/transport情境
Day 5when/after/as soon as时间从句
Day 6unless除非
Day 7decision-tree simulation综合

56. Self-test: 30 questions | 30 题自测

  1. Give the first-conditional form.
  2. Use if + rain.
  3. Use if + finish.
  4. Make a negative condition.
  5. Make a negative result.
  6. Put the result first.
  7. Ask What will you do if…?
  8. Use can in result.
  9. Use may in result.
  10. Use an imperative in result.
  11. Use should in result.
  12. Make a weather plan.
  13. Make a transport plan.
  14. Make a study plan.
  15. Make a shopping plan.
  16. Explain if vs when.
  17. Use when for future.
  18. Use after for future.
  19. Use as soon as.
  20. Explain unless.
  21. Rewrite unless as if not.
  22. Correct: If it will rain.
  23. Correct: If I will finish.
  24. Correct: When I will arrive.
  25. Correct: Unless you don’t hurry.
  26. Give one backup plan.
  27. Give one advice conditional.
  28. Give one permission conditional.
  29. Build a two-branch decision tree.
  30. Explain one Mandarin-English conditional difference.

Answer key | 答案

1 if + present, will + base verb; 2–21 answers vary; 22 If it rains; 23 If I finish; 24 When I arrive; 25 Unless you hurry; 26–30 performance answers vary.

57. For parents and teachers | 给家长和老师

Teach first conditional through decisions, not isolated sentence transformation.

Use real low-stakes branches: weather, transport, time, study and shopping.

For Mandarin speakers, map 如果…就… to English while highlighting that English normally uses present form in the if-clause.

Keep hypothetical second conditional separate until this real-future pattern is stable.

58. Final real-world challenge | 最终真实任务

  1. Make five real future conditions.
  2. Use will, can, may and imperative results.
  3. Use negative conditions.
  4. Use if and when correctly.
  5. Use after/as soon as.
  6. Use unless once.
  7. Build two backup plans.
  8. Explain one decision tree.
  9. Use conditions in conversation.
  10. Complete a two-minute planning simulation.

Next: Lesson No.047 | 下一课

The next lesson makes descriptions more precise by joining information to a noun: the person who…, the place where…, the thing that…. This reduces repetition and prepares longer B1-direction sentences.

Lesson No.047 · Relative Clauses for Clearer Description · 用关系从句补充说明

Reference floor: British Council A2 Pre-intermediate · British Council A1–A2 Grammar.