E7 M - Conditional I for plans and consequences
aiMOOCE7 M - Conditional I for plans and consequences
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E7 M - Conditional I for plans and consequences
Einleitung
Mini-description: Use the first conditional more independently to make decisions, explain rules and talk about possible consequences.
You work mostly in English. Try first, use the context and media, then take a hint. German help is short and only there when you need it.
Media start: Look at the school rules in the picture. Choose one rule and complete: If people follow this rule, ... Then choose one rule and say what may happen if people ignore it.
Quick pair talk: Which rules are easy to understand without translating every word? Which consequences can you imagine?
I can ...
- I can use if + simple present and will + base verb for possible future situations.
- I can ask and answer questions about plans and consequences.
- I can explain a rule and give a short reason.
- I can write a short structured message with first conditional sentences.
What you already know
You already know the simple present and the will-future. Try these two quick examples before you read the rule:
If it rains, ... → finish the sentence with a possible result.
If we miss the bus, ... → finish the sentence with a plan.
Hint: Think about a real possible future, not an impossible dream.
Notice → understand → try → use
Read the sentence: If it rains, we'll take an umbrella.
What do you notice? One part gives the condition. The other part gives the possible result.
Pattern: If + simple present, will + base verb.
Examples: If Maya finishes early, she'll help Leo. If we recycle the bottles, we'll reduce waste. If Sam doesn't charge the tablet, it won't work later.
Important: In this course, do not put will directly after if in the normal first conditional pattern.
Word order: You can also say: We'll take an umbrella if it rains. If the if-clause comes first, use a comma. If it comes second, you normally do not need a comma.
German help: Der if-Satz nennt eine mögliche Bedingung. Der andere Satz nennt eine mögliche Folge.
Plans, rules and consequences
Conditional I is useful when you make a plan or explain what will happen after a possible event.
Plan: If the weather is good, we'll work outside.
Rule: If you use the school tablet, you'll follow the class rules.
Consequence: If you forget your ticket, you won't get on the bus.
Decision question: What will you do if the plan changes?
A short decision scene
The profiles below are fictional.
Maya: If it rains tomorrow, we'll move the Eco Action Day inside.
Leo: Okay. What will we do if the sports hall is busy?
Sam: If the hall is busy, we'll use two classrooms. If we need more space, I'll ask the library team.
Maya: Good idea. If everyone brings a bottle, we won't need plastic cups.
Try: Continue the scene with one new condition and one realistic consequence.
Listening and viewing
Watch once for the main idea. Do not stop after every sentence. Watch a second time and listen for the pattern.
Viewing tasks:
- What future situations does the speaker talk about?
- Listen for one sentence with if and one form with will.
- Say one new sentence about your own school day.
Hint: You do not need every word. Listen for the condition and the result.
For more practice, use the longer BBC Learning English explanation:
After viewing: Explain the rule in one English sentence. Then compare with the pattern above.
Reading: The Eco Action Day plan
Read first without a dictionary.
On Friday, Maya's class will run an Eco Action Day. The class wants to clean part of the school yard and sort recyclable waste. The weather forecast is not certain. If it stays dry, the group will work outside after break. If it rains heavily, they will move to the covered bike area. Leo is responsible for the equipment. If a pair of gloves is damaged, he will replace it. Sam will check the collection boxes. If a box is full, the team will close it and start a new one. The class also has one simple rule: if students find personal information on a piece of paper, they will give it to the teacher instead of sharing it. At the end, the group will decide what to improve next time.
Reading check:
- Where will the group work if it stays dry?
- What will Leo do if gloves are damaged?
- What will students do if they find personal information?
- Find two different if-clauses and underline the simple present forms.
Mini feedback: Your answer should connect a real possible condition with a future action.
Vocabulary in context
| Word | Meaning in simple English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| plan | something you decide to do | If the first plan fails, we'll use plan B. |
| rule | something you should or must follow | If we use the lab, we'll follow the safety rules. |
| consequence | what happens because of an action | If we are late, we'll miss the start. |
| forecast | information about future weather | If the forecast changes, we'll check the plan. |
| charge | put power into a battery | If you charge the tablet, it will work later. |
| recycle | use materials again instead of throwing them away | If we recycle paper, we'll reduce waste. |
German help if needed: consequence = Folge; forecast = Wettervorhersage.
Pronunciation: sound clear, not perfect
Focus on contractions and rhythm: I'll, you'll, we'll, won't. The important goal is that your partner understands the condition and the result.
Try: If we finish early, we'll help the next group.
Stress the key words: finish, early, help, next group.
A private voice recording can help, but it is voluntary. Do not upload it unless your teacher has given a clear safe task and you want to share it.
Speaking: ask, react, justify
Work with a partner.
A: What will you do if the bus is late?
B: If the bus is late, I'll text the group.
A: Why?
B: Because they'll know what is happening.
Now change the situation: rain, forgotten homework, low battery, full recycling box, changed meeting point.
Challenge: React to your partner before you give your own idea: That makes sense. / I'm not sure. / Good plan, because ...
Writing: a short planning email
Write an 80–100 word email to a fictional class team about an activity.
Include:
- a clear opening and closing,
- at least three first conditional sentences,
- one rule,
- one possible problem and a solution,
- one short reason with because.
Self-edit: Check every if-clause. Is the verb in the simple present? Check every result clause. Does will have the base form after it?
If you use AI for feedback, check whether the language still matches your level and whether the feedback is correct. Do not let AI replace your own text. Do not send private data to external tools.
Mediation: pass on the key message
A German notice says: Beim Ausflug bitte eine Trinkflasche mitbringen. Bei starkem Regen bleibt die Klasse im Schulhaus. Wer Medikamente benötigt, spricht vorher mit einer Lehrkraft.
An English-speaking exchange student asks what is important. Explain the key points in simple English. Do not translate every word. Use one first conditional sentence where it fits.
Mini-transfer: from rules to decisions
Choose a normal school or everyday situation without private information. Make a small two-step decision chain:
If ..., I'll ... . If ..., I'll ... .
Then ask a partner: Would this plan work? Why or why not?
Feedback and improve
Use this short check after speaking or writing:
- Did I use simple present after if?
- Did I use will + base verb for the likely result?
- Is my consequence logical?
- Can another person understand my reason?
- Can I improve one sentence and use it again?
Self-check: Can do
Choose: Yes / almost / not yet.
- I can make a first conditional sentence without a model.
- I can ask What will you do if ...?
- I can explain a rule and a possible consequence.
- I can check and improve my own sentence.
If you choose not yet, go back to the pattern and the short BBC video, then try one new sentence.
E-look ahead and follow-up
Next, you can compare real future possibilities with more imaginary situations in E7 M - Conditional II for imagined situations.
E-look ahead only: Much later, you may meet conditional forms that use the past perfect. You do not need that form in this course.
Media notes and safe use
The Wikimedia Commons files used here were selected from freely reusable or public-domain material. Golden rules.jpg is CC0, Rules.JPG is CC BY-SA 3.0, Sudden rain -Nagano.jpg is CC BY-SA 2.0, and the Mauritius traffic-sign file is public domain. The recycling symbol file is presented on Commons as a public-domain symbol. The BBC Learning English videos are embedded from the official YouTube channel; the videos are not copied into the course.
Do not use private social-media profiles for tasks. Use fictional profiles or classroom-safe examples. If recordings are used, keep them private unless a clear voluntary sharing task has been agreed.
Interaktive Aufgaben
Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen
What is the first conditional mainly used for in this course? (Possible future situations and their consequences) (!Finished actions in the distant past) (!Facts that are always true) (!Impossible events only)
Which sentence has the correct first conditional pattern? (If it rains, we will stay inside.) (!If it will rain, we stay inside.) (!If it rained, we will stay inside.) (!If it rains, we stayed inside.)
Choose the correct result: If the battery is low, ... (we will charge the tablet) (!we charged the tablet yesterday) (!we will charged the tablet) (!we are charging it last week)
Which sentence is a correct negative first conditional? (If we do not hurry, we will not catch the bus.) (!If we will not hurry, we do not catch the bus.) (!If we did not hurry, we will not catch the bus.) (!If we do not hurried, we will not catch the bus.)
When the if-clause comes first, what normally follows it? (A comma before the result clause) (!A question mark before the result clause) (!A second if-clause) (!A past tense verb only)
Which question asks about a future decision? (What will you do if the plan changes?) (!What did you do every day?) (!What are you doing yesterday?) (!What will you did if the plan changes?)
What does consequence mean in this course? (What happens because of an action or situation) (!A person who makes a rule) (!A list of irregular verbs) (!A place where lessons happen)
Which sentence best explains a school rule and a possible consequence? (If you use the lab, you will follow the safety rules.) (!If you used the lab yesterday, you follow rules tomorrow.) (!If you will use the lab, you followed the rules.) (!If you use the lab, you followed the rules yesterday.)
Which sentence keeps the same meaning as If it rains, we will work inside? (We will work inside if it rains.) (!We work inside because it rained yesterday.) (!We will rain if it works inside.) (!If we worked inside, it rains.)
What is a good way to use AI for this writing task? (Check feedback and keep your own text and decisions) (!Replace your whole text with an AI text) (!Share private data to get a better answer) (!Use language you do not understand)
Memory
| if-clause | condition |
| main clause | result |
| simple present | tense after if |
| will plus base verb | likely future consequence |
| won't | will not |
| forecast | weather prediction |
Drag and Drop
| Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu. | Thema |
|---|---|
| we'll take umbrellas | If it rains |
| I'll charge it | If my tablet battery is low |
| we'll use another room | If the hall is busy |
| we'll close the box | If the recycling box is full |
| I'll ask the teacher | If I do not understand the rule |
Kreuzworträtsel
| condition | What do we call the possible situation in the if-clause? |
| result | What do we call what happens after the condition? |
| forecast | What word means information about future weather? |
| umbrella | What can you take if it rains? |
| recycle | What verb means to use materials again? |
| decision | What do you make when you choose between plans? |
LearningApps
Lückentext
Offene Aufgaben
Leicht
- Conditional picture sentence: Choose one course image and write two first conditional sentences about it.
- Rule card: Create a small rule card with one rule and one possible consequence.
- Question swap: Write three questions beginning with What will you do if ...? and answer a partner's questions.
- Pronunciation practice: Read four conditional sentences aloud. Record yourself only if you want to and keep the recording private.
Standard
- Plan B dialogue: Write and perform a short dialogue in which two fictional students solve two possible problems.
- Eco Action plan: Design a five-step class activity and add at least four realistic if-consequences.
- Mediation note: Explain a short German school notice in English and include one suitable first conditional sentence.
- Email challenge: Write a structured 80–100 word email with three first conditional sentences and revise it after feedback.
Schwer
- Decision tree in English: Create a simple decision tree with at least five if-branches and explain it orally.
- Rule redesign: Choose three general school rules, improve their wording and explain fair, realistic consequences.
- Mini survey without private data: Ask classmates which plan they would choose in three fictional situations, summarize the answers and present two conditional conclusions.
- Feedback loop project: Create a first version of a short text, get peer or carefully checked AI feedback, explain which suggestions you accepted or rejected, and submit your improved version.
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Lernkontrolle
- Plan under pressure: A class trip has rain, a delayed bus and one missing item. Build a realistic plan with at least four first conditional sentences and explain why your order of decisions makes sense.
- Rule and consequence analysis: Compare two ways of wording the same classroom rule. Explain which consequences are clear, realistic and connected to the condition without ranking people.
- Reading transfer: Read a new short event plan and identify where one condition does not logically match its consequence. Rewrite that sentence.
- Speaking transfer: In a two-minute pair talk, react to two unexpected changes, ask one follow-up question and justify one decision.
- Writing revision: Improve a short email that contains three first conditional mistakes. Explain each correction in simple English.
Lernnachweis
For a successful learning record, show that you can:
- use if + simple present correctly,
- use will + base verb for a possible future result,
- connect conditions and consequences logically,
- ask, react, justify and briefly present decisions,
- write a structured short text and revise it after feedback,
- use media and digital tools safely without sharing private information,
- explain key information in a short mediation task.
OERs zum Thema
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