Grammar · Free lesson
If it rains, we’ll…: explain a possible future plan
Your group plans to practice outside tomorrow. Rain is possible, so you also have an indoor room available. You need to explain the backup plan without saying that rain is certain.
Professor Scott MendozaMeaning in this lesson
first conditional
A sentence pattern for a possible future condition and its expected result or planned response.
Example
“If it rains tomorrow, we’ll practice indoors.”
Rain is possible. Practicing indoors is our plan if it happens.
The short answer
A common first conditional pattern is if + present simple, then will + base verb: “If it rains tomorrow, we’ll practice indoors.” Rains describes the possible future condition; we’ll practice gives the plan if that condition happens. We’ll means we will.
State the condition, then the plan that depends on it.
Use the present simple in this if clause even though you are talking about the future: if it rains tomorrow. In the result clause, use will and the base verb: we will practice indoors. The sentence tells us what you intend to do if the condition happens; it does not say the condition definitely will happen.
Give the backup plan.
What will we do if it rains tomorrow?
If it rains, we’ll practice indoors. We’ve booked the small room.
Rains is present simple, but tomorrow makes the future time clear. We’ll practice explains the response to that possible condition.
Build the backup plan
Name a possible condition
If it rains tomorrow…
Add the planned response
…we’ll practice indoors.
Check each verb
Rains in the if clause; will practice in the result clause.
Try it now
Check what you’ve learned.
Read all answers and explanations
Complete this first conditional plan: “If it ___ tomorrow, we’ll practice indoors.”
rainsUse the present simple rains in this if clause. The sentence still refers to the future because of tomorrow and the conditional context.
Complete the result: “If the room is free, we ___ there.”
will practiceWill takes the base verb practice, without -s or to.
“If it rains tomorrow, we’ll practice indoors.” What does this tell us?
The group plans to practice indoors if rain happens.The indoor plan depends on rain. The sentence neither predicts rain as certain nor states an unconditional indoor plan.
Put it into practice
Repair the conditional plan.
Use the common first conditional pattern. Keep tomorrow as the time, rain as the condition and indoor practice as the response.
If it will rain tomorrow, we’ll practice indoors.
See a model answer
If it rains tomorrow, we’ll practice indoors.
The edit repairs the if-clause pattern and preserves the original plan. A grammatically correct sentence that changes indoor practice to cancellation would not meet the task.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Can the result come before the if clause?
Yes. The basic relationship stays the same. When the if clause comes first, normally separate it from the result with a comma. When it follows the result, a comma is usually unnecessary.
“If it rains, we’ll practice indoors.” / “We’ll practice indoors if it rains.”
Why use rains if the plan is about tomorrow?
Verb form and time are not always identical. In this conditional pattern, the present simple expresses the possible future condition. The time word and the rest of the sentence make that future meaning clear.
“If the bus arrives early tomorrow, we’ll have time for coffee.”
Take it into your day
Keep the possible condition and its result clear. In this pattern, use present simple after if and will plus the base verb for the future response.
Your next step · Available on Udemy
Talk about plans with a clearer grammar foundation.
You’ve built one kind of conditional plan. Keep developing your tense and sentence choices through the English Grammar and English Speaking course’s explanations, conversation examples, quizzes and practice materials.
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