Real Conditionals — Community Garden

Interactive ESL lesson • First conditional

If we work together, the garden will grow.

Practice real future possibilities with if, unless, the present simple, and will.

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Quick lesson

If + present simple, will + base verb

If it rains, we will move the workshop inside.

Will + base verb + if + present simple

We will harvest tomatoes if they are ready.

Unless = if ... not

We won't plant today unless the soil is dry.
= We won't plant today if the soil isn't dry.

Important

Use the present—not will—in the condition clause.
✓ If she comes...   ✗ If she will come...

The clauses may change order. Use a comma when the if/unless clause comes first.

Read — “Saturday at the Garden”

Maya's neighborhood is preparing a community garden. If the weather stays clear, the volunteers will meet at nine. Luis will bring the tools if his truck starts. Unless everyone arrives on time, the group won't finish the new planting beds before lunch.

Maya has a backup plan. If it rains, they will hold a seed workshop in the library. The children will decorate plant labels unless the librarian needs the activity room. “If we take care of this place,” Maya says, “it will give the neighborhood fresh food for years.”

A) Comprehension — choose the best answer
1. When will the volunteers meet?
2. What will happen if it rains?
3. What does “unless everyone arrives on time” mean?
4. Which result is a real future possibility?
B) Form check — select the correct verb
1. If Sofia gloves, she will pull weeds.
2. We early if the gate is open.
3. Unless it , we will water the beds.
4. The plants won't survive unless we them.
5. If the children finish early, they the signs.
6. Maya will call us if the plan .
C) If or unless?
1. We will meet outside the weather is nice.
2. We won't finish more volunteers come.
3. you bring a bottle, you will have water.
4. Don't touch the seedlings Maya asks you to move them.
D) Word bank — complete the conditions

1. the weather clear, Luis the tools.

2. The garden we forget to water it.

E) Rewrite with “unless”
1. We won't start if the rain doesn't stop.
2. The plants will die if we don't water them.
3. I won't come if you don't call me.
4. We can't finish if everyone doesn't help.
F) Sentence builder — click the words in order
G) Real-life speaking and writing
Complete the ideas aloud.
  1. If I have free time this weekend, ...
  2. Unless the weather is terrible, ...
  3. I will improve my English if ...
  4. I won't be late unless ...
Write 4–6 sentences.

Describe a real plan. Use at least two sentences with if and one with unless.

Answer key

A: 1b, 2a, 3c, 4b. B: brings; will start; rains; water; will paint; changes. C: if; unless; If; unless. D: If; stays; will bring; will grow; unless. E: Sample answers are shown when checked. F: If we work together, the garden will grow.

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