If It Rains, We'll Stay Home
First Conditional — real and possible future situations. Leo plans Café Colibri's one-year anniversary party, talking through every 'what if' with Maya.
📖 Reading: Planning the Café Colibri Anniversary Party
Café Colibri is almost one year old! Leo is planning an anniversary party and talking with Maya about the details.
"If the weather is good, we'll have tables outside," says Leo.
"And if it rains?" asks Maya.
"If it rains, we'll move everything inside. We'll still have the party no matter what."
"What if lots of people come? Will you have enough space?"
"If more than fifty people come, I'll ask the restaurant next door if we can use their patio. They've helped before."
"What about food? If you make everything yourself, you'll be exhausted."
"You're right. If I don't hire a catering company, I'll spend the whole day in the kitchen. I'll call them tomorrow."
"And what will you do if Jess can't come? She said there might be a work trip."
"If Jess can't come, I'll be very sad — but we'll stream the party live! Unless she has absolutely no signal, she'll watch online."
"This is going to be the best party," says Maya.
"If everyone comes and the coffee is perfect, yes it will be!" laughs Leo.
🔑 Vocabulary Box
Seven key words and phrases from this lesson.
| Word | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| anniversary | The yearly date that marks when something important happened | n. — Café Colibri is almost one year old. |
| patio | A flat outdoor area next to a building, used for sitting | n. — They can use the restaurant's patio. |
| catering | The business of providing food and drink for events | n. — He'll hire a catering company. |
| exhausted | Extremely tired | adj. — If he cooks everything, he'll be exhausted. |
| stream | To transmit live video over the internet | v. — They'll stream the party live. |
| signal | The connection needed for a phone or internet to work | n. — Unless she has no signal, she'll watch online. |
| no matter what | Regardless of what happens | phrase — We'll have the party no matter what. |
📚 Key Verbs in This Lesson | |
will + verb (result) | If it rains, we'll move inside. |
to hire | If he doesn't hire someone, he'll cook everything himself. |
to stream | They'll stream the party if Jess can't come. |
to exhaust / be exhausted | If he cooks everything, he'll be exhausted. |
📚 Grammar Focus
📚 First Conditional — Structure | |
Structure | If + Present Simple, will + infinitive |
Example | If it rains, we'll move inside. |
Order can be reversed | We'll move inside if it rains. (no comma needed) |
Meaning | A real/likely condition in the future and its probable result. |
Variations of the First Conditional
📚 Variations of the First Conditional | |
Unless = if...not | Unless it rains, we'll be outside. (= If it doesn't rain...) |
Warnings | If you don't rest, you'll feel worse. |
Promises | If you come, I'll save you a seat. |
Offers | If you're hungry, I'll make something. |
Asking First Conditional Questions
📚 Asking First Conditional Questions | |
What will you do if...? | What will you do if it rains? |
What will happen if...? | What will happen if more people come? |
Will you... if...? | Will you stream it if Jess can't come? |
🎭 Dialogue: What Will You Do If…?
Priya and Maya quiz Leo on every possible problem for the anniversary party. Leo has an 'if…I'll…' answer ready for everything.
Leo, what will you do if it rains on the party day?
If it rains, we'll move inside. No problem!
And if the catering company cancels?
If they cancel, I'll cook everything myself. It'll be fine!
You'll be exhausted if you do that!
OK, OK. If they cancel, I'll call three more companies!
What will you do if Omar forgets to come?
If Omar forgets, I'll eat his cake. Problem solved!
Practice Exercises
3 questionsNew exercises to reinforce what you learned. Different from the lesson material.
What will Leo do if the weather is good?
What will happen if more than 50 people come?
Why does Leo decide to hire a catering company?
Practice Exercises
3 questionsNew exercises to reinforce what you learned. Different from the lesson material.
Complete: '___ the weather ___ good, we ___ tables outside.'
Complete: 'If more than fifty people ___, Leo ___ the restaurant next door.'
Complete: 'If Jess ___ come, they ___ the party.'
🎭 Now It's Your Turn — Role Play
Practice with a partner. Use the dialogue as a model.
- Student A: You are planning an outdoor event — choose one: a picnic, a party, or a sports day.
- Student B: Ask "What will you do if…?" questions about things that could go wrong (rain, late guests, broken equipment, no food, etc.).
- Student A: Answer each question with a First Conditional sentence.
- Discuss at least 5 different "if" situations. Try to use unless in at least one answer.