Conditionals

Listed below are examples, uses and formation

of Conditionals followed by some exercises.
  Examples Usage
Conditional 0
Situations that are always true if something happens.
If I am late, my father
NOTE
takes me to school.
This use is similiar to, and can usually be replaced by, a time
She doesn't worry if
clause using 'when' (example: When I am late, my father takes
Julian stays out after
me to school.)
school.
Often called the "real" conditional because it is used for real - or
Conditional 1 possible - situations. These situations take place if a certain
condition is met. The first conditional is used to talk about the
If it rains, we will stay future or facts / situations which are true in the present and
at home. future.

He will arrive late NOTE :In the conditional 1 we often use unless which means
unless he hurries up. 'if ... not'. In other words, '...unless he hurries up.' could also be
written, '...if he doesn't hurry up.'.
Simon will buy a new
car if he gets his raise. “Provided” and “as long as” can also introduce a condition:E.g.
“Provided you leave now, you’ll catch the train”

Conditional 2 Often called the "unreal" conditional because it is used for

unreal - impossible or improbable (hypothetical) – situations,
If he studied more, he (contrary to the present situation). It is also used to give advice
would pass the exam. and express hopes and ambitions.
This conditional provides an imaginary result for a given
I would lower taxes if I situation.
were the Prime Minister.
NOTE
They would buy a new
house if they won the The verb 'to be', when used in the 2nd conditional, is always
lottery. conjugated as 'were'.
Conditional 3

If he had known that, Often referred to as the "past" conditional because it concerns
he would have decided only past situations with hypothetical results. Used to express a
differently. hypothetical result to a past given situation. They always refer
to unfulfilled conditions in the past (contrary to what really
Joanna would have happened).
found a new job if she
had stayed in Gorzów.
 Notes:

 Temporal clauses: In addition to if and unless, there are other words that are not followed by
the future tense. These words include: before, after, when, whenever, until, till, by the time,
once, the moment that, as soon as, as long as. These words are followed by the Present Simple
even when we talk about the future

When you are ready, we will leave.

Until you are ready, we won't leave.
Before you leave, could you tidy your room?
Whenever I go on holiday, I buy a souvenir.

Mixed Conditions

For past events which have a result continuing in the past it is possible to use the form of a 3rd
conditional in the if clause and the form of a 2nd conditional in the result clause.

E.g. “If you had saved some money, you wouldn’t be so hard up”.

Conditional Clause Variations Scheme:

Conditionals: Time and Probability Table

Probability Conditional Example Time

If/When it rains, my father takes me home

Certain zero conditional If you heat water to 100 degrees celsius, it boils. any time
(Universal Truths)
Likely first conditional If it rains, I will stay in. future

second
Unlikely If I won the lottery, I would retire. future
conditional

second
Impossible If I had the money, I would lend it to you present
conditional

third If I had seen him, I would have given him the

Impossible past
conditional message.

EXERCISES
A. Choose the correct conditional form to complete the sentences below.

1. If I ___________________(stay) in Barlinek, I would have found a new girlfriend.

2. He would do more to help the poor if he ______________(have) enough money.

3. If he goes to London on a business trip, he often _____________(visit) Soho.

4. We won't go to the film unless they _______________(arrive) in the next 5 minutes.

5. She ________________(buy) a new car if she had had the money.

6. If Yoko were me, she _________________(go) to Manchester immediately.

7. They will talk to Jacek if he __________________(come).

8. Bożena comes to work 30 minutes late if her child _____________(miss) the bus to
school.

9. If Peter _______________(think) twice, he wouldn't have made such a stupid mistake.

10. Kasia _____________(become) a university lecturer if she studies hard.

11. If they _____________(know) all the facts, they would have found the defendant guilty.

12. Unless you _______________(hurry up), we will never arrive on time.

13. If I were in charge, I _________________(change) the standard business routines.

14. He takes his daughter out to dinner, if she ______________(come) to town.

15. If I hadn't known better, I ___________________(trust) him.

B. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tenses.

1. If my brother _______________(eat) another cake, he ________________(get) sick soon,
that’s why he won’t
2. If I _________________(ask) you when I needed, ___________________(you help) me ?
3. John __________________ (not get) such poor marks if he ________________ (work)
harder

C. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Use the first,
second or third conditional.

1. If the film ........................ (not be) so boring, we wouldn't have left.

2. They will miss their connection if the fiight........................ (not leave) on time.
3. It would be great if people ........................ (not pollute) the environment.
4. If the band ........................ (give) a concert here, all my friends would go to it.
5. ........................ you ........................ (cook) such a big meal if we hadn't had so many
guests?
6. If you ........................ (go) to London, you should visit Madame Tussaud's Wax
Museum.
7. You won't get tickets unless you ........................ (get) to the stadium early.
8. If the police hadn't caught him, he ........................ (escape) with the money.

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tenses. There may be more than one possible
answer.

1. If you ____________ (Go) away, please_____________ (Write) to me.

2. If she ____________ (Be) in, I __________ (Give) it to her. Now it’s too late.
3. My aunt _________ (Be able to) help us if she________ (Be) on time last night.
4. If my brother_________ (Eat) another cake, he_________ (Get) sick soon. that’s why he
won't.
5. If you______________ (Heat) water, it_____________(Boil).
6. If we _________ (Go) to London for our holiday last year, we ______(See) The Tower of
London.
7. I___________ (Speak) to Clement at the party if he________(Apologise) for what he
said to me.
8. If I ___________(Know) Rob's address in New York , I_________ (Visit) him.
9. I think Diane___________ (Look) much nicer if she ___________ (Have) a new hair
style.
10. She____________ (Look) better if she ______________ (Wear) a dress to go to the
concert last night.
11. John___________ (Not Get) such poor marks if he__________(Work) harder.
12. If Katy____________ (Be) taller, she__________________(Play) in the ladies’ volleyball
team.
 13. If the weather______________(Not Be) so bad last week, they_________(Go) for a
excursion.
14. If I_________ (Be) George I_______________ (Not Go) to the concert without a ticket.
15. If Terry_____________ (Get up) earlier this morning, he__________ (Tidy) the house
instead of leaving it for his mother.
16. Paul______________ (Pass) his exams easily if he___________(Work) harder.
17. If I_____________ (Not Have) so much work to do, I____________ (Go) to the cinema
tonight.
18. My brother__________ (Live) in the U.S.A. if he____________ (Have) a work permit.
19. If Jim______________ (Not Tell) so many lies, people__________(Like) him.
20. If Donald___________ (Go) to the theatre with us, he_________ (Not Enjoy) that
comedy we saw.
21. If Ben___________ (Not tease) the cat yesterday, it______________ (Not scratch) him
and he ______________(Not have) to go to the hospital.
22. If he___________ (Tell) us his father was in hospital, we__________(Go) to see him.
23. If I____________(Be) very wealthy, I_________________(Buy) a couple of good sports
car.
24. Evince_______________(Share) his sweets if he____________(Be) less selfish.
25. We______________(Go) to see Jerry if we____________(Know) his address when we
were in America.
26. If Mary________________(Listen) to CNN occasionally while she was studymg English, it
______________ (Help).
27. Carrie___________ (Not Pass) her driving test at the first attempt if she______________
(Not Have) such a good teacher.
28. Sue___________ (Have) a better chance of being a model if she____________ (Be)
slimmer.
29. Marianne________________ (Not Go) to the theatre with Tom last night even if
he___________ (Ask) her.
30. If we___________ (Arrive) earlier, we_______________ (Save) his life.
31. If they____________(Take) a cruise, they_______________(Have) a better holiday.
32. The Tylers_____________ (Be) pleased if she______________(Visit) them when she was
in Rhode Island.
33. I you__________ (Heat) gold to 1063 degrees centigrades, it_______(Melt).
34. If someone___________ (Heat) alcohol to 78 degrees,it____________ (Boil)

COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES. Use your own ideas.

1. You will get into trouble if...

2. Your dress would look better if...
3. The cake would have been burnt if...
 Complete the sentences.
1 If I pass my exams, __________________________________________

2 If it rains tomorrow, _________________________________________

3 If we go on holiday next year, _________________________________

4 If I meet my friend tomorrow, _________________________________

Fill in the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

1. She will call you tomorrow if she ........................ (have) time.

2. Tony hates being short. He would be happier if he ........................ (be) taller.
3. If you ........................ (come) with us last week, you would have seen some amazing things.
4. If it rains, we ........................ (not go) on the trip.
5. I’m sorry you don’t know her. If you knew her, you ........................ (like) her.
Fill in the correct tense of the verbs in brackets.

1. If Lisa ........................ (win) the contest, she ........................ (get) a trip to Hawaii.
2. Marco is nervous about speaking to large groups. If he ........................ (be) more confident,
he ........................ (speak) more effectively.
3. I didn’t earn much money last summer. If I ........................ (earn) more money,
I ........................ (not borrow) any from my dad.
4. If we ........................ (not hurry), we ........................ (be) late for school.
5. When I got to school, the doors were locked. I ........................ (not come) to school if
I ........................ (know) that classes were cancelled.

Related Web links:

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/conditional-sentences (Theory and

Exercises) - Intermediate
http://www.englishpage.com/conditional/mixedconditional.html (Variations Theory
and exercises –Upper-Intermediate
http://www.slideshare.net/guesta456a6/conditionals-revision (Powerpoints
presentations on conditionals

http://www.slideshare.net/ivanet/conditionals-197408 (With Bart Simpson)

Preintermediate

http://www.slideshare.net/torrestorres/conditional-clauses-presentation

http://www.slideshare.net/yolyordam/conditionals-presentation-862757

(More Conditional Linkers such as provided, as long as, etc…

http://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-
3825.php
http://www.grammaring.com/provided-providing-as-long-as