Conditionals

The conditionals are used to speculate about what could happen, what might
have happened, and what we wish would happen. Most sentences using the
conditional contain the word if.
They describe the result of something that might happen (in the present or future)
or might have happened but didn't (in the past).

Conditional
Usage If clause verb tense Main clause verb tense
sentence type

Zero General truths Present simple Present simple

To talk about future situations

First Present simple Will/won’t + verb infinitive
we believe are real or possible.

Used to imagine present or

Second future situations that are Past simple Would+verb infinitive
impossible or unlikely.

Used to talk about something in

the past that didn’t happen. We
Third Past perfect Would have + past participle
imagine how things could have
been different in the past.

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 The zero conditional

The zero conditional is used for when the time being referred to is now or always
and the situation is real and possible. The tense in both parts of the sentence is
the simple present. In zero conditional sentences, the word "if" can usually be
replaced by the word "when" without changing the meaning.

This conditional is used when the result will always happen.

If clause Main clause

If + simple present simple present

If you heat ice it melts.

If it rains the grass gets wet.

Exercises Zero Conditional

1. (I / wake up late / I / be late for work)

_______________________________________________________________

2. (my husband / cook / he / burn the food)

_______________________________________________________________

3. (Julie / not wear a hat / she / get sunstroke)

_______________________________________________________________

4. (children / not eat well / they / not be healthy)

_______________________________________________________________

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 5. (you / mix water and electricity / you / get a shock)

_______________________________________________________________

6. (people / eat / too many sweets / they / get fat)

_______________________________________________________________

7. (you / smoke / you / get yellow fingers)

_______________________________________________________________

8. (children / play outside / they / not get overweight)

_______________________________________________________________

9. (you / heat ice / it / melt)

_______________________________________________________________

10. (I / speak to John / he / get annoyed)

______________________________________________________________

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 First conditional

The first conditional is used to refer to the present or future where the situation is
real. It refers to a possible condition and its probable result. In these sentences the
if clause is in the simple present, and the main clause is in the simple future.

If clause Main clause

If + simple present simple future + infinitive

If you don't hurry you will miss the train.

If it rains today you will get wet.

First Conditional Exercise

Put the verb into the correct first conditional form:

1) If I ____________ (go) out tonight, I ____________ (go) to the

cinema.

2) If you ____________ (get) back late, I ____________ (be) angry.

3) If we ____________ (not / see) each other tomorrow, we

____________ (see) each other next week.

4) If he ____________ (come), I ____________ (be) surprised.

5) If we ____________ (wait) here, we ____________ (be) late.

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6) If we ____________ (go) on holiday this summer, we ____________

(go) to Spain.

7) If the weather _________ (not / improve), we _________ (not /

have) a picnic.

8) If I _________ (not / go) to bed early, I _________ (be) tired

tomorrow.

9) If we _________ (eat) all this cake, we _________ feel) sick.

10) If you _________ (not / want) to go out, I _________ (cook) dinner

at home.

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 Second conditional

The second conditional uses the past simple after if, then “would” and the
infinitive

It has two uses:

1) We can use it to talk about things in the future that are probably
not going to be true.

If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house.

If I met Robert DeNiro, I would say hello.

2) We can use it to talk about something in the present which is

impossible, because it's not true.

If I had his number, I would call him.

If I were you, I wouldn't call him back.

If clause Main clause (result)

If + simple past would+infinitive

If she studied more she would pass the test.

If I go to the dinner Alex would go too.

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When if is followed by the verb be, it is grammatically correct to say if I were, if
he were, if she were and if it were. However, it is also common to hear these
structures with was, especially in the he/she form

If I were you, I wouldn't mention it.

If she was prime minister, she would invest more money in schools.
He would travel more if he was younger.

Second Conditional Exercises

1) If I __________ (be) you, I __________ (get) a new job.

2) If he __________ (be) younger, he __________ (travel) more.

3) If we __________ (not / be) friends, I __________ (be) angry with you.

4) If I __________ (have) enough money, I __________ (buy) a big house.

5) If she __________ (not / be) always so late, she __________(be) promoted.

6) If we __________ (win) the lottery, we __________ (travel) the world.

7) If you __________ (have) a better job, we __________ (be) able to buy a

new car.

8) If I __________ (speak) perfect English, I __________(have) a good job.

9) If we __________ (live) in Mexico, I __________ (speak) Spanish.

10) If she __________ (pass) the exam, she __________ (be) able to enter
university.
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 Third Conditional

The third conditional is used to refer to a time that is in the past, and a
situation that is contrary to reality. It talks about the past. It's used to
describe a situation that didn't happen, and to imagine the result of this
situation. In type 3 conditional sentences, the if clause uses the past perfect,
and the main clause uses the perfect conditional.

If clause Main clause

If + past perfect Would+ have + Past participle

If you had studied harder you would have passed the exam.

If I had accepted that promotion I would have been working in Milan.

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 Third Conditionals Exercises

Put in the correct third conditional verb form:

1) If you _________ (not / be) late, we ______________ (not / miss) the bus.

2) If she ________ (study), she ______________ (pass) the exam.

3) If we _________ (arrive) earlier, we _________ (see) John.

4) If they _________ (go) to bed early, they _________ (not / wake) up late.

5) If he _________ (become) a musician, he _________ (record) a CD.

6) If she _________ (go) to art school, she _________ (become) a painter.

7) If I _________ (be) born in a different country, I _________ (learn) to speak

a different language.

8) If she _________ (go) to university, she _________ (study) French.

9) If we _________ (not / go) to the party, we _________ (not /meet) them.

10) If he _________ (take) the job, he _________ (not / go) travelling.

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 Mixed conditionals

Past Condition / Present Result

The first one has a condition in the past and a present result. We use it to
express that if something had been different in the past there would be a
present result.

The structure is: If + past perfect, would (could, might) + infinitive.

If we hadn't missed our flight we'd be in Spain now.

If I hadn't got the job in Tokyo, I wouldn't be with my current partner.

Present Condition / Past Result

The next one has a present condition and a past result. We use it to express
that due to certain present conditions something already happened in the
past.

The structure is: if + past simple, would (could, might) have + past participle.

If I was more diligent, I would have finished my degree at university.

If it wasn't, I wouldn't have called you on your holiday

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Mixed Conditional exercises

1) I didn't invite them for dinner. But I ________________________ if I

was a good cook. (not hesitate)

2) If we had bought a good map, we ________________________ in the

middle of nowhere now. (not be)

3) If I wasn't afraid of flying, I ________________________ you in

California a long time ago. (visit)

4) I'd have my driving licence if I ________________________ at the traffic

lights. (stop)

5) If you had sold your business, you ________________________ life

now. (can enjoy)

6) If I were you, I ________________________ the job after the pay drop.

(quit)

7) I'd be a happy man if I ________________________ Marion when we

were young. (marry)

8) If we didn't trust them, we ________________________ them to stay

with us last summer. (not ask)

9) He'd study at university if he ________________________ the entrance

exam. But he didn't. (pass)

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10) Tina's French is quite weak. She would have helped you in Paris if her

French ________________________ better. (be)

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