The conditional tenses.

The two most common conditionals are real and unreal, they are
sometimes called if-clauses.

The real conditional (often named 1st Conditional or Conditional Type I)

describes situations based on fact.

The unreal conditional (often named 2nd Conditional or Conditional Type

II) describes unreal or imaginary situations.

There is also what we call the 3rd conditional (often named Conditional
Type III), used to express no possibility of something having happened in
the past, and the 0 conditional (often called the zero conditional), used to
express absolute certainty.

Note! If the "if" clause comes first, a comma is usually used.

If the "if" clause comes second, there is no need for a comma:

0 Conditional / Zero Conditional

Used to express general truths and facts (often things based on scientific
fact).

Uses the simple present tense:-

Formation
(IF Clause) (Main Clause)
If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.

or...

(Main Clause) (IF Clause)

Water boils if you heat it to 100°C,
Note! Most zero conditional sentences mean the same thing if "when" is
used instead of "if".

1st Conditional / Conditional I

Used to express situations based on fact in the present or future (things

which may happen).

Uses the simple present tense:-

Formation
(IF Clause) (Main Clause)
If I see you tomorrow, I will buy you a drink.

or...

(Main Clause) (IF Clause)

I will buy you a drink if I see you tomorrow.

We often use unless which means 'if ... not'.

Formation
(IF Clause) (Main Clause)
Unless you hand in your
I won't mark it.
homework,
means
If you don't hand in your
I won't mark it.
homework,

or...

(Main Clause) (IF Clause)

I won't mark your
unless you hand it in.
homework
means
I won't mark your if you don't hand it
 homework in.

Note! We never use will, or won't in the if clause.

2nd Conditional / Conditional II

Used to express unreal situations in the present or future. Often used to

express a wish.

Uses the simple past tense:-

Formation
(IF Clause) (Main Clause)
If I won the lottery, I would buy a new house.

or...

(Main Clause) (IF Clause)

I would buy a new house if I won the lottery.

Note! We never use would, or wouldn't in the if clause.

3rd Conditional / Conditional III

Used to express conditions in the past that did not happen. Often used to
express criticism or regret with would have, could have or should have.

Uses the past perfect tense:-

Formation
(IF Clause) (Main Clause)
If I had worked I would have passed my
harder, exam.
If I had worked I could have passed my
 harder, exam.
If I had worked I should have passed my
harder, exam.

or...

(Main Clause) (IF Clause)

I would have passed my if I had worked
exam harder.
I could have passed my if I had worked
exam harder.
I should have passed my if I had worked
exam harder.

Put the verb in brackets into the right tense. (Present, Past, Future Conditionals)
Example: If you (find) _____ a present in the house don't mention it to anyone .

1.
You will smell if you (not change) your
clothes.

2.
What (you do) if you heard the alarm?

3.
We'll have to walk if we (run out) of
petrol here.

4. Unless you turn that music down, I (go)

mad.

This exercise is brought to you by www.nonstopenglish.com

5.
Someone (steal) your glasses if you lea
ve them there.

6.
She (not have) so many accidents if sh
e drove more carefully.

7.
If you were unemployed, what (you do)
 ?

8.
If you shake that bottle, it (not be) fit
to drink.

9.
If you pass the exam, we (celebrate) it.

10.
If you go to London, where (you stay) ?

11.
If you (wear) this coat, nobody would h
ave recognized you.

12.
If you (read) the article carefully, you
wouldn't have asked anything.

13. If someone offered to buy you one of those cars, which

one (you choose) ?

14. If I had known you didn't like the food, I (not buy)
it.

15.
If he is there he (answer) the phone.

16.
I'll get lost if you (not go) with me.

17. I wouldn't have brought umbrella if I (know)

that it was not raining.

18.
I could repair the roof myself if I (have)
a longer ladder.

19.
I (not buy) these things if I were you.

20.
I (bring) you some food if I had known
that you were hungry.
47

http://w w w .nons
 Put the verb in brackets into the correct tense. (Imaginary
conditional, Present, Past, Future conditional)
Example: If you (eat) _____ more vegetables you would be much
healthier. (key = ate)

1.
Unless they turn the radio off I (go) mad.

2. I wouldn't have ordered dinner for you if I (know)

you weren't hungry.

3.
If Tom (ring) , tell him I will phone him back.

4.
If I had a car I (go) to my parents every
week.

This exercise is brought to you by www.nonstopeng

lish.com

5.
You wouldn't have been angry if you (know) t
he reason.

6.
If you leave the gate open people (get in) .

7.
If you had asked her permission she (not let )
you go.

8.
If the fire had been noticed earlier we (save)
the house.

9.
If I (bring) my coat I wouldn't have been so
cold.

10.
If your aunt (see) you she will tell you off.

11.
If I had tried it again I think that I (be)
successful.

12.
If the storm gets worse we (come) back.
13.
He would lend it to you if you (not lose)
everything.

14.
Unless it is a nice day we (not go) anywhere.

15.
The grass would look better if you (take care)
of it.

16.
If we leave before breakfast we (catch) the tr
ain.

17.
If there's not much wine I (go) to buy some.

18.
If she practised more she (play) more natural
ly.

19.
We'll send for the doctor if he (feel) worse.

20.
If he (take) my advice he wouldn't have ende
d up in prison.

http://w w w .nons