Grammar Practice Worksheets

First Conditional
Table of Contents
2 Grammar Notes
First Conditional

4 Exercise 1
Multiple-Choice

5 Exercise 2
Fill in the Blanks

6 Exercise 3
Matching

6 Exercise 4
Complete the Sentences

7 Exercise 5
Negative Sentences

8 Exercise 6
Scrambled Sentences

9 Exercise 7
Superstitions

10 Exercise 8
Survey

11 Exercise 9
Quiz

12 Answer Key

14 Extra Practice I
Sentence Strips

15 Extra Practice II
Conditional Comparison
Chart

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Grammar Notes
FIRST CONDITIONAL

A. Introduction to Conditionals

Conditionals are used to express a hypothetical situation. This is

when you don’t know if something will happen or not, so you
make a guess about what the result might be. There are four
conditional patterns in the English language, and they usually
involve an “if” clause. This lesson will focus
on the first conditional, also known as the real conditional.

B. The First Conditional

Tip #1
Pattern: If + present, will + base verb The verb in the if clause is a simple present verb,
Use: The first conditional shows a likely or and the verb in the main clause is will + the base
form of the verb. A sentence can begin with
possible outcome that will probably
either clause with no change in meaning.
happen if a certain condition is met. Remember that a sentence that begins with an
if clause is followed by a comma.

• If it’s sunny tomorrow, they will go to the beach.

• They will go to the beach if it’s sunny tomorrow.

Examples

Sentences Condition Outcome Explanation

• If I study for the test,

I will get a good grade. Studying makes it likely
studying good grade that I will get a good
• I will get a good grade on the test.
grade if I study for
the test.

• If Mr. Smith has a second cup of

coffee, he will probably be late Having another cup of
second
for work. late for work coffee makes it
cup of
possible that Mr. Smith
• Mr. Smith will probably be late coffee
will be late.
for work if he has a second cup of
coffee.

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Grammar Notes cont.

B. The First Conditional cont.

Examples cont.

Sentences Condition Outcome Explanation

• If they rehearse a lot, they’ll be Rehearsing makes it

ready for their concert next ready likely that they will
rehearsing
weekend. for be ready to play at
concert their upcoming
• They’ll be ready for their
concert next weekend if they concert.
rehearse a lot.

• If she doesn’t buy a new suit, she Not buying a new

something
won’t have anything to wear to suit means she
new suit to wear to
the interview. won’t have an
the
• She won’t have anything to wear interview appropriate
to the interview if she doesn’t buy interview outfit.
a new suit.

Tip #2 Tip #3 Tip #4

It is possible to have a The verb in the if clause will Though not as common, it is
negative verb in the if clause, end in -s if the subject is possible to use be going to
the main clause, or both. The third person singular. + base verb or the present
contraction of will not is won’t. progressive (which are the
• If she watches that two other ways of forming
• If I don’t pass this test, sad movie, she will the simple future in
my parents will be very cry. English) in place of will +
angry.
• She will cry if she watches base verb with no change in
• If I forget to water the that sad movie. meaning.
plants, they won’t survive.
For example, these
• If I’m not late for work sentences all have the
again, I won’t have to look same meaning:
for another job.
• If it doesn’t rain,
we will go for a walk.
(will + V)
• If it doesn’t rain, we
are going to go for a
walk. (be going to +
V)

• If it doesn’t rain,
we are going for a
walk. (be + -ing V)

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Exercise 1
MULTIPLE- CHOICE

Circle the best answer.

Ex. My mother will be angry if

3. She will do the exercise 6. She will marry
I late for school
again if she a lot him if he her.
again.
of mistakes.
a) will ask
a) be
a) will make b) ask
b) is
b) makes c) asks
c) am
c) make
7. If we go out
1. If she goes to the
4. If they practise a lot, tonight, we the
birthday party on
they the door.
Sunday,
game next
she a present. a) will lock
weekend.
b) locks
a) takes
a) wins c) lock
b) will take
b) win
c) take
c) will win 8. I will make a
sandwich if I
2. I the doctor if my
5. I will take my hungry.
stomach still hurts
umbrella if it
tomorrow. a) is
tomorrow.
b) will be
a) will call
a) rains c) am
b) called
b) raining
c) call
c) will rain

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Exercise 2
FILL IN THE BLANKS

Fill in the blanks using the correct form of the verb provided.

Ex. If Robert goes to bed late tonight, he will sleep in .

(go) (sleep in)

1. If he
, he his bus.
(sleep in) (miss)
2. If he
(miss) the bus, (be) late for work.
he

3. If he
late for work, his boss angry.
(be) (be)

4. If Robert’s
(be) angry, he (fire) him.
boss

(lose) his job, his (get) upset with him.

5. If Robert
girlfriend

6. If Robert’s
upset again, with him.
girlfriend (get) (break up)
she

7. If she
with him, he lonely.
(break up) (be)

8. If
(feel) lonely, he (call) some friends.
Robert

(call) his friends, (ask)

him to their party.
9. If
Robert
(drink)
(go) they to the too much beer.
10. If (need)
Robert (drink) party, he too a ride home.

11. If much beer, he

Robert
12. If a ride home, stay until the end of the party.
(need) (have to)
Robert he

13. If
until the end of the party, home very late.
Robert (stay) (get)
he

14. If
home late, to bed late.
Robert (get) (go)
he

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And you know what will happen if Robert goes to bed late again!

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Exercise 3
MATCHING

Match the first part of the sentence on the left with the
most logical ending on the right. Each choice can only be
used once.

h 1.
If you eat too much a) if you babysit your little sister tonight.
2.
candy... If you don’t b) the teacher will keep you in after class.
3. study... c) I won’t let you have any dessert.
4. You will have bad dreams... d) I will buy you a treat.
5. If you eat lots of e) you will be healthy.
6. vegetables... You will burn f) you will play beautifully.
7. yourself... g) you will fail your exam.
8. If you are late for school... h) your teeth will hurt.
9. If you practise the piano every i) if you watch a scary movie before bed.
10 night... If you don’t finish your j) if you play with matches.
.
dinner...
If you behave nicely...
I will pay you ten dollars...

Exercise 4
COMPLETE THE SENTENCES

Complete the following sentences using your own words.

Ex. You won’t feel good if you eat that entire pizza.

1. If you don’t water the plants,

2. If you wash your wool clothes in hot water,

3. If you eat too many sweets,

4. If you don’t wear sunscreen,

5. I will read you a bedtime story if

6. You will be punished if

7. If you drive too fast,

8. You’ll be tired in the morning if

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Exercise 5
NEGATIVE SENTENCES

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb provided.

Ex. We won’t play tennis tomorrow if it rains .

(not/play) (rain)
1. She
the children play in the house if too much noise.
(let) (not/make)
they

2. If we
, we our
(not/hurry) (miss)
plane.
3. The
bee (not/sting)
you if (not/move)
you .

4. If you
more loudly, no you.
(not/speak) (hear)
one

5. We
late if we the
(not/take)
(be) car.
6. If it
hot tomorrow, (not/go) to the beach.
(not/be) we

7. If you
your umbrella, wet.
(not/take) (get)
8. You
you your test if (not/study) harder.
(not/pass)
9. If he
you (not/marry) him.
(not/find)
10. They
(not/say)
a job soon, she you’re sorry.
(not/forgive)

you if you
11. The you money if a good job.
bank (not/lend) (not/have)

you your room, your (not/let) you go to the movie tonight.

12. If you (not/clean)
sick
mother .
(not/quit) (get)
13. If you
smoking, you

14. You 15. If you if you

(not/ to
(not/be able) set)
sleep
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your (not/
wake) that
alarm up on time.
(watch)
clock, horror
you movie.

16. You
if .
(not/improve) you (not/practise)

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Exercise 6
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES

A. Main Clause + If Clause

B. If Clause + Main Clause
Put the words in the correct order to make
conditional sentences. Start each sentence with Put the words in the correct order to make
the main clause. conditional sentences. Start each sentence with
the if clause.

Ex. works will she hard boss give a the raise

Ex. works will she hard boss give a the raise if her
if her
If she works hard, the boss will give her a raise.
The boss will give her a raise if she works hard.

1. if put will in fridge you the go don’t milk the it

1. we if is cancel the bad will the weather
sour
game

2. she car if will doesn’t take the start bus 2. garden don’t plants if grow the water the won’t
her you

3. I am your will if come to I not party busy 3. next beach go the sunny we if weekend it’s will
to

4. if will umbrella it take rains I an

4. we if sold concert too out long wait the be will

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Exercise 7
SUPERSTITIONS

Many cultures have similar superstitions. For example:

• If you break a mirror, you will have seven years of bad luck.
• If you pull out a grey hair, ten more will grow in its place.

A. Matching

Work with a partner or in small groups. Read the first part of the
superstitions and try to match them with the correct endings. If you
have never heard of these superstitions, use your imagination and
have fun!

1.
If you step on a crack, a) you will have to pay someone a lot of money.
2.
If your right eye twitches, b) you will soon be kissed by a fool.
3.
If the bottom of your foot itches, c) your house will burn down.
4.
If you blow out all the candles
d) there will soon be a birth in your family.
on your birthday cake in one
5. e) you will never marry.
blow, If the palm of your left
6. hand itches, If you are a f) it will keep the doctor away.
7. bridesmaid three times, If a bee g) your wish will come true.
8. enters your house,
h) you will know how many children you will have.
9. If you say goodbye to a friend on a
i) you will soon have a visitor.
bridge, If you see a swarm of bees on
10. j) you will break your mother’s back.
your roof,
If your nose itches, k) you will never see each other again.
11.
If you eat an apple every day, l) you will take a trip soon.
12. If you cut an apple in half and
count how many seeds are
inside,

B. Writing

Write three superstitions from your own culture using the first conditional.

1.

2.

3.

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Exercise 8
SURVEY

Work in small groups. Complete the chart below by asking three of

your classmates the following questions. Answer using the first
conditional.

# Question

If you go to a restaurant this

1
weekend, what will you order?

If the teacher gives a lot

2 of homework tonight, will
you have time to finish it?

If the weather is beautiful

3
on the weekend, what will
you do?

If you catch a bad cold this

4
week, what will you do/take for
it?

If you go to a movie this

5
weekend, what will you
see?

If you watch TV tonight,

6
what will you watch?

If you take a trip soon,

7
where will you go?

If you buy a new boat,

8
what colour will it be?

If you have dessert

9
tonight, what will you
have?

If you visit a friend this

10
week, who will it be?

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Exercise 9
QUIZ

Choose the best answer for each question.

1. If you
5. If he a pizza, 9. My coworkers the
carefully, you’ll
he will eat the whole report today if they
know what to do.
thing. finish it.
a) will think
a) orders a) hands in
b) think
b) will order b) hand in
c) thinks
c) order c) will hand in

2. If she goes out tonight,

6. They out for dinner 10. If that painting is still for
she
if there is no food in the sale, we it.
it tomorrow
morning. house.
a) buy
a) regret a) will go b) will buy
b) regrets b) goes c) buys
c) will regret c) go
11. If their grandmother
3. I will send you a postcard 7. If the weather is , they will sing a song to
if you me your bad, we the her.
address. picnic.
a) call
a) give a) cancel b) will call
b) gives b) will cancel c) calls
c) will give c) cancels
12. My manager about
4. My brother will miss his 8. If I late, my the meeting if I don’t
appointment if he parents will be remind her.
late. angry.
a) forgets
a) will be a) will be b) forget
b) are b) am c) will forget
c) is c) is

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Answer Key
LESSON DESCRIPTION:
LEVEL: Int
Students learn and practise the first conditional through TIME: 2–3 hours
writing and speaking activities. They will try a sentence
TAGS: conditional, first conditional, real conditional,
matchup task that will get them moving and a cultural
mood, if, present, will, verbs, sentence patterns,
activity on superstitions.
grammar

Exercise 1 Exercise 5

1. b
3. b 5. a 7. a 1. will let, don’t make 10. won’t forgive, don’t say
2. a
4. c 6. c 8. c 2. don’t hurry, will miss 11. won’t lend, don’t have
3. won’t sting, don’t 12. don’t clean, won’t let
Exercise 2 move
13. don’t quit, will get
4. don’t speak, will hear
14. won’t be able, watch
5. will be, don’t take
1. sleeps in, will
8. feels, will call 6. isn’t, won’t go 15. don’t set, won’t wake
miss
9. calls, will ask 7. don’t take, will get 16. won’t
2. misses, will be
10. goes, will drink 8. won’t pass, don’t study improve,
3. is, will be
11. drinks, will need 9. doesn’t find, won’t don’t
4. is, will fire
marry practise
12. needs, will have
5. loses, will get
to
6. gets, will break
13. stays, will get Exercise 6
up
14. gets, will go
7. breaks up, will
be A. MAIN CLAUSE + IF CLAUSE

Exercise 3
1. We will cancel the game if the weather is bad.
2. She will take the bus if her car doesn’t start.
1. h 3. i 5. j 7. f 9. d
3. I will come to your party if I am not busy.
2. g 4. e 6. b 8. c 10. a
4. I will take an umbrella if it rains.

Exercise 4 8. You’ll be tired in the morning if you stay up late again.

Answers will vary. Here are some samples:

1. If you don’t water the plants, they will die.

2. If you wash your wool clothes in hot water, they will
shrink.
3. If you eat too many sweets, you will get a
stomachache.
4. If you don’t wear sunscreen, you will get a sunburn.
5. I will read you a bedtime story
if you get into your pyjamas
quickly.
6. You will be punished if you behave badly.
7. If you drive too fast, you will get a speeding ticket.
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B. IF CLAUSE + MAIN CLAUSE

1. The milk will go sour if you don’t put it in the fridge.

2. If you don’t water the plants, the garden won’t grow.
3. If it’s sunny next weekend, we will go
to the beach. / If it’s sunny, we will go
to the beach next weekend.
4. If we wait too long, the concert will be sold out.

(continued on the next page...)

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Answer Key cont.

Exercise 7 Extra Practice II
A. MATCHING On page 15, you will find a comparison chart with
all four conditional tenses. Comparing all the
conditional tenses at
1. j 3. l 5. a 7. i 9. c 11. f
once can be helpful for students to see when and
2. d 4. g 6. e 8. k 10. b 12. h
why each is used. If you think your students can
handle it, present the
chart before or after the First Conditional lesson. You can find
B. WRITING
more help and practice on our blog (http://blog.esllibrary.
Answers will vary. Here are some samples: com/2013/03/14/an-easy-way-to-teach-conditionals/) and
in our Grammar Practice Worksheets section
1. If a black cat crosses your path, you will have
bad luck. (https://esllibrary.com/ courses/88/lessons). In that
section, you’ll find our lessons on the Second and Third
2. If you find a four-leaf clover, you will have good
luck. Conditional.
3. If you walk under a ladder, you will have bad
luck.

Exercise 8

Answers will vary.

Exercise 9

1. b
3. a 5. a 7. b 9. c 11. c
2. c
4. c 6. a 8. b 10. b 12. c

Extra Practice I

On page 14, you will find a page of strips to cut up. Cut the if and
main clauses into strips and give one clause to each student.
Have the students search the room for the matching clause to
complete the sentence (note that there is more than one
possibility in some cases—you can accept any logical,
reasonable match). As an alternative task, give each pair
or group a set of mixed-up strips and have them arrange all
the strips into the correct order. These tasks would work
well as a warm-up to this lesson or for review later on.

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Extra Practice I
SENTENCE STRIPS

If I set my alarm, I won’t sleep in.

If she gains more weight, she’ll go on a diet.

If they aren’t more careful, they’ll have an accident.

If they have a baby girl, they will name her Maria.

If the police catch the robber, they will take him to jail.

If he has a toothache, he’ll go to the dentist.

If I have a headache, I’ll take some aspirin.

If he starts to lose his hair, he’ll buy a wig.

If our power goes out, we’ll light some candles.

If my car isn’t fixed, I’ll have to take the bus.

If you don’t wear a coat, you might catch a cold.

If there isn’t any snow, we won’t be able to go skiing.

If he’s late for work again, his boss will fire him.

If we don’t hurry, we’ll miss our bus.

If they don’t have enough money for the car, they’ll borrow some from the bank.

If you don’t pay attention in class, you won’t understand the lesson.

If the floor is wet, you might slip.

If you aren’t satisfied with your purchase, the store will give you your money back.

If I send the parcel by airmail, it will arrive much faster.

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Extra Practice II
CONDITIONAL COMPARISON CHART

Name Form Time Function Example

Use this conditional to • If he takes vitamins every

show an outcome that day, he doesn’t get sick.
Zero Conditional If + present, present Present
happens • He doesn’t get sick if
if a specific repeated he takes vitamins
condition is met. every day.

Use this conditional to • If she studies for the

First Present/ show a likely or possible test, she will get a
If + present, will + verb
Conditional Future outcome that will good grade.
(Real probably happen if a • She will get a good
Conditional) specific condition is met. grade if she studies
for the test.
Unlikely situation
Use this conditional to • If he won the lottery, he would quit his job.
show an unlikely or • He would quit his job if he won the lottery.
Second Conditional If + past, would + verb Present/
impossible outcome that
(Unreal Future Impossible situation
probably wouldn’t
Conditional)
happen (unless a specific • If I had wings, I would fly to Antarctica.
condition were met).
• I would fly to Antarctica if I had wings.

• If I had remembered to call

Use this conditional to
my friend last night, she
If + had + p.p., show a past regret or
Third Conditional Past wouldn’t
would + have + different outcome that
have sent me an angry text message.
p.p. would have happened if
• My friend wouldn’t have sent
a specific condition had
been met. me an angry text message if I had
remembered to call her last night.

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