ZERO CONDITIONAL

We can make a zero conditional sentence with two present simple verbs (one in the 'if clause'
and one in the 'main clause'):

If + present simple, .... present simple.

This conditional is used when the result will always happen. So, if water reaches 100 degrees,
it always boils. It's a fact. I'm talking in general, not about one particular situation. The result
of the 'if clause' is always the main clause.

The 'if' in this conditional can usually be replaced by 'when' without changing the meaning.

For example: If water reaches 100 degrees, it boils. (It is always true, there can't be a different
result sometimes). If I eat peanuts, I am sick. (This is true only for me, maybe, not for
everyone, but it's still true that I'm sick every time I eat peanuts.)

Here are some more examples:

• If people eat too much, they get fat.

• If you touch a fire, you get burned.
• People die if they don't eat.
• You get water if you mix hydrogen and oxygen.
• Snakes bite if they are scared
• If babies are hungry, they cry

The first conditional is about a specific situation, but the zero is talking in general.
ZERO CONDITIONAL

If + present simple, .... present simple.

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)

___________________________________________________________________________

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)

___________________________________________________________________________

11. (I / feel good the next day / I / go to bed early)

___________________________________________________________________________
12. (lots of people / come / Jenny / have a party)

___________________________________________________________________________

13. (she / buy expensive clothes / she / go shopping)

___________________________________________________________________________

14. (my daughter / pass her exams / she / work hard)

___________________________________________________________________________

15. (David / be sick / he / drink milk)

___________________________________________________________________________

16. (the river / freeze / it / be very cold)

___________________________________________________________________________

17. (I / like to visit the museums / I / be in a new city)

___________________________________________________________________________

18. (I / cycle to work / the weather / be fine)

___________________________________________________________________________

19. (my flatmate / clean it really well / she / clean the house)

___________________________________________________________________________

20. (everybody / be grumpy / it / rain a lot)

___________________________________________________________________________
1. If I wake up late, I'm late for work.

2. If my husband cooks, he burns the food.

3. If Julie doesn't wear a hat, she gets sunstroke.

4. If children don't eat well, they aren't healthy.

5. If you mix water and electricity, you get a shock.

6. If people eat too many sweets, they get fat.

7. If you smoke, you get yellow fingers.

8. If children play outside, they don't get overweight.

9. If you heat ice, it melts.

10. If I speak to John, he gets annoyed.

11. I feel good the next day if I go to bed early.

12. Lots of people come if Jenny has a party.

13. She buys expensive clothes if she goes shopping.

14. My daughter passes her exams if she works hard.

15. David is sick if he drinks milk.

16. The river freezes if it's very cold.

17. I like to visit the museums if I am in a new city.

18. I cycle to work if the weather is fine.

19. My flatmate cleans really well if she cleans the house.

20. Everybody is grumpy if it rains a lot.

FIRST CONDITIONAL

The first conditional has the present simple after 'if', then the future simple in the other clause

if + present simple, ... will + infinitive

It's used to talk about things which might happen in the future. Of course, we can't know what
will happen in the future, but this describes possible things, which could easily come true.

• If it rains, I won't go to the park.

• If I study today, I'll go to the party tonight.
• If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes.
• She'll be late if the train is delayed.
• She'll miss the bus if she doesn't leave soon.
• If I see her, I'll tell her.

First v.s. Zero Conditional

The first conditional describes a particular situation, whereas the zero conditional describes
what happens in general.

For example (zero conditional): if you sit in the sun, you get burned. (here I'm talking about
every time a person sits in the sun - the burning is a natural consequence of the sitting)

But (first conditional): if you sit in the sun, you'll get burned (here I'm talking about what will
happen today, another day might be different)

First vs. Second conditional

The first conditional describes things that I think are likely to happen in the future, whereas
the second conditional talks about things that I don't think will really happen. It's subjective;
it depends on my point of view.

For example (first conditional): If she studies harder, she'll pass the exam (I think it's possible
she will study harder and so she'll pass).

But (second conditional): If she studied harder, she would pass the exam (I think that she
won't study harder, or it's very unlikely, and so she won't pass).
FIRST CONDITIONAL

if + present simple, ... will + infinitive .

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.

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.

11. I __________________ (come) early if you __________________ (want).

12. They __________________ (go) to the party if they __________________ (be) invited.

13. She __________________ (stay) in London if she __________________ (get) a job.

14. He __________________ (not / get) a better job if he __________________ (not / pass)

that exam.

15. I __________________ (buy) a new dress if I __________________ (have) enough

money.
16. She __________________ (cook) dinner if you __________________ (go) to the

supermarket.

17. They __________________ (go) on holiday if they __________________ (have) time.

18. We __________________ (be) late if we __________________ (not / hurry).

19. She __________________ (take) a taxi if it __________________ (rain).

20. I __________________ (not / go) if you __________________ (not / come) with me.
1. If I go out tonight, I'll go to the cinema.

2. If you get back late, I'll be angry.

3. If we don't see each other tomorrow, we'll see each other next week.

4. If he comes, I'll be surprised.

5. If we wait here, we'll be late.

6. If we go on holiday this summer, we'll go to Spain.

7. If the weather doesn't improve, we won't have a picnic.

8. If I don't go to bed early, I'll be tired tomorrow.

9. If we eat all this cake, we'll feel sick.

10. If you don't want to go out, I'll cook dinner at home.

11. I'll come early if you want.

12. They'll go to the party if they are invited.

13. She'll stay in London if she gets a job.

14. He won't get a better job if he doesn't pass that exam.

15. I'll buy a new dress if I have enough money.

16. She'll cook dinner if you go to the supermarket.

17. They'll go on holiday if they have time.

18. We'll be late if we don't hurry.

19. She'll take a taxi if it rains.

20. I won't go if you don't come with me.

SECOND CONDITIONAL

The second conditional uses the past simple after if, then 'would' and the infinitive:

if + past simple, ... would + infinitive

(We can use 'were' instead of 'was' with 'I' and 'he/she/it'.)

It has two usages:

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

Maybe I'm imagining some dream for example.

• If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house. (I probably won't win the lottery).
• If I met the Queen of England, I would say hello.
• She would travel all over the world if she were rich.
• She would pass the exam if she ever studied. (She never studies, so this won't happen).

2. We can use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible, because it's
not true. Is that clear?

Have a look at the examples:

• If I had his number, I would call him. (I don't have his number now, so it's impossible for
me to call him.)
• If I were you, I wouldn't go out with that man.

This kind of conditional sentence is different from the first conditional because this is a lot
more unlikely.

For example (second conditional):

• "If I had enough money, I would buy a house with twenty bedrooms and a swimming pool."
(I'm probably not going to have this much money, it's just a dream, not very real.)

But (first conditional):

• "If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes." (It's much more likely that I'll have
enough money to buy some shoes.)
SECOND CONDITIONAL

if + past simple, ... will + infinitive .

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.

11. She _________________ (be) happier if she _________________ (have) more friends.

12. We _________________ (buy) a house if we _________________ (decide) to stay here.

13. They _________________ (have) more money if they _________________ (not / buy) so

many clothes.

14. We _________________ (come) to dinner if we _________________ (have) time.

15. She _________________ (call) him if she _________________ (know) his number.

16. They _________________ (go) to Spain on holiday if they _______________ (like) hot

weather.
17. She _________________ (pass) the exam if she _________________ (study) more.

18. I _________________ (marry) someone famous if I _________________ (be) a movie

star.

19. We ____________________ (be) late again if we _________________ (buy) a new car.

20. You __________________ (lose) weight if you _________________ (eat) less.

1. If I were you, I would get a new job.

2. If he were younger, he would travel more.

3. If we weren't friends, I would be angry with you.

4. If I had enough money, I would buy a big house.

5. If she weren't always so late, she would be promoted.

6. If we won the lottery, we would travel the world.

7. If you had a better job, we would be able to buy a new car

8. If I spoke perfect English, I would have a good job.

9. If we lived in Mexico, I would speak Spanish.

10. If she passed the exam, she would be able to enter university.

11. She would be happier if she had more friends.

12. We would buy a house if we decided to stay here.

13. They would have more money if they didn't buy so many clothes

14. We would come to dinner if we had time.

15. She would call him if she knew his number.

16. They would go to Spain on holiday if they liked hot weather.

17. She would pass the exam if she studied more.

18. I would marry someone famous if I were a movie star.

19. We would never be late again if we bought a new car.

20. You would lose weight if you ate less.

THIRD CONDITIONAL

We make the third conditional by using the past perfect after 'if' and then 'would have' and
the past participle in the second part of the sentence:

if + past perfect, ... (S) + would + have + past participle

It talks about the past. It's used to describe a situation that didn't happen, and to imagine the
result of this situation.

Here’s some examples:

• If she had studied, she would have passed the exam (but, really we know she didn't study
and so she didn't pass).
• If I hadn't eaten so much, I wouldn't have felt sick (but I did eat a lot, so I did feel sick)
• If we had taken a taxi, we wouldn't have missed the plane.
• She wouldn't have been tired if she had gone to bed earlier.
• She would have become a teacher if she had gone to university.
• He would have been on time for the interview if he had left the house at nine.
THIRD CONDITIONALS

If + past perfect, (S) + would + have + past participle

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.

11. He ______________ (be) happier if he ______________ (stay) at home.

12. She ______________ (pass) the exam if she ______________ (study) harder.

13. We ______________ (not / get) married if we ______________ (not / go) to the same

university.

14. They ______________ (be) late if they ______________ (not / take) a taxi.

15. She ______________ (not / meet) him if she ______________ (not / come) to London.

16. He ______________ (take) a taxi if he ______________ (have) enough money.

17. I ______________ (call) you if I ______________ (not / forget) my phone.

18. We ______________ (come) if we ______________ (be) invited.

19. She ______________ (not / do) it if she ______________ (know) you were ill.

20. He ______________ (be) on time if he ______________ (leave) earlier.

1. If you hadn't been late, we wouldn't have missed the bus.

2. If she had studied, she would have passed the exam.

3. If we had arrived earlier, we would have seen John.

4. If they had gone to bed early, they wouldn't have woken up late.

5. If he had become a musician, he would have recorded a CD.

6. If she had gone to art school, she would have become a painter.

7. If I had been born in a different country, I would have learnt to speak a different

language.

8. If she had gone to university, she would have studied French.

9. If we hadn't gone to the party, we wouldn't have met them.

10. If he had taken the job, he wouldn't have gone travelling.

11. He would have been happier if he had stayed at home.

12. She would have passed the exam if she had studied harder.

13. We wouldn't have got married if we hadn't gone to the same university.

14. They would have been late if they hadn't taken a taxi.

15. She wouldn't have met him if she hadn't come to London.

16. He would have taken a taxi if he had had enough money.

17. I would have called you if I hadn't forgotten my phone.

18. We would have come if we had been invited.

19. She wouldn't have done it if she had known you were ill.

20. He would have been on time if he had left earlier

EXTRA EXERCISES

1. (First conditional) If we __________________ (not / work) harder, we

__________________ (not pass) the exam.

2. (Third conditional) If the students __________________ (not be) late for the exam, they

__________________ (pass).

3. (Third conditional) If the weather __________________ (not be) so cold, we

__________________ (go) to the beach.

4. (Second conditional) If she __________________ (have) her laptop with her, she

__________________ (email) me.

5. (First conditional) If she __________________ (not go) to the meeting, I

__________________ (not go) either.

6. (Third conditional) If the baby __________________ (sleep) better last night, I

__________________ (not be) so tired.

7. (First conditional) If the teacher __________________ (give) us lots of homework this

weekend, I __________________ (not be) happy.

8. (Second conditional) If Lucy __________________ (have) enough time, she

__________________ (travel) more.

9. (First conditional) If the children __________________ (not eat) soon, they

__________________ (be) grumpy.

10. (First conditional) If I __________________ (not go) to bed soon, I

__________________ (be) tired in the morning.

11. (Second conditional) If I __________________ (want) a new car, I

__________________ (buy) one.

12. (Second conditional) If José __________________ (not speak) good French, he

__________________ (not move) to Paris.

13. (First conditional) If John __________________ (drink) too much coffee, he

__________________ (get) ill.

14. (Third conditional) If we __________________ (tidy) our flat, we

__________________ (not lose) our keys.

15. (Third conditional) If Luke __________________ (not send) flowers to his mother, she

__________________ (not be) happy.

16. (Second conditional) If the children __________________ (be) in bed, I

__________________ (be able to) have a bath.

17. (Second conditional) If you __________________ (not be) so stubborn, we

__________________ (not have) so many arguments!

18. (Third conditional) If Julie __________________ (not go) to Sweden, she

__________________ (go) to Germany.

19. (First conditional) If she __________________ (go) to the library, she

__________________ (study) more.

20. (Third conditional) If we __________________ (not have) an argument, we

__________________ (not be) late.

21. (Second conditional) If you __________________ (arrive) early, it

__________________ (be) less stressful.

22. (Third conditional) If I __________________ (not go) to the party, I

__________________ (not meet) Amanda.

23. (Second conditional) If Julie __________________ (like) chocolate, I

__________________ (give) her some.

24. (Second conditional) If Luke __________________ (live) in the UK, I

__________________ (see) him more often.

25. (Third conditional) If the children __________________ (not eat) all that chocolate, they

__________________ (feel) sick.

26. (First conditional) If they __________________ (not / arrive) soon, we

__________________ (be) late.

27. (Third conditional) If she __________________ (study) Mandarin, she

__________________ (go) to Beijing.

28. (Second conditional) If we __________________ (not be) so tired, we

__________________ (go) out.

29. (First conditional) If you __________________ (buy) the present, I

__________________ (wrap) it up.

30. (First conditional) If Lucy __________________ (not quit) her job soon, she

__________________ (go) crazy.

1. (First conditional) If we don't work harder, we won't pass the exam.
2. (Third conditional) If the students hadn't been late for the exam, they would have passed.
3. (Third conditional) If the weather hadn't been so cold, we would have gone to the beach.
4. (Second conditional) If she had her laptop with her, she would email me.
5. (First conditional) If she doesn't go to the meeting, I won't go either.
6. (Third conditional) If the baby had slept better last night, I wouldn't have been so tired.
7. (First conditional) If the teacher gives us lots of homework this weekend, I won't be happy.
8. (Second conditional) If Lucy had enough time, she would travel more.
9. (First conditional) If the children don't eat soon, they'll be grumpy.
10. (First conditional) If I don't go to bed soon, I'll be tired in the morning.
11. (Second conditional) If I wanted a new car, I would buy one.
12. (Second conditional) If José didn't speak good French, he wouldn't move to Paris.
13. (First conditional) If John drinks too much coffee, he'll get ill.
14. (Third conditional) If we had tidied our flat, we wouldn't have lost our keys.
15. (Third conditional) If Luke hadn't sent flowers to his mother, she wouldn't have been
happy.
16. (Second conditional) If the children were in bed, I would be able to have a bath.
17. (Second conditional) If you weren't so stubborn, we wouldn't have so many arguments!
18. (Third conditional) If Julie hadn't gone to Sweden, she would have gone to Germany.
19. (First conditional) If she goes to the library, she'll study more.
20. (Third conditional) If we hadn't had an argument, we wouldn't have been late.
21. (Second conditional) If you arrived early, it would be less stressful.
22. (Third conditional) If I hadn't gone to the party, I wouldn't have met Amanda.
23. (Second conditional) If Julie liked chocolate, I would give her some.
24. (Second conditional) If Luke lived in the UK, I would see him more often.
25. (Third conditional) If the children hadn't eaten all that chocolate, they wouldn't have felt
sick.
26. (First conditional) If they don't arrive soon, we'll be late.
27. (Third conditional) If she had studied Mandarin, she would have gone to Beijing.
28. (Second conditional) If we weren't so tired, we would go out.
29. (First conditional) If you buy the present, I'll wrap it up.
30. (First conditional) If Lucy doesn't quit her job soon, she'll go crazy.
COMPLETE YOUR OWN SENTENCES

1. If it is sunny tomorrow, _____________________________________________________

2. If you sit in the sun too long, _________________________________________________

3. If I were you, _____________________________________________________________

4. If I were the Prime Minister, _________________________________________________

5. If she had studied harder, ____________________________________________________

6. If I won the lottery, ________________________________________________________

7. If I hadn't gone to bed so late, ________________________________________________

8. If I hadn't come to London, __________________________________________________

9. If you mix water and electricity, ______________________________________________

10. If she hadn't stayed at home, ________________________________________________

11. If I go out tonight,_________________________________________________________

12. If I were on holiday today, __________________________________________________

13. If I had listened to my mother, _______________________________________________

14. If I hadn't eaten so much, ___________________________________________________

15. If it rains later, ___________________________________________________________

16. If I were British, __________________________________________________________

17. If I were the opposite sex, __________________________________________________

18. If I have enough money, ____________________________________________________

19. If you don't wear a coat in the winter, _________________________________________

20. If I weren't studying English, ________________________________________________

CHECK TENSES

1. If it is sunny tomorrow, we'll go to the park.

2. If you sit in the sun too long, you get burned.

3. If I were you, I would go out tonight.

4. If I were the Prime Minister, I would make the museums free.

5. If she had studied harder, she would have passed the exam.

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

7. If I hadn't gone to bed so late, I wouldn't have been tired.

8. If I hadn't come to London, I would have gone to New York.

9. If you mix water and electricity, you get a shock.

10. If she hadn't stayed at home, she would have gone shopping.

11. If I go out tonight, I'll go to the cinema.

12. If I were on holiday today, I would go to the beach.

13. If I had listened to my mother, I wouldn't have caught a cold.

14. If I hadn't eaten so much, I wouldn't have felt sick.

15. If it rains later, I won't go out.

16. If I were British, I would speak perfect English.

17. If I were the opposite sex, I would grow a beard.

18. If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes.

19. If you don't wear a coat in the winter, you get sick.

20. If I weren't studying English, I would study French.