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.) -See note below-
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, youll 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 Gorzw.
 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 wouldnt 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

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

Impossible third conditional past
message.

EXERCISES
A. Choose the correct conditional form to complete the sentences below. Once you
have decided on your answer, click on the arrow to check your answer.

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

2. He would do more to help the poor if he ______________(be) the Pope.

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. Boena 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,
thats why he wont
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 its 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. thats 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. Im sorry you dont 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 didnt 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.

KEY TO THE EXERCISES

Choose the correct conditional form to complete the sentences below. Once you have
decided on your answer, click on the arrow to check your answer.

16. If I ________had stayed______(stay) in Barlinek, I would have found a new girlfriend.

17. He would do more to help the poor if he _____were_____(be) the Pope.

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

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

20. She _____could have bought___(buy) a new car if she had had the money.

21. If Yoko were me, she ______would go______(go) to Manchester immediately.

22. They will talk to Jacek if he _______comes______(come).

23. Boena comes to work 30 minutes late if her child ____miss_____(miss) the bus to
school.
 24. If Peter ______Had thought____(think) twice, he wouldn't have made such a stupid
mistake.

25. Kasia ____will became_____(become) a university lecturer if she studies hard.

26. If they ______Had known____(know) all the facts, they would have found the defendant
guilty.

27. Unless you _____hurry up_____(hurry up), we will never arrive on time.

28. If I were in charge, I ______would change______(change) the standard business

routines.

29. He takes his daughter out to dinner, if she _____will come_____(come) to town.

30. If I hadn't known better, I ______would have trusted________(trust) him.

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tenses.

1. If my brother _______eats____(eat) another cake, he _____will get____(get) sick soon,

thats why he wont
2. If I ______had asked_____(ask) you when I needed, _have would you helped____(you
help) me ?
3. John __wouldnt have got__ (not get) such poor marks if he __had worked_ (work)
harder

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

9. If the film .....hadnt been........ (not be) so boring, we wouldn't have left.
10. They will miss their connection if the flight.....doesnt leave...... (not leave) on time.
11. It would be great if people ......wont pollute.... (not pollute) the environment.
12. If the band ..........gave........... (give) a concert here, all my friends would go to it.
13. ...have would...... you .....cooked......... (cook) such a big meal if we hadn't had so
many guests?
14. If you ........will go........ (go) to London, you should visit Madame Tussaud's Wax
Museum.
15. You won't get tickets unless you .......get....... (get) to the stadium early.
16. If the police hadn't caught him, he .......would have escaped.. (escape) with the money.

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

35. If you ____will go____ (Go) away, please_____ write_____ (Write) to me.
36. If she ___had been___ (Be) in, I _would have given__ (Give) it to her. Now its too late.
37. My aunt __had been able to__(Be able to) help us if she_ would have been_____ (Be)
on time last night.
38. If my brother___ eats___ (Eat) another cake, he___ will get__ (Get) sick soon. thats
why he won't.
39. If you___ heat__ (Heat) water, it___ will boil____(Boil).
40. If we __ had gone____ (Go) to London for our holiday last year, we __would have
seen____(See) The Tower of London.
41. I___ will speak________ (Speak) to Clement at the party if he__
apologises_____(Apologise) for what he said to me.
42. If I __had known___(Know) Rob's address in New York , I__ could have visited__
(Visit) him.
43. I think Diane__ would look_(Look) much nicer if she ___had_ (Have) a new hair style.
44. She__ would have looked__ (Look) better if she ____had worn__ (Wear) a dress to go
to the concert last night.
45. John__ hadnt got__ (Not Get) such poor marks if he__ would have worked__(Work)
harder.
46. If Katy__ were____ (Be) taller, she__ could play___(Play) in the ladies volleyball team.
47. If the weather__ hadnt been__ (Not Be) so bad last week, they__ could have
gone__(Go) for a excursion.
48. If I__ were__ (Be) George I___ wont go___ (Not Go) to the concert without a ticket.
49. If Terry_ got up_ (Get up) earlier this morning, he__ could tidy__ (Tidy) the house
instead of leaving it for his mother.
50. Paul__ will pass___ (Pass) his exams easily if he_ works___(Work) harder.
51. If I__ wouldnt have__(Not Have) so much work to do, I_ _will go____ (Go) to the
cinema tonight.
52. My brother_ will live__(Live) in the U.S.A. if he__ has____ (Have) a work permit.
53. If Jim__ hadnt told_ (Not Tell) so many lies, people_ could have liked __(Like) him.
54. If Donald__ had gone__(Go) to the theatre with us, he__ wouldnt have
enjoyed_______ (Not Enjoy) that comedy we saw.
55. If Ben___ hadnt teased___(Not tease) the cat yesterday, it__ wouldnt have
scratched_ (Not scratch) him and he ___hadnt had_____(Not have) to go to the
hospital.
56. If he__ had told___ (Tell) us his father was in hospital, we__ could have gone
______(Go) to see him.
57. If I_ _were___(Be) very wealthy, I___ could buy_____(Buy) a couple of good sports
car.
58. Evince___ would share___(Share) his sweets if he_were__(Be) less selfish.
59. We__ could have gone__(Go) to see Jerry if we__ had known ____(Know) his address
when we were in America.
60. If Mary__ listen______(Listen) to CNN occasionally while she was studying English, it
__will help____ (Help).
 61. Carrie__ wont pass_____ (Not Pass) her driving test at the first attempt if she___
doesnt have ___________ (Not Have) such a good teacher.
62. Sue__ would have___ (Have) a better chance of being a model if she_ were___ (Be)
slimmer.
63. Marianne__ wouldnt have gone____ (Not Go) to the theatre with Tom last night even
if he__ had asked____ (Ask) her.
64. If we___ had arrived____ (Arrive) earlier, we__ could have saved______ (Save) his
life.
65. If they__ take___(Take) a cruise, they___ will have______(Have) a better holiday.
66. The Tylers_ would have been_____ (Be) pleased if she_ had visited __(Visit) them
when she was in Rhode Island.
67. I you___ heat____ (Heat) gold to 1063 degrees centigrades, it__ will melt __(Melt).
68. If someone__ heats____ (Heat) alcohol to 78 degrees, it__ will boil ___ (Boil)

COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES. Use your own ideas.

1. You will get into trouble if...I dont follow the advice of my parents
2. Your dress would look better if...it were more new
3. The cake would have been burnt if...I wouldnt have turned off the oven in time
Complete the sentences.
1 If I pass my exams, _I will go to college_____________________

2 If it rains tomorrow, _we wont leave home____________________

3 If we go on holiday next year, _we could go to London__________

4 If I meet my friend tomorrow, __I will go to play with him_____

Fill in the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

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

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

1. If Lisa ....win.. (win) the contest, she ....will get............ (get) a trip to Hawaii.
2. Marco is nervous about speaking to large groups. If he ...were... (be) more confident,
he ....would speak....... (speak) more effectively.
3. I didnt earn much money last summer. If I .......had earned.....( earn) more money,
I .....wouldnt have borrowed..(borrow) any from my dad.
4. If we .....dont hurry....... (not hurry), we ....will be...... (be) late for school.
5. When I got to school, the doors were locked. I ......hadnt came.......... (not come) to school
if I ....would have known........... (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