CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
(„if” sentences)
There are 4 main types of if sentences in English, often called conditional sentences.
These sentences are in two halves (clauses):
Ø the if part (if clause)
Ø the other part where you can use words such as can, will, may, might, could and would (main clause)
ZERO CONDITIONAL is a structure used for talking about general truths -- things which always happen under certain conditions (note that most zero conditional sentences will mean the same thing if "when" is used instead of "if"). The zero conditional is used to talk about things which are always true -- scientific facts, general truths, and so on.
if clause / main clauseIf + Present Simple / Present Simple
If you heat the water to 100 degrees, / it boils.
1st CONDITIONAL is a structure used for talking about possibilities in the present or in the future. The first conditional is used to talk about things which are possible in the present or the future -- things which may happen.
if clause / main clauseIf + Present Simple / Future Simple, can, may
If you study hard, / you will pass the test.
2nd CONDITIONAL is a structure used for talking about unreal situations in the present or in the future. The second conditional is used to talk about things which are unreal (not true or not possible) in the present or the future -- things which don't or won't happen.
if clause / main clauseIf + Past Simple / would, could, might
If I had a million dollars, / I would buy a big house.
3rd CONDITIONAL is a structure used for talking about unreal situations in the past. The third conditional is used to talk about things which DID NOT HAPPEN in the past. If your native language does not have a similar construction, you may find this a little strange, but it can be very useful. It is often used to express criticism or regret.
if clause / main clauseIf + Past Perfect / would/could/might have + Past Participle
If I had studied harder, / I would have passed the exam. / I failed the exam, because I didn’t study hard enough
Conditionals
Meaning / TYPE / IF-CLAUSE / Result Clause / ExampleTrue in the present/future / Zero / Simple present / Simple present / If you add two and two, you get four.
First / Pesent tense
(present simple, present continuous, present perfect) / Will + bare infinitive / If my son gets worse tonight, I’ll take hime to hospital.
Untrue in the present/future / Second / Past Simple or Past Continuous / Would + bare infinitive / If I had a lot of money, I’d buy a big house by the sea.
Untrue in the past / Third / Past perfect simple o past perfect continuous / Would+have+V3 / If he’d arrived on time, we could have caught the plane.
Untrue in the past and its result / Mixed / Past Perfect Simple o Past Perfect Continuous / Would + bare infinitive / If I had taken a painkiller, I would be better now.
Untrue in the present and its past result / Mixed / Past Simple or past Continuous / Would+have+V3 / If she had enough money, she could have done this trip to Paris.
If the "if" clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the "if" clause comes second, there is no need for a comma –
Water boils if you heat it to 100 degrees. You will pass the test if you study hard. I would buy a big house if I had a million dollars. I would have passed the exam if I had studied harder.
Exercise 1. Make Zero Conditional sentences, use cues.
Jane / eat / too much chocolate / she /get / sick
You / not / eat / you / die
You / heat / ice / it / melts
Make 1st Conditional sentences, put the verbs in brackets in correct form.
If you ______(not study), you ______(fail) the test.
I ______(lend) you my umbrella if you ______(need) it.
If I ______(be late), I ______(call) you.
Write 2nd Conditional sentences, put the verbs in brackets in correct form.
If you ______(leave) your job, you ______(travel) around the world.
If you ______(be) nicer to him, he ______(lend) you the money
It ______(be) nice if the rain ______(stop)!
Write 3rd Conditional sentences, put the verbs in brackets in correct order.
He crashed his car, because he fell asleep while driving.
If he _____ (fall) asleep while driving, he _____ (crash) his car.
I lost my job because I was late for work.
I _____ (loose) my job if I ______(be) late for work.
We couldn't go to the concert, because we didn't have enough money.
If we ____ (have) enough money, we ____ (go) to the concert.
Exercise 2. Put the verb in brackets in correct form.
If I ______(be) you, I wouldn’t risk.
If they had waited another month, they could probably ______(get)a better price for their house.
It's quite simple really. When it's cold, water ______(freeze).
If he decides to accept that job, he ______(regret) it for the rest of his life.
If he hadn't been driving so fast, he ______(hit) the motorcyclist.
If he ______(be) more careful, he would have spotted the mistake.
If she goes on passing her exams, ____ (be) qualified to practise as a lawyer.
If I pay you twice as much, will you ______(able) to finish by Tuesday?
If only I'd invested in that company, I _____ (become) a millionaire by now.
Exercise 3. Complete the following sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
1. If Peter _____ (have) more money, he _____ (buy) a new car.
2. What ______(you do) if you ______(see) an accident?
3. Where ______(you live) if you ______(have) a choice?
4. If Caroline ____ (arrive) late for a meeting, her boss ____ (be) angry.
5. If his parents ____ (come) to visit him, John ____ (bring) them to the theatre.
6. Where _____ (you go) if you ______(can take) a week's holiday?
7. If Julie _____ (speak) better English, she ____ (find) a better job.
8. If Paul's boss _____ (invite) him to lunch, he ______(accept).
9. If I ______(lose) my wallet, I ______(report) it to the police.
10. What ______(happen) if you ______(miss) your flight?
TYPES 0, I, II:
1. If I ___ (meet) a ghost, I ___(be) frightened.
2. If I ___ (have) a noisy party in my flat, I ___ (not be) annoyed.
3. If Peter ___ (be) shipwrecked on a desert island, he ___ (be) unhappy.
4. If Jill's firm goes bankrupt, he ___ (not have) money.
5. If I ___ (be) you, I ___ (not throw) that stone to that child.
6. What ___ you ___ (do) if you had a penfriend in China?
7. If you ___ (see) a lightning in the sky, you ___ (hear) a thunder.
8. If you _____ (shout) loudly in a cave, you ___ (hear) echo.
9. I (go) to see the Big Ben, if I ___ (travel) to London.
TYPE II:
1. If I ___ (have) any money, I'd give you some.
2. If I had to go to hospital, I ___ (not go) to this one.
3. I wouldn't mind having children if we ___ (live) in the country.
4. What ___ you ___ (do) if you suddenly (win) half a million pounds?
5. I could help you if you ___ (trust) me more.
6. If I ___ (be) you, I ___ (not worry) about going to university.
7. Where ___ you ___ (like) to live if you ___ (not live) in Paris?
8. If you ___ (sell) more products, you _ (earn) more money.
9. Your parents ___ (be) a lot happier if you ___ (phone) them more often.
10. The children ___ (be) better swimmers if they ___ (go) swimming more frequently.
TYPE III:
1. If you ___ (ask) me for more tickets I ___ (buy) some for you.
2. I ___ (not come) to this school if I ___ (know) what it was like.
3. I ___ (not go out) yesterday if you ___ (ask) me not to.
4. I ___ (visit) you in hospital if I ___ (know) you were there.
5. She ___ (not marry) him if she ___ (know) what he was like.
6. If John ___ (pass) the examination, he ___ (go) to Art College in
London.
7. If they ___ (ask) me I ___ (lend) them my car.
8. I wouldn't have been so upset if July ___ (write) to me earlier.
9. We ___ (miss) the train if we ___ (be) two minutes later.
10. Unless they ___ (arrive) on time, the shop ___ (close) immediately.
Exercise 4. Complete the sentences.
1. If we don't hurry, we ___ (be) late.
2. If I see her, I ___ (give) her your message.
3. If you're hungry, I ___ (make) you a sandwich.
4. If he ___ (not come) to the party, I will be very upset
5. If she ___ (go) to Paris, she'll send me a postcard.
6. If we ___, ___ (not be) busy, we'll come with you.
7. If he does that again, dad ___ (be) very angry.
8. If he ___ (not finish) his homework, he won't go out.
9. If he ___ (come), I'll talk to him.
10. If she ___ (hurry), she won't be late.
Exercise 5. Complete the following sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
1. If John had come to the football, he (like) it.
2. I'll do it if he (ask) me.
3. I wouldn't have been so upset if Judy (write) to me earlier.
4. If we offered him more money, (he stay) here?
5. If she's gone out, we (ask) Peter to do it for us.
6. I (look after) the children if you carry the suitcases.
7. We would have missed the train if we (be) 2 minutes later.
8. It's a pity Terry wasn't at the party. He (love) it.
9. Phone the police if you (see) anything strange.
10. I'm going to scream if you (not stop) playing that guitar.
11. The children always (get) frightened if they watch horror films.
12. (you let me know) what happens if I don't get to the meeting?
13. I don't know what I'd do if John (be) in an accident.
14. There (be) trouble if they try to stop him leaving.
15. Can I take the typewriter if you (finish) with it?
16. It's a pity David isn't here. He (be) very amused.
17. Shout if you (see) anything unusual.
18. If you (look after) the car, if will never break down.
19. If you (look after) the car, it wouldn't break down so much.
20. If you (look after) the car, we'd be able to sell it now.
Exercise 6. Complete the sentences about these situations.
1. You went out for a walk without an umbrella. It rained, you got very wet and then you caught a cold.
a) If I ______(take) an umbrella with me, I ______(not get) wet.
b) If I ______(know) it was going to rain, I ______(not go) out.
c) If I ______(not go) out, I ______(not catch) a cold.
2. You went to bed late last night. This morning you woke up late. Then you missed your bus and you were late for work.
a) I ___(not wake up) late this morning if I ___(not go) to bed late last night.
b) If ______(not wake up) late, I _____(not miss) my bus.
c) If I ____(not miss) my bus, I _____(not be) late for work.
Exercise 7. Put the correct verb tense in these conditional clauses.
1. If he (not take) his gloves off, he (not get) frost bitten, the doctor said.
2. I'll look for your notebook. If I (find) it, I (give) you a ring.
3. I'm not going to give her a diamond. If I (give) her one, she (sell) it.
4. If you (see) Tom, (tell) him to come.
5. It's a pity he never patented his invention. If he (patent) it, he (make) a lot of money.
6. If he (work) all night he (finish) it, but he has no intention of that.
7. Unless Tom (take) his library book tomorrow, he (have) to pay a fine.
8. If the earth suddenly (stop) spinning, we all (fly) off it.
9. A university degree is very useful. If I (have) one I (not be) sitting in this office.
Exercise 8. Put the verb into the correct form and write which conditional it is.
1. If you ___ (pay) to much income tax, you ___ (not be) able to afford holidays abroad this year.
2. If only I ___ (have) money, I ___ (lend) you some.
3. If you ___ (not eat) healthy food, you ___ (get) sick.
4. If I ___ (get) up early in the morning, I usually ___ (go) swimming.
5. The view was wonderful. If I ___ (have) a camera, I ___ (take) some pictures.
6. If the economy ___ (be) healthy, there ___ (be) enough jobs for everyone.
7. What ___ you ___ (do), if you ___ (be) rich?
8. I had not seen you on the street yesterday! If only I ___ (see) you, I ___ (say) hello!
9. This is too expensive! If this house ___ (be) cheaper, we ___ (buy) it.
10. If I ___ (see) John, I ___ (tell) him to e-mail you.
11. Unfortunately, I am very busy. If I ___ (have) more time, I ___ (help) you with your homework.
12. If I ___ (be) Prime Minister, I ___ (reduce) taxes.
13. If I ___ (be) you, I ___ (go) to bed now. You look awful!
14. I really don’t know what I ___ (do) if I ___ (win) the lottery.
15. I wish I ___ (be) better at Maths!
16. I ___ (not leave) unless he ___ (ask) me to.
15. I ___ (go) on a blind date if I ___ (be) desperate.
Exercise 9. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tenses.
1. If I see him I (give) him a lift.