Conditional Board Gamepossible answers and notes
If I'd been born fifty years earlier,
I wouldn't have had the same educational opportunities
Third conditional
Reality:I was born in the 1960s and I had good educational opportunities.
I wouldn't be in this classroom now
if I hadn't met Mark.
Third conditional
Reality:I am in this classroom now becauseMark advised me to become an English teacher.
I buy flowers or chocolate
if I need to buy a present for a female colleague.
Zero conditional
I wish I had never started smoking when I was younger.
Reality: I smoked when I was younger.
If it's nice this weekend
I'll probably go to the beach.
First conditional
If the car hadn't been invented
the design of many cities would be quite different.
Mixed conditional
Reality: Cars were invented and this has affected the design of many cities.
If I had been a Pharaoh,
I would have enjoyed the experience
Third conditional
Reality: I wasn't a Pharaoh so I didn't enjoy that experience.
If someone sneezes in my country,
people say 'Bless you'.
Zero conditional
I wish I'd never bought the printer that I have at home now.
Reality: The printer I have at home is no good.
I'll watch TV tonight
if there's anything good on.
First conditional
If we turned green whenever we lied,
politicians would be permanently green.
Second conditional
Reality: We don't turn green when we tell lies so politicians are not green.
Supposing electricity had never been invented,
we'd be living in a dark and primitive world.
Mixed conditional
Reality: Electricity was invented and we are living in a technologically advanced world.
If a policeman stops you for speeding in my country,
you have to show your driving documents and you may get a fine.
Zero conditional
Note: The example on the board (If a policeman stops me for speeding…) is very odd and may be an error. It suggests that the reader is regularly stopped for speeding, which would be very unusual.
If a policeman stops you (people in general) is a far more natural beginning, giving rise to a sentence that describes a common procedure.
I always laugh if
someone says that language is logical.
Zero conditional
If Bill Gates hadn't been born,
Steve Jobs might be the only famous pioneer of PC software.
Mixed conditional
Reality: Bill Gates was born. Gates and Steve Jobs together are widely seen as the most famous pioneers of PC software.
As long as you return it,
I'll lend you my copy of Practical English Usage.
First conditional
If Elvis hadn't been born,
I wouldn't occasionally sing Love Me Tender in the shower.
Mixed conditional
Reality: Elvis was born and I occasionally sing Love Me Tender in the shower.
If I hadn't come to class,
I would be at home, probably looking at something on the Internet.
Mixed conditional
Reality: I came to class so I am not at home.
When I retire,I hope I will travel a lot more.
I wish I had timeto do all the things I want to do.
Reality: I don't have enough time to do all the things I want to do.
If I had a time machine,
I would find it hard to decide whether to visit the past or the future first.
Second conditional
Reality: I don't have a time machine so I don't have to decide.
The first thing I'm going to do after class is go to the metro station.
(This is neither a conditional nor a regret and I don't know why it is included.)
I wish I'd never eaten chocolate as a child now I am addicted to it.
Reality: I did eat chocolate as a child.
If I think I'm getting a cold, I eat more oranges.
Zero conditional
If I only had six months to live, I would travel as much as I could.
Second conditional
Reality: I don't have only six months to live.
If I'd been born the opposite sex, I probably wouldn't have travelled alone in some of the places that I have.
Third conditional
Reality: I was born male and I have travelled in places that might be difficult for a woman travelling alone.
Titanic wouldn't have sunk if it hadn't hit an iceberg.
Third conditional
Reality:Titanic sank because it hit an iceberg.
I wish I'd started learning English earlier as it's easier to learn when you are young.
Mixed conditional
Reality: I started learning English when I was older.
(If I could change my appearance) I would change my nose.
Second conditional(implied)
Reality:I can't change my appearance.
If it hadn't been for Columbus, American history would have been very different.
Third conditionalwith If it hadn't been for… [person or thing that is seen as a major cause of some event]
Reality: Columbus's discovery of America is an event of major importance in American history.
Note
Many of the third conditional examples could also have present results, allowing a mixed conditional.Many of those shown as mixed conditionals could also be completed as third conditionals showing past results.
Examples:
If I'd been born the oppose sex, I probably wouldn't have travelled so much. (Past result)
If I'd been born the opposite sex, I (probably) wouldn't be married to a woman. (Present result…for a male speaker)