English Conditionals. English grammar with exercises. English ESL Worksheets. Free eBook and Free printable PDF
English Conditionals
English Conditionals
English Conditionals
Conditionals describe the result of a certain condition. The if clause tells you the condition (If you study hard) and the main clause tells you the result (you will pass your exams). The order of the clauses does not change the meaning.
If you study hard, you will pass your exams.
You’ll pass the exam, if you study hard.
There are four main kinds of conditionals:
The Zero Conditional:
(if/when + present simple, … present simple)
We use the zero conditional to talk about things that are generally true, especially for laws and rules.
If I drink too much coffee, I can’t sleep at night.
If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.
When the sun goes down, it gets dark.
The First Conditional:
(if/When + present simple, … will + infinitive)
We use the first conditional when we talk about future situations we believe are real or possible.
If it doesn’t rain tomorrow, we’ll go to the beach
If it rains tomorrow, we’ll go to the cinema.
When I finish work, I’ll call you.
The Second Conditional:
(if + past simple, … would + infinitive)
The second conditional is used to imagine present or future situations that are unlikely in reality, like some dream or something in the present which is impossible, because it’s not true.
If I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world.
I wouldn’t worry if I were you. (it’s not true)
If I met the Queen of England, I would say hello
When if is followed by the verb be, it is grammatically correct to say if I were, if he were, if she were and if it were. However, it is also common to hear these structures with was, especially in the he/she form.
If I were you, I wouldn’t mention it.
If she was prime minister, she would invest more money in schools.
He would travel more if he was younger.
The Third Conditional
(if + past perfect, … would + have + past participle)
The third conditional is used to imagine past situations that didn’t happen to imagine the result of this situation.
If I had gone to bed early, I would have caught the train.
If we had taken a taxi, we wouldn’t have missed the plane
She would have become a teacher if she had gone to university
English Conditionals: exercises
FIRST CONDITIONAL
EXERCISE 1.
Complete the sentences using the verbs in brackets.
e.g. If he has a pay rise, he will buy a new car.
If I _______ (win) the lottery, I __________ (go) on holiday.
If the flight _______ (be) late, the pilot __________ (tell) us.
If you _________ (not fasten) your seat belt, you ________ (get) a fine.
If I ________ (go) to the swimming pool, I _________ (swim) all afternoon.
If you _______ (work) in that new company, you ________ (have) good career opportunities.
If you ________ (pass) the English exam, you ________ (get) a better job.
If you _________ (want to) become a doctor, you ______ (have to) study hard.
He ____________ (meet) my best friend, if he ________ (come) to the party tonight.
If we__________ (not hurry), we ___________ (be) late!
She _________(look) fabulous tonight, if she __________(wear) that elegant dress.
They ___________(have to) work really hard, if they __________ (want to) finish the report on time!
If Simon __________(not ask) Julia to marry him soon, I think she _______ (leave) him.
If they _________(not decide) quickly, they_________ (miss) the opportunity of buying that house so cheaply.
Richard ___________ (stay) in Rome for six months, if he ________ (win) the Erasmus scholarship.
EXERCISE 2.
Re-write the sentences using the prompts.
e.g. You/promise to do it/I/help you
If you promise to do it, I’ll help you.
You/put/your hand on the fire/it/burn.
You/turn on the light/she/not/sleep.
It/not/rain/the air pollution/increase.
You/not study/you/not pass/ the exam.
You/look in the mirror/you find/some white hair.
There/not be ink/ the printer/not print.
I/give her/everything/she ask me.
The school/expands/the number of students/increase.
You/smoke too many cigarettes/you/get ill.
It/rain/I/ stay at home.
He/drink/too much coffee/he/not/sleep.
She/call you/tell her to leave a message.
John/get a sun tan/he lie/on the beach all day?
We/arrive/on time/we wait/for the others?
Samantha/fail the exam/she/not/study?
SECOND CONDITIONAL
EXERCISE 1.
Complete the following sentences.
e.g. If I had enough money, I would buy a new car
If I ( to have )…………………more money, I (to buy) …………………..a bigger flat
If they ( to find ) ………….a better job, they (to leave ) ………………their parents’ home
If I ( to know ) ……………………their number, I (to phone ) ……………………them
If we ( to have ) …………………..the choice we ( to live) ………………………in the USA
What (to happen )…………………………… if I pressed that button ?
If she ( to stop )…………….. shouting I (to be able to) …………………study
What (you/ to do )…………………………….if you ( to go ) ……………………to New York?
What would you do if you……………………(to be) in my position?
If it ( not to be )…………………raining, we …………………(to go) to the seaside
It’s always my fault. If I ( to be ) ……………more careful I …………. have less problems
EXERCISE 2.
Complete the sentences by using your own ideas
e.g. I would travel more if I could speak English
We would go out if………………………………………
If you told me the truth ………………………………………
She would always be late if………………………………………
I’d be surprised if…………………………………………………
If there was no telephone ……………………………………
3RD CONDITIONAL
EXERCISE 1.
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs in brackets
e.g. I’m sure they would have bought that cottage if it hadn’t been so expensive
What ____________ if he _____________ you? (you/do-not pay)
I ____________ if the coach ___________. (leave-stop)
Mary ____________ him her moped if he ___________ her more politely. (lend-ask)
If she ___________ smoking, she ____________ much better. (give up-feel)
My parents __________ you to dinner if they __________ your phone number. (invite-have)
If I _________work early, I __________ my girlfriend out. (finish-take)
It ____________ if she ___________ to lock the door. (not happen-not forget)
If Brenda ____________, she ____________her driving test. (study-not fail)
If there __________ fog at Malpensa airport, the plane to New York __________. (be-not take off)
He ___________ his project if he _____________ his time. (carry on-not waste)
The Robinsons ___________ to another town if Mr Robinson _________an interesting job. (not move-not find)
She ___________ a barbecue party in the garden if it ___________. (organise-not rain)
I ____________ him a present if I _____________ the date of his birthday. (send-know)
If there _________ a taxi, we ___________ the tube. (not be-take)
If I __________ enough time, I __________ a yoga course. (have-follow)
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