Conditionals explanations and exercises

http://esl.about.com/library/grammar/blconditionals.htm
Listed below are examples, uses and formation of Conditionals followed by two exercises.
Examples

Usage

Conditional 0

Situations that are always true if something happens.

If I am late, my father
takes me to school.

NOTE

She doesn't worry if Jack

stays out after school.
Conditional 1
If it rains, we will stay at
home.
He will arrive late unless he
hurries up.
Peter will buy a new car, if
he gets his raise.

This use is similiar to, and can usually be replaced by, a time
clause using 'when' (example: When I am late, my father
takes me to school.)
Often called the "real" conditional because it is used for real or possible - situations. These situations take place if a
certain condition is met.
NOTE
In the conditional 1 we often use unless which means 'if ...
not'. In other words, '...unless he hurries up.' could also be
written, '...if he doesn't hurry up.'.

Conditional 2
If he studied more, he
would pass the exam.

Often called the "unreal" conditional because it is used for

unreal - impossible or improbable - situations. This
conditional provides an imaginary result for a given situation.

I would lower taxes if I

were the President.

NOTE

They would buy a new

house if they had more
money.

The verb 'to be', when used in the 2nd conditional, is often
conjugated as 'were'.

Conditional 3
If he had known that, he
would have decided
differently.

Often referred to as the "past" conditional because it

concerns only past situations with hypothetical results. Used
to express a hypothetical result to a past given situation.

Jane would have found a

new job if she had stayed in
Boston.
Structure
Conditional 0 is formed by the use of the present simple in the if clause followed by a
comma + the present simple in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first
without using a comma between the clauses.
If he comes to town,
We have dinner

we have dinner
if he comes to town.

Conditional 1 is formed by the use of the present simple in the if clause followed by a
comma + will + verb (base form) in the result clause. You can also put the result clause

first without using a comma between the clauses.

If he finishes on time,
We will go to the movies

we will go to the movies.

if he finishes on time.

Conditional 2 is formed by the use of the past simple in the if clause followed by a comma
+ would + verb (base form) in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first
without using a comma between the clauses.
If they had more money,
They would buy a new house

they would buy a new house.

if they had more money.

Conditional 3 is formed by the use of the past perfect in the if clause followed by a comma
+ would have + past participle in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first
without using a comma between the clauses.
If Alice had won the competition,
Life would have changed

life would have changed.

if Alice had won the competition

Conditionals Exercise 1
Choose the correct conditional form to complete the sentences below.
1. If I ..(stay) in Boston, I would have found a new apartment.
2. She would help the poor if she .. (be) the President.
3. If he goes to Rome on a business trip, he often .. (visit) the
Vatican.
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 Enrico were me, he .. (go) to New York immediately.
7. They will talk to John if he .. (come).
8. She comes to work 30 minutes late if her child .. (miss) the
bus to school.
9. If Jack .. (think) twice, he wouldn't have made such a stupid
mistake.
10. Katherine .. (become) a VIP 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.

Key to Exercise 1
1. had stayed 2. were 3. visits 4. arrive 5. would have bought 6. would go 7. comes
8. misses 9. had thought 10. will become 11. had known 12. hurry up 13. would change
14. comes 15. would have trusted

Conditionals Exercise 2
Choose the phrase which best completes the conditional statement.
1. If he comes,
a. we will go to lunch.
b. we would go to lunch.
c. we went to lunch.
2. I would buy a new house
a. if I have a lot of money.
b. if I win the lottery.
c. if I inherited a million dollars.
3. If she misses the bus,
a. I take her to school by car.
b. I would take her to school by car.
c. she have to walk.
4. If I had known you were in town,
a. I would buy you some flowers!
b. I would have bought you some flowers.
c. I will buy you some flowers.
5. If he studied a lot,
a. he might pass the exam.
b. he can pass the exam.
c. he is going to pass the exam.
6. I would get a new job
a. if I have been you.
b. if I am you.
c. if I were you.
7. He will surely fail his exams
a. if he not work harder.
b. unless he begins to study.
c. if he weren't serious.
8. She would be living in New York now
a. if she gets the job.
b. if she had got the job.
c. if she would get the job.
9. They would have bought that new car
a. if they had had the money.
b. if they had the money.
c. if they were having the money.
10. I leave on Saturdays

a. if she will come to visit.

b. if she comes to visit.
c. if she won't come to visit.
11. If he were President,
a. he would help the poor more.
b. he will help the poor more.
c. he would have helped the poor more.
12. If they had had enough good sense,
a. they would move to Santa Monica.
b. they would have moved to Santa Monica.
c. they would had moved to Santa Monica.
13. She will go crazy
a. if you leaves her.
b. unless she leaves you.
c. if she don't leave you.
14. If this storm gets worse,
a. we will have to go inland.
b. we have to get inland.
c. we must to go inland.
15. Watch out! If you touch that cable,
a. you will get a shock.
b. you shocked.
c. you had a shock.
16. I might have had time
a. if you needed my help.
b. if you had asked me for help.
c. if you ask me for help.
17. I'm afraid I can't understand you
a. if you speak unclear.
b. unless you speak more clearly.
c. if you don't speak clear.
18. She would have gone
a. if she had been in your position.
b. if she were in your position.
c. if she was in your position.
19. You would certainly have been angry
a. if you discovered what he knew.
b. if you had discovered what he knew.
c. if you have discovered what he had known.
Key to Exercise 2
1.a 2.c 3.a 4.b 5.a 6.c 7.b 8.b 9.a 10.b 11.a 12.b 13.b 14.a 15.a 16.b 17.b 18.a 19.b