CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

First type: Present/Future True Conditionals 1

IF+PRESENT SIMPLE+FUTURE SIMPLE
e.g. If weather is fine we shall go on a trip.
Variations:
a) The going to future can be used instead of future simple.
e.g. If he wins the lottery, he is going to buy a new car.
b) The present continuous or the present perfect can be used in the if clause.
e.g. If Sue is coming, we wont go to the party.
If you have finished writing the report, well listen to music.
c) In the main clause you can often find a modal verb or imperative.
e.g. If my mother is at home, she can help us with our homework.
If you need a friend, call us.
d) When something is always true we use:
IF + PRESENT SIMPLE + PRESENT SIMPLE
e.g. If you break your arm, it hurts.
USE: The first conditional is used when we think the action is probable.
e.g. If she gets some flowers, she will be very delighted. (I think she will get some flowers).
Second type: IF+PAST SIMPLE + PRESENT CONDITIONAL
e.g. If he studied more, he would pass his exams.
Variations:
a) The verb in the main clause can be in the present conditional continuous.
e.g. If he had the money, he would be flying to Paris tomorrow.
b) The verb in the if clause can be in the past continuous.
e.g. If they werent working in the garden, they could watch T.V.
USE: We use the second conditional when we think the action on the if clause is improbable or
unlikely
e.g. If I had the money, Id buy expensive clothes. (I dont think Ill have the money).
Third type: IF + PAST PERFECT + PERFECT CONDITIONAL
e.g. If he had gone to London, he would have visited Buckingham Palace.
Variations:
a) In the main clause we can use a present conditional or perfect conditional continuous instead
of the perfect conditional.
e.g. If she hadnt stolen the money, she wouldnt be in prison now.
If they hadnt missed the plane, they would have been flying to Paris now.
b) In the if clause, you can use a past perfect continuous instead of the past perfect.
e.g. If she hadnt been cooking, she would have gone shopping.
USE: When the action of the if clause is impossible.
EXERCISES
I Write the correct form of the verbs in the blanks:

1. If the question (be) difficult, we can ask the teacher.

2. Lee will go to the Disneyland if he (save) enough money.
3. If I (buy) a lottery ticket, I might win the lottery.
4. My friend usually walks to school if he (have) enough time.
5. If the movie (start) at eight, we will be late!
6. We can go water-skiing if Jeffs boat (have) gas.
7. The class will have party if the students all (pass) their tests.
8. If there (be) milk in the refrigerator, Ill have milk with my cake.
9. If my sister (eat) all of the cake, I will get angry.
10. My mother always punishes my sister if she (tell) a lie.
II Negatives: (Use contractions)
1. If the world (not end) tomorrow, well have to go to work as usual.
2. If the pizza (not come now), we can eat a sandwich instead.
3. If there (not be) any milk in the refrigerator, Ill go to the supermarket.
4. If it (not snow) tomorrow, we cant go skiing.
5. My dad will paint the garage if it (not rain) on Friday.
6. If we (not go) to work, we wont get paid.
7. We cant go if we (not buy) ticket.
8. I will call you if she (not go) to the movies, and we can go out together.
9. We should go jogging if it (not be) raining outside.
10. If the phone (not ring) this afternoon, I can take a nap.
III Underline the correct verb form:
If I 1) had/would have my life to live over again, I 2) wouldnt trust/wouldnt have trusted a
round garter; I never trust a garter or a Wall Street man- that is what life has thought me. If I 3)
could have/could have had just one more chance, 4) Id wear/have wear corsets or else, 5) Id
gone/go without stockings, and 6) play/playing I was the eternal Summer girl.
Dorothy Parker-The Garter
garter =jartier
IV Practice inversion in if-clause
e.g. If Mary should ring, tell her to stay at home.
Should Mary ring, tell her to stay at home.
1. If I were you I would make a little more effort to save some money.
Were.
2.If they had known the truth, they wouldnt have been so upset.
Had.
3. If you should happen to be in town, call on us.
Should...
4. If I were you, Id take up German lessons.
Were..
5. If the tourists need further information, they can ask the receptionist.
Should...
6. If the weather is fine, we shall go swimming.
Should...
7. If someone had phoned the police earlier, the thief would have been caught.
Had
8. If you had been more careful, you wouldnt have lost your credit card.

Had...
9. If you had told me about your debt, I could have helped you.
Had
10.If you change your mind, well go together to the party.
Should..
V Practice the structural conversion:
1. If she were a successful actress, she would be often interviewed.
Were..
2. Suppose you lost an erring while walking in the park, what would you do?
If
3. If the taxi had come on time, we wouldnt miss the flight.
Had
4. Suppose your boyfriend gave you some flowers, what would tell him?
If
5. If I hadnt been for my teachers help, I wouldnt have finished the paper.
But for...
6. Since he hadnt studied much, he didnt pass the entrance examination.
If
7. Children had better take their parents advice.
Children.
8. If you dont go on a strict diet, you wont loose weight.
Unless you.
9. If they hadnt stolen the car, they wouldnt be in trouble now.
Hadnt they
10. If he hadnt been such a liar, she would marry him.
Hadnt he
VI Put the verb in brackets into the right tense:
Its the middle of January: New Years resolutions are wobbling; the weather is depressing;
and youre probably too broken to go anywhere until payday, which cannot come fast enough. If
that (1)(sound) like you, it (2)(be) the perfect time to plan for a brighter future, by setting up a
regular savings plan. The January blues (3)(chase) away if you (4)(think) of a holiday in the sun or
a new wardrobe of spring clothes.
Most peoples biggest financial regret at the end of a year is that if they (5)(save) enough,
they (6)(afford) buying new properties or spending vacation at the seaside. If people (7)(not open)
more savings accounts, less money (8)(be stashed).
The independent financial advisers network IFA Promotion has worked out that if one (9)
(cut) back the going for a drink after work two evenings a week, he (10)(can save) 260 a year. If this
sum (11)(be invested) wisely, it (12)(bring) you a nice profit.
VII Choose the right alternative:
College in the USA can be extremely costly, which explains why parents often start saving
for their childs education from the day the baby is born.
Teaching (called tuition) can be very expensive and, on top of this, if you (1)(not have) a
grant, you (2)(must pay) for the accommodation, books, transport. If you (3)(have not got) much
money, the list of expenses (4)(seem) endless! Youll also need health inerrancy. If you (5)(not be)
properly ensured, a stay in the hospital (6)(can) make a huge hole in your bank account.

The first thing youll need to pay, however, is the application fee, which the college changes
to cover the cost of processing your application. If the college (7)(accept), then they (8)(may also
ask) for an enrolment deposit to reserve a place at the college. This deposit will be non-refundable,
so, if you (9)(not turn up) for matriculations, you (10)(not get) the money back!
VIII Match the two columns:
1. We are only prepared to accept your offer
2. I should be very much obliged..
3. If there is any way in which we may help
4. If I can be of any further help,..
5. If you have any suggestion to make,.
6. Had your invitation reached me a little earlier,.
7. If this suggestion meets your approval,
8. If this magazine is of interests to you...
9. If reprints are available,
10. I should be very glad to know
a) if you could let me have fell details of
b) please do not hesitate to write to us.
c) kindly write to us at once.
d) I should have been happy to come to your country.
e) you will reduce the price.
f) I shall appreciate it immediately.
g) kindly let us know.
h) would you be so kind as to send us a few copies.
i) please send back to us the enclosed reader card.
j) if you can provide us with information about.
IX Rewrite the following sentences using unless:
1. If the students dont write their homework, they will get bad marks.
2. If we dont hurry, well miss the train.
3. If I dont take my umbrella, Ill get wet.
4. If it isnt fine tomorrow, we wont go for a ride.
5. If the employer doesnt give him a pay rise, he will resign.
6. If he hadnt got bad news, he wouldnt be so upset.
7. He wouldnt have gone to the party if they hadnt invited him.
8. She could become a famous singer if she took music lessons.
9. They wouldnt invest their money if they werent sure about the profit.
10. I wouldnt have invited you at the cinema if I had seen the film before.
X Put the verbs in the brackets into the right tense:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

If I go to London, I (see) the Houses of Parliament and the Town Bridge.

Many employees would be fired if that factory (close) down.
If the weather is fine The Browns (spend) the weekend in the mountains.
If you (not like) tennis, you will find the match boring.
If Susan (be) offered that job in a pub, she would take it.
If the bus (arrive) on time, I (meet) my friend at the bus-station.
The cat (scratch) you if you pull its tail.
If they sold their old cottage they (not get) a lot of money for it.

9. Mother gave me that pen. She (be) very upset if I lose it.
10. If there (be) enough snow tomorrow, we (make) a huge snowman.
11. If I (buy) a lottery ticket, I (could win) the lottery.
12. If Ben (give) somebody his word, he keep it.
13. If you (call) me, I (come). -supposition
14. If more mad cows (be found) many hitchers (lose) their jobs.
15. If the Stock Exchange (crash), people (lose) their money.
16. If guns (be abolished) we (feel) much safer.
17. If I (win) the lottery, I (go) on vacation to Paris.
18. If I (know) before that Athens was such a beautiful place, I (spend) two weeks there.
19. If computers had existed 500 years ago, we (have) Shakespeares file.
20. If I (not invest) all my money in shares, I (be) a poor man now.

Conditional Sentences-Key
I.
1. is
2. saves
3. bought
4. has
5. starts
6. has
7. pass
8. is
9. eats
10. tells
II
1. doesnt end
2. doesnt come
3. isnt
4. doesnt snow
5. doesnt rain
6. doesnt go
7. dont buy
8. doesnt go
9. werent
10. doesnt ring
III
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

had
wouldnt trust
could have
Id wear
Id go
play

IV
1. Were I you, I would make
2. Had they known the truth, they wouldnt have been
3. Should you be in town, call on us.
4. Were I you, Id take up
5. Should the tourists need, , they can ask
6. Should the weather be fine, we shall go
7. Had someone phoned, the thief would have been caught.
8. Had you been more careful, you wouldnt have lost.
9. Had you told me about
10. Should you change your mind,
V
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Were she she would be often interviewed

If you had lost,
Had the taxi come on time,
If he had given,
But for my teacher,
If he had studied more, he would have passed.
Children should take

8. Unless you go on a strict diet, you

9. Hadnt they stolen the car,
10. Hadnt he been
VI
1. sounds
2. will be/is
3. will be chased
4. think
5. had saved
6. would have afforded/would afford
7. hadnt opened
8. would have been stashed
9. cuts
10. can save
11. is invested
12. will bring
VII
1. dont have
2. will have to pay
3. havent got
4. will seen
5. arent
6. can
7. accepts
8. may also ask
9. dont turn up
10. wont get
VIII
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

e
a
f
b
c
d
g
i
h

IX
1. Unless they write their homework, the students will get bad marks.
2. Unless we hurry, well miss the train.
3. Unless I take my umbrella, Ill get wet.
4. Unless it is fine tomorrow, we wont go for a ride.
5. Unless the employer gives him a pay rise, he will resign.
6. Unless he had got bad news, he wouldnt be so upset.
7. Unless they invited him, he wouldnt have gone to the party.
8. Unless she took music lessons, she could become
9. Unless they were sure about the profit, they wouldnt invest
10. Unless I had seen the film before, I wouldnt have invited you at the cinema.

X
1. shall see
2. closed/had closed
3. will spend
4. dont like
5. were offered/was offered
6. arrives, will meet
7. scratches
8. wouldnt get
9. would be
10. is, will make
11. had bought, could have won
12. gives, will keep
13. called, would come
14. were found, would lose
15. crashed, would lose
16. were abolished, would feel
17. won, would go
18. had known, would have spent
19. would have had
20. hadnt invest, wouldnt be