First and Second Conditionals

english-to-go.com
A Pre-Intermediate Grammar Worksheet from Anna Grammar
First Conditional
The rst conditional is if + present simple, will + innitive without to
The rst conditional is used to talk about a possible condition and a probable future result.
If I practice every day, my teacher will let me play in the concert.
(Katie thinks she can do this.)
If I practice every day, my playing will get better.
(Katie thinks this will happen.)
If is used to talk about things that may happen;
when is used for things that are certain to happen.
If I make a mistake when I practice today, Ill ask my teacher for help.
(I may or may not make a mistake.)
When I have my lesson today, Ill play my very best.
(I will have a violin lesson today and I will play my best.)

First or Second Conditional?

If I play well at the concert, then I think everyone will clap. (I think this will happen.)
If I do not make any mistakes, I will feel happy. (I think this is likely.)
We do not use the rst conditional if we think the result will not happen.
(If we are imagining something and think it will not happen, we use the second conditional.)
If I played very badly, I would feel very sad.
(I do not think this is likely because I practice a lot. I am imagining something that probably wont happen.)
In this situation we use the second conditional.

Second Conditional
The second conditional is used to talk about an unreal or unlikely condition and its result in the present or future.
The second conditional is if + past simple, would + innitive without to.
If I were outside, I would go and nd my friend, Amy.
((But I am not outside. I am inside.)
If Mom said I could stop playing, I would learn jazz ballet instead.
(But she wont let me stop.)

2009 ENGLISH TO GO LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NOT TO BE REPRODUCED OR STORED IN ANY WAY WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF ENGLISH TO GO LTD.
HTTP://WWW.ENGLISH-TO-GO.COM ENGLISH TO GO AND ANNA GRAMMAR ARE THE REGISTERED TRADE MARKS OF ENGLISH TO GO LTD. EMAIL: EDITOR@ENGLISH-TO-GO.COM

Exercise 1:
A reporter for the school newspaper interviews Katie before the concert. Fill the gaps in the conversation below.
Use the verbs in the list. Use the correct form for each verb.
take, do x2, feel x2, play, say, go
School newspaper reporter: How a.
you
, if you play well at the concert?
Katie: If I b.
well, I will feel pleased.
School newspaper reporter: And if you play badly, what c.
you
?
Katie at the concert
Katie: I wont play badly. I practice every day and I know I will play well.
School newspaper reporter: What will you do, if you d.
nervous before you play?
Katie: If I feel nervous, I e.
some deep breaths.
your parents
School newspaper reporter: What f.
to you when the concert is over?
Katie: Theyll say, Well done. And I hope theyll give me a present.
School newspaper reporter: What g.
you
when the concert is over?
Katie: When the concert is over, I h.
home of course!

Exercise 2:
Put these words into the correct order to make sentences using the rst conditional.
a. a motorbike / my test / When I pass / Ill buy ________________________________
b. Ill look / When I go shopping this afternoon / for a present for Mom ________________________________
c. my credit card to buy it / If I nd a nice present, / Ill use ________________________________
d. on her birthday / If I remember, / Ill phone her ________________________________
e. home tonight? / What will you do / when you get ________________________________
f. dinner / When I get home tonight, / Ill start cooking ________________________________
g. clean the car? / If I cook dinner / will you help me ________________________________
h. Ill clean the car / If you cook dinner / for you! ________________________________

Exercise 3:
Erin doesnt like playing the violin. She is also playing at the school concert. She knows she will not play well. Say
what would happen if she did play well. Complete these sentences using the second conditional.
a. If Erin practised every day, she...
fewer mistakes. ((make)
b. If she practised every day, she...
playing her violin. ((enjoy)
c. If Erin played well at the concert, her teacher...
very surprised. (be)
d. If Erin played well at the concert, she...
a present from her mother. (get)
e. If Erin played well, she...
jealous of Katie. (not feel)
f. If Erin ...
jealous of Katie, they would be friends. ((be not)
g. If they ...
friends, they could play in concerts together. ((be)
h. If they ...
together, they would look very cute. (practice)

ANSWER KEY
Exercise1:
a. will you feel, b. do , c. will you do, d. feel, e. will take, f. will your parents say, g. will you
do, h. will go.
Exercise 2:
a. When I pass my test, Ill buy a motorbike.
b. When I go shopping this afternoon, Ill look for a present for Mom.
c. If I nd a nice present, Ill use my credit card to buy it.
d.. If I remember, Ill phone her on her birthday.

e. What will you do when you get home tonight?

f. When I get home tonight, Ill start cooking dinner.
g. If I cook dinner, will you help me clean the car?
h. If you cook dinner, Ill clean the car for you!
Exercise 3:
a. would make, b. would enjoy, c. would be, d. would get, e. wouldn't feel, f. was/were
not, g. were friends, h. practiced

agw090724condf

2009 ENGLISH TO GO LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NOT TO BE REPRODUCED OR STORED IN ANY WAY WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF ENGLISH TO GO LTD.
HTTP://WWW.ENGLISH-TO-GO.COM ENGLISH TO GO AND ANNA GRAMMAR ARE THE REGISTERED TRADE MARKS OF ENGLISH TO GO LTD. EMAIL: EDITOR@ENGLISH-TO-GO.COM