The Conditional Type:

1. Zero Conditional
Nature: The condition is possible (natural, physical, scientific facts)
Time: present (simple)
Structure: If + Present Simple/ Present Simple
Example: If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.
2. First Conditional
Nature: Open condition, what is said in the condition is possible.
Time: present or future time
Structure: If + Present Simple/ will + inf / present tense / imperative
Example: If he is late, we will have to go without him.
If my mother knows about this, we are in serious trouble
3. Second Conditional
Nature: unreal or improbable situation
Time: the tense is past, but we are talking about the present, now
Structure: If + Past Tense/ would + inf
Example: If I knew her name, I would tell you.
If I were you, I would tell my father.
4. Third Conditional
Nature: unreal situation (no chance)
Time: the tense is past, we are talking about what could be in the past
Structure: If + Past Perfect Tense/ would + have + (past form of verb ed or 3rd)
Example: If you had warned me, I would not have told your father about that party.(But
you didn't, and I have)

Special Situations:
If I were you. the special second conditional form which is used to describe what would I
do in somebodys place. Ex: If I were you, I would gift him a book.
Instead of if not, we use unless: He'll accept the job unless the salary is too low
If or When these two conjunctions are interchangeable when the statement of the conditional
clause is a fact or a general issue (Zero Conditional). Ex: If you heat ice, it melts (derretirse),
When you heat ice, it melts. if is used for something that, according to the speaker, might
happen: We can spend the afternoon on the beach if the weather is fine. when is used for
something that, according to the speaker, will happen: I will clean up the kitchen right
away when I'm back from work
Will/Would in if-claus we use will in if-clause when the situation or action depicted in the ifclause is a result of the main clause. Ex: He'll pay me $10 if I'll help him do the dishes. (Doing
the dishes is the result of paying ten dollars). We use would in if-clause when we request
something politely. Ex: It would be nice if you would help me in the kitchen. (Are you ready to
help me in the kitchen?)

Mixed Conditional:

PAST

PRESENT

Examples:

If I had won the lottery, I would be rich.

BUT I DIDN'T WIN THE LOTTERY IN THE PAST AND I AM NOT RICH NOW.

If I had taken French in high school, I would have more job opportunities.
BUT I DIDN'T TAKE FRENCH IN HIGH SCHOOL AND I DON'T HAVE MANY JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

If she had been born in the United States, she wouldn't need a visa to work here.
BUT SHE WASN'T BORN IN THE UNITED STATES AND SHE DOES NEED A VISA NOW TO WORK
HERE.
PAST

FUTURE

Examples:

If she had signed up for the ski trip last week, she would be joining us tomorrow.
BUT SHE DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THE SKI TRIP LAST WEEK AND SHE ISN'T GOING TO JOIN US
TOMORROW.

If Mark had gotten the job instead of Joe, he would be moving to Shanghai.
BUT MARK DIDN'T GET THE JOB AND MARK IS NOT GOING TO MOVE TO SHANGHAI.

If Darren hadn't wasted his Christmas bonus gambling in Las Vegas, he would go to
Mexico with us next month.
BUT DARREN WASTED HIS CHRISTMAS BONUS GAMBLING IN LAS VEGAS AND HE WON'T GO
TO MEXICO WITH US NEXT MONTH.

PRESENT

PAST

Examples:

If I were rich, I would have bought that Ferrari we saw yesterday.

BUT I AM NOT CURRENTLY RICH AND THAT IS WHY I DIDN'T BUY THE FERRARI YESTERDAY.

If Sam spoke Russian, he would have translated the letter for you.
BUT SAM DOESN'T SPEAK RUSSIAN AND THAT IS WHY HE DIDN'T TRANSLATE THE LETTER.

If I didn't have to work so much, I would have gone to the party last night.
BUT I HAVE TO WORK A LOT AND THAT IS WHY I DIDN'T GO TO THE PARTY LAST NIGHT.

PRESENT
Examples:

FUTURE

If I didn't have so much vacation time, I wouldn't go with you on the cruise to Alaska
next week.
BUT I DO HAVE A LOT OF VACATION TIME AND I WILL GO ON THE TRIP NEXT WEEK.

If Cindy were more creative, the company would send her to New York to work on the
new advertising campaign.
BUT CINDY IS NOT CREATIVE AND THE COMPANY WON'T SEND HER TO NEW YORK TO WORK
ON THE NEW CAMPAIGN.

If Dan weren't so nice, he wouldn't be tutoring you in math tonight.

BUT DAN IS NICE AND HE IS GOING TO TUTOR YOU TONIGHT.
FUTURE

PAST

Examples:

If I weren't going on my business trip next week, I would have accepted that new
assignment at work.
BUT I AM GOING TO GO ON A BUSINESS TRIP NEXT WEEK, AND THAT IS WHY I DIDN'T ACCEPT
THAT NEW ASSIGNMENT AT WORK.

If my parents weren't coming this weekend, I would have planned a nice trip just for
the two of us to Napa Valley.
BUT MY PARENTS ARE GOING TO COME THIS WEEKEND, AND THAT IS WHY I DIDN'T PLAN A
TRIP FOR THE TWO OF US TO NAPA VALLEY.

If Donna weren't making us a big dinner tonight, I would have suggested that we go to
that nice Italian restaurant.
BUT SHE IS GOING TO MAKE US A BIG DINNER TONIGHT, AND THAT IS WHY I DIDN'T SUGGEST
THAT WE GO TO THAT NICE ITALIAN RESTAURANT.
FUTURE

PRESENT

Examples:

If I were going to that concert tonight, I would be very excited.

BUT I AM NOT GOING TO GO TO THAT CONCERT TONIGHT AND THAT IS WHY I AM NOT
EXCITED.

If Sandy were giving a speech tomorrow, she would be very nervous.

BUT SANDY IS NOT GOING TO GIVE A SPEECH TOMORROW AND THAT IS WHY SHE IN NOT
NERVOUS.

If Seb didn't come with us to the desert, everyone would be very disappointed.
BUT SEB WILL COME WITH US TO THE DESERT AND THAT IS WHY EVERYONE IS SO HAPPY.

Questions for dialog:

Can you give your phone, I wanna call my dad?

I have an exam tomorrow and I still didnt learn anything, what should I do?
Did you tell him about the party?
Have you ever seen this movie? Its amazing
What happens if I leave ice under the sun?
Did you bring me the schedule I asked you?

A) Which type of the Conditional sentences is used?

1) If it wasn't so late, I would go shopping.
type I (condition possible to fulfil)

type II (condition in theory possible to fulfil)

type III (condition not possible to fulfil - too late)

2) What would you do if you saw a robber?

type I (condition possible to fulfil)

type II (condition in theory possible to fulfil)

type III (condition not possible to fulfil - too late)

3) If Lisa had got up earlier, she would not have been late for work.
type I (condition possible to fulfil)

type II (condition in theory possible to fulfil)

type III (condition not possible to fulfil - too late)

4) She would be very happy if her friends came.

type I (condition possible to fulfil)

type II (condition in theory possible to fulfil)

type III (condition not possible to fulfil - too late)

5) If they had driven carefully, they wouldn't have crashed into the other car.
type I (condition possible to fulfil)

type II (condition in theory possible to fulfil)

type III (condition not possible to fulfil - too late)

B) Which answers are correct?

1) Which words/phrases can be used in an if-clause type II?
had sung

has played

play

played

sang

sing

2) Which words/phrases can be used in an if-clause type III?

had played

had sung

has played

have played

have sung

sang

3) Which words/phrases can be used in an if-clause type I?

had played

play

played

plays

sang

sing

will sing

When/If:

_____ I am late to work, my boss gets very angry. That is why I am always on time.
_____ I leave work, I usually go to the fitness center to work out.
_____ he eats, he tries to choose healthy foods.
His car is very reliable, and he rarely has any trouble with it. But he has had a couple of
difficulties in the past. _if___ his car breaks down or he has any problems, he calls the auto club.
His car is terrible! It always breaks down. __when__ his car breaks down or he has any
problems, he calls the auto club.
Mary gets six weeks paid vacation a year. She loves to travel. _when___ she goes on vacation,
she always goes somewhere exotic.
Mixed Conditional:

Fill the gaps using right form of verb choosing correct type of the Mixed Conditional. Also,
explain why did you use that type.
1.a. She will take care of the children for us next weekend because her business trip was
canceled.
1.b. But, she (take, not) would not be taking care of the children for us next weekend if her
business trip (be, not) had not been canceled.
2.a. Tom is not going to come to dinner tomorrow because you insulted him yesterday.
2.b. But, he (come)

if you (insult)

him.

3.a. Marie is unhappy because she gave up her career when she got married.
3.b. But, Marie (be)

happy if she (give, not)

up her career when she got

married.
4.a. Dr. Mercer decided not to accept the research grant at Harvard because he is going to take
six months off to spend more time with his family.
4.b. But, Dr. Mercer (accept)

not)

the research grant at Harvard if he (take,

six months off to spend more time with his family.

5.a. Professor Schmitz talked so much about the Maasai tribe because she is an expert on African
tribal groups.

5.b. But, Professor Schmitz (talk, not)

(be, not)

so much about the Maasai tribe if she

an expert on African tribal groups.

6.a. I am unemployed because I had a disagreement with my boss and I was fired.
6.b. But, I (be, not)

unemployed if I (have, not)

boss and I (be, not)

fired.

a disagreement with my

7.a. Nicole speaks Chinese fluently because she lived in China for ten years.
7.b. But, Nicole (speak, not)

Chinese fluently if she (live, not)

in

China for ten years.

8.a. I will not help you study for your test because you have spent the last two weeks partying
and wasting time.
8.b. But, I (help)

you study for your test if you (spend, not)

the last two

weeks partying and wasting time.

9.a. Eleanor and Ben are not going skiing with us this year because Eleanor just had a baby.
9.b. But, Eleanor and Ben (go)

just)

skiing with us this year if Eleanor (have, not,

a baby.

10.a. I am completely exhausted, so I will not go with you to the movies tonight.
10.b. But, if I (be, not)

completely exhausted, I (go)

with you to the

movies tonight.
11.a. She is not worried about the conference tomorrow because she is not giving a speech.
11.b. But, she (be)
a speech.

worried about the conference tomorrow if she (give)

12.a. Frank is not going to the graduation ceremony because he broke his leg snowboarding last
week.
12.b. But, Frank (go)

to the graduation ceremony if he (break)

his

leg snowboarding last week.

13.a. They are not releasing the prisoner next month because there was so much public
opposition to his parole.
13.b. But, they (release)

the prisoner next month if there (be)

so

much opposition to his parole.

14.a. The hotels filled up months in advance because the festival is going to include jazz artists
from around the globe.
14.b. But, the hotels (fill)

(include)

up months in advance if the festival

jazz artists from around the globe.

15.a. We are not worried about the recent string of robberies in the neighborhood because the
police have started regularly patrolling the area.
15.b. But, we (be)

the police (start, not)

worried about the recent string of robberies in the neighborhood if

regularly patrolling the area.

HOMEWORK
Conditional, I-III Types:
You need to fill the gaps and wright a correct form of the verb. Also, you must say
which type of Conditional it is.
If they _______ (to listen) carefully, they might hear the woodpecker.
If I had lain down on the sofa, I__________ (to fall) asleep.
Susan could have worked as a model if she __________(to be) taller.
The soil ________ (not/to dry out) if you water the plants regularly.
If you ________ (to give) the young boy this stick, he'd hurt himself.
We _________ (not/to take) the wrong tram if Ronaldo had asked the policewoman.
If the cat hides in the tree, the dog ________ (not/to find) it.
The students would have solved the problem if they __________ (to use) their textbooks.
If he washed his feet more often, his girlfriend ________ (to visit) him more often.

Max _________ (to read) the newspaper if he went by train.

If we meet at 9:30, we __________ (to have) plenty of time.
Lisa would find the milk if she _________ (to look) in the fridge.
The zookeeper would have punished her with a fine if she __________ (to feed)the animals.
If you spoke louder, your classmates _________ (to understand) you.
Dan __________ (to arrive) safe if he drove slowly.
You _________ (to have) no trouble at school if you had done your homework.
If you _______ (to swim) in this lake, you'll shiver from cold.
The door will unlock if you __________ (to press) the green button.
If Mel __________ (to ask) her teacher, he'd have answered her questions.
I ________ (to call) the office if I was/were you.

Exercise 1. Type 1 and 2

If they go to Washington, they (see) ____________ the White House.
If she (have) ____________ a hamster, she would call him Fred.
If he gave her a sweet, she (stop) ____________ crying.
If he (arrive) ____________ later, he will take a taxi.
We would understand him if he (speak) ____________ slowly.
Andy (cook) ____________ dinner if we buy the food.
I will prepare breakfast if I (wake up) ____________ early.
If they shared a room, they (fight) ____________ all day long.
If you hate walking in the mountains, you (enjoy / not) ____________ the tour.
Janet would go jogging if she (have / not) ____________ to do her homework.

Exercise 2. Type 1-3

If I had time, I ____________ shopping with you.
If you ____________ English, you will get along with them perfectly.
If they had gone for a walk, they ____________ the lights off.
If she ____________ to see us, we will go to the zoo.
I would have told you, if I ____________ him.
Would you mind if I ____________ the window?
If they ____________ me, I wouldn't have said no.
My friend ____________ me at the station if he gets the afternoon off.
If I ____________ it, nobody would do it.
If my father ____________ me up, I'll take the bus home.

Please choose the correct, most natural-sounding

response to complete each of the following sentences:

1. If I ________ you, I would apologize to her right away. (to be)

was
were
have been

2. If I run into her, I ________ her that you're looking for her. (to tell)
would tell
tell
will tell

3. If you ________ that again, I will call the police. (to do)
to do
do
will do

4. He would never have asked her out on a date if she ________ him first. (to kiss)
hadn't kissed
didn't kiss
will not kiss

5. If you were her, what ________? (to do)

would you do
did you do
do you do

6. If she hadn't gone to England, she ________ Orlando Bloom. (to meet)
would not meet
did not meet
would not have met

7. If it doesn't start snowing, we ________ this evening. (to go skiing)

won't go skiing
wouldn't go skiing
don't go skiing

8. If you had saved some money earlier, you ________ broke right now. (to be)
would not have been
will not be
are not

9. If I ________ at the airport so late, I would not have missed my flight. (to arrive)
didn't arrive
hadn't arrived
would not arrive

10. If you buy one t-shirt, you ________ the second one free.
will have gotten
would get
get

Mixed Conditional:
In this exercise I want you to fill the gaps using right form of the verbs, write
down which is the time of if-clause and main-clause (Ex. Future and Present
(check your notes of Mixed Conditional)) and give me explanation of why did you
choose this time and why do you think is right. Remember, in mixed conditional
there are lots of variations and all of them could be right but it depends on what
do you want to say to me.
1) If you__________ (to dive) into this river, you __________ (to hurt) yourself.
2) If the sun__________ (to shine), the children__________ (to play) outside.
3) Richard __________ (to walk) to school if he __________ (to miss) the bus.
4) Emily __________ (to buy) the cola if you __________ (to pack) the picnic basket.
5) If I __________ (to be) in Venice, I __________ (to rent) a boat.
6) Michael's teacher__________ (to phone) his parents if he__________ (to write) text messages
during the lesson.
7) If she__________ (to answer) this question correctly, she __________ (to get) an extra point.
8) My sister __________ (to be) angry if I __________ (to turn) on the music too loud.

9) Your room __________ (to look) much tidier if you __________ (to keep) your hamster in the
cage.
10) If we __________ (to surf) the Internet, we __________ (to find) a lot of information about Loch
Ness.