CONDITIONALS, UNREAL TIME

REFRESH YOUR KNOWLEDGE

A. Match each sentence with its translation in English.

A. Kada ne vježbaš, ne 1. If you didn’t practise, you wouldn’t make any

napreduješ. progress.
B. Ako ne vježbaš, nećeš 2. If you haven’t practised, you won’t make any
napredovati. progress.
C. Ako nisi vježbao, nećeš 3. If you don’t practise, you don’t make any
napredovati. progress.
D. Da ne vježbaš, ne bi napredovao. 4. If you hadn’t practised, you wouldn’t have made
E. Da nisi vježbao, ne bi any progress.
napredovao. 5. If you don’t practise, you won’t make any
progress.

B. Match each sentence with its description.

A. If you want to get promoted, you will do all the tasks on time. 1. Zero conditional
B. If you wanted to be promoted, you would do your best. 2. First conditional
C. You could be boss now, if you had wanted to be promoted. 3. Second conditional
D. You would have been promoted, if you had done all the tasks 4. Third conditional
on time. 5. Mixed conditional
E. If you work hard, you get promoted.

C. Match each sentence describing the real situation with the wish or unreal time.
A. You have no real friends. 1. I wish you would come.
B. No one has tried my cakes. 2. If only we hadn’t left.
C. You are not coming to the party. 3. I wish you had some.
D. You are not willing to come to my 4. It’s time we left.
party. 5. I wish you had come.
E. You didn’t come to my party. 6. I wish you would have some.
F. We left the party very early. 7. I wish you were coming.
G. We’ll have to leave very soon.

1. Put each verb in brackets into an appropriate form. Some verbs are passive or negative.

a) First or Zero Conditional?

1. If anyone _________ (want) to see me, tell them I’ll be back in ten minutes.
2. If it’s hot, we _________ (go) swimming.
3. Unless you learn to be more polite, you _________ (be allowed to) join the club.
4. If we _________ (go) to visit the grandparents, we always bring some fruit.
5. You’ll miss your plane unless you _________ (take) a taxi.
6. The package _________ (deliver) unless someone signs the receipt.
7. Flowers die unless you _________ (water) them regularly.
8. If she _________ (sign) the application yet, they won’t ask her to come for an interview.
9. If you _________ (eat) raw potatoes, you may get sick.
10. If you go to Brighton, where _________ (you, stay)?

b) First, Zero or Second Conditional? Sometimes negatives are required.

1. If it _________ (stop) raining we’ll have to cancel the tennis game.
2. If you loved her, you _________ (lie) to her.
3. If you _________ (finish), show me your notebook.
4. I _________ (lend) you any money unless you promise to pay me back before the end of
the month.
5. If I _________ (speak) Italian, I would move to Florence.
6. If I _________ (be) you, I would notify them of the changes.
7. If we meet in front of the cinema at a quarter to eight, we _________ (have) enough time
to buy the tickets.
8. She would wear her new dress if it _________ (be) so cold.
9. What _________ (you, do) if he asked you to go to China with him?
10. If I _________ (be) home on Saturday, I clean the flat.

c) Second or Third Conditional? Sometimes negatives are required.

1. The snow ____________ (clear) if I had had a shovel.
2. I would go skiing more often if we ____________ (live) closer to the ski resorts.
3. If I had a key, I ____________ (let) you inside.
4. If John ____________ (be) in town, he would invite you to this new restaurant.
5. If I ____________ (know) you were coming, I would have thrown a party.
6. If he had given her his e-mail address, she ____________ (send) him the price list.
7. If we ____________ (get) lost, we would have arrived on time.
8. Where would you live if you ____________ (have) this house?
9. If I hadn’t been so busy, I ____________ (go) skating with them.
10. The plants wouldn’t be so lush green if I _______ (add) this fertiliser into the water.

d) First, Zero, Second, Third, or Mixed Conditional? Sometimes negatives are

required.
1. I could repair it myself if I _________(have) the tools.
2. If I had known that you were a vegetarian, I ______________(make) the stew.
3. Unless we ___________(set off) early in the morning, we won’t get there before noon.
4. He always punishes his children if they ___________ (lie) to him.
5. If he went abroad, he _______________ (miss) his family.
6. If he ___________(be) with the company for six months, he must know his job.
7. Janet would have flown to Sidney last Friday if the airport _________(close).
8. If we had attended the classes, we _____________ (pass) the exam.
9. He wouldn’t smile at you if he _________ (like) you.
10. If you like figs, why _________ (we, buy) some more?
11. If you don’t understand the task, I _________ (ask) the others in the group to explain it to
you.
12. The flowers would look better if you ____________ (water) them.
13. She could have walked faster if she ______________ (have) on that long skirt.
14. My sister would have baked a cake if you __________ (tell) us you were coming.
15. If I __________ (be) rich, I would buy that yacht.
16. You wouldn’t have so much work to do today if you __________ (sort) out those files
yesterday.
17. If she __________ (come) with us, there is nothing you can do to make her change her
mind.
18. If you __________ (be) so kind to help me, we could have our lunch break together.
19. He __________ (be) so angry with himself now, if he had done some investigating before
he signed the contract.
20. If they _________ (arrive) yet, we’ll start without them.

2. Choose the correct option to complete the sentences.

1. If you want to put on weight, you ____________ more regularly.

a) should have eaten
b) should eat
c) would have eaten
d) would eat
2. We hope that we ____________the way.
a) will find
b) find
c) would find
d) found
3. We hoped that we _____________ the way when we got lost in the subway.
a) will find
b) would find
c) would have found
d) shall find
4. If she _____________ you, she would be much stricter.
a) was
b) were
c) am
d) had been
5. If she _____________ longer, tell me in advance.
a) staying
b) stayed
c) stay
d) is staying
6. If you ____________ rehearsing, I'll call the audience in.
a) will finish
b) finished
c) have finished
d) had finished
7. If we _________ in a big city, we would visit the theatre more often.
a) live
b) have lived
c) have been living
d) lived
8. If they ___________ to cheat during the exam, they would be expelled from school.
a) try
b) have tried
c) tried
d) had tried
9. If they __________ to cheat during the exam, they would have been expelled from school.
a) try
 b) have tried
c) tried
d) had tried
10. If they __________ to cheat during the exam, they will be expelled from school.
a) try
b) will try
c) tried
d) had tried
11. I wish I _________ more politely.
a) will behave
b) behave
c) had behaved
d) behaved
12. Unless you _________ an invitation you wouldn't enter the cinema.
a) have
b) has
c) had
d) had had
13. She will miss the opportunity unless she ___________ him now.
a) will call
b) calls
c) doesn’t call
d) hasn’t called
14. If you had a flat in the centre of town, you _________ with a lot of noise.
a) will have to put up
b) will put up
c) would have to put up
d) would have put up
15. If I were you, I ________ him for a favour.
a) will ask
b) can ask
c) would ask
d) would have asked

3. Put the verbs in brackets into the appropriate tense. Sometimes negatives are required.
1. I don’t think you should insist on talking to her. If I _____________ (be) you, I
_____________ (leave) her alone.
2. I had my apartment painted last week and it cost me a fortune. If I _____________ (have)
a ladder, I _____________ (do) it myself.
3. Can you check how many eggs there are in the fridge? If there _____________ (be) more
than a dozen, I _____________ (make) a cake right after lunch.
4. I am afraid I can’t help you. If you _____________ (listen) to me when I told you about
them, you _____________ (be) in trouble now.
5. Mary suffers from claustrophobia. If she _____________ (spend) a few minutes in an
elevator, she _____________ (start) gasping for air.
6. We didn’t have enough money to take a taxi. If we _____________ (take) a taxi, we
_____________ (be) there even earlier.
7. The weather forecast predicts showers for the morning. If it _____________ (rain), we
_____________ (play) beach volleyball.
8. What _____________ (you, do) if you _____________ (see) an alien?
9. Let’s move into the shade. I _____________ (stay) longer in the sun if I _____________
(have) such sensitive complexion.
10. Please stop writing in five minutes. If you _____________ (already, finish),
_____________ (put) your pencils down and _____________ (wait) for the others.
11. Why did you give him my number? If you _____________ (do) that, I _____________
(have to) meet him tomorrow.
12. I think I’ll find some time to visit her tomorrow. Provided I _____________ (see) her, I
_____________ (show) her the photographs.
13. Ray had been drinking even before he came to the party. If she _____________ (know) it,
she _____________ (let) him drive and they _____________ (have) an accident.
14. Life was different in the village when her grandfather was a child. If it _____________
(snow), he _____________ (go) to school.
15. I am glad the two of you co-operated. But tell me, _____________ (you, agree) to work
with him, if he _____________ (change) his attitude?
16. Guy is not very good at biology. ____________(be) he good at sciences
he____________(become) a doctor like his father.
17. Whoops! I’ve broken another test tube. I wish I ____________(not be) so clumsy.
18. When he asked her to go out with him she was so angry that she refused. Now, she wishes
she ____________(accept) his invitation.
19. She made you finish all the work and she didn’t pay you extra hours! Really! It’s time you
____________(change) your job.
20. Emma said she’d drop by. I hope she ____________(come).
21. I always have to tidy up after my sister. I wish she ____________(start) doing it herself.
22. She is not very clever but she talks as though she ____________(know) everything.
23. I am so proud of you. If only your father ____________(can be) here to see you now.
24. The party was so boring. I wish I ____________(stay) at home.
25. He was sitting on the bench and watching the match, but he behaves now as if he
____________(score) all the goals himself.

4. Read the text below and complete each gap with only one word.

E.g. If only you (0) would listen to me !

a)

I was typing some letters when Cindy rushed into the office. If 1 _______ she had
telephoned before she came. Carol just looked at us with a smirk and continued to stare at
the screen. I wish we 2 _______ have to share an office. She behaves 3 _________if she
owns the place.
Cindy asked me to have lunch with her but I told her she 4 _________have to wait. It’s
always the same. If I decide to leave the office early, my boss calls me after I 5 ________
left.
Anyway, I met Cindy later in the diner and she told me some terrible things about Mike.
Don’t tell me, I know what you’re thinking. She 6 _______have left him years ago. She
said he had started drinking heavily again and made some gambling debts. I’d 7 ________
she hadn’t told me. I know he’s my brother, but he never listens to me.
She asked me for some money again and I just 8 ________ say “No”. 9 _________ she
pays the phone bill tomorrow, their phone will be cut off. I 10 ________ she pays me back
some day.
 b)
I would have come earlier today if it wasn’t 1 ________ the rain. I wish I 2 ________ my
own car. It was pouring down when I left the office. Ann was so kind to give me a lift, but
I had to wait for her to send the mail. I like Ann a lot. A terrible thing happened to her the
other day. She was mugged in front of her house. She called the police immediately and
the muggers were caught. She’s so brave. I would have 3 ________ terrified if it had
happened to me.

c)
Here, have some peanuts. I’d rather you 1 ________ smoke.
Where’s Daniel? What time did he come home last night? I 2 _________ he wouldn’t stay
out so late. It’s 3 _________ time we had a proper talk about his responsibilities. I 4
__________wish he would concentrate more on his studies.
Are you listening to me? I wish you 5 _________ switch off the TV. Oh, I’m so tired. It’s
time we 6 _______ off to bed. I’ll oversleep in the morning 7 ________ I stay up any
longer. I’m going to bed now. Aren’t you going to give me a kiss?

5. Put each verb in brackets into an appropriate form. Sometimes negatives are required.

Dear Jane,
I’ve just heard that you are back from Spain. I thought you were arriving on Tuesday. If I
1 ___________(know) you were coming I 2 ________(meet) you at the airport. I wish
you 3 _____________(call) me earlier. There was a great party at Bob’s on Friday. I’m
sure Bob 4 __________ (invite) you if he 5 ___________ (know) you were in London. If
only you 6 __________(come) we 7___________ (have) a lovely time.
I must admit that I’ve been feeling rather miserable lately. Richard and I had a fight just
after the party and I haven’t seen him since then. If only he 8 _________(call) me. There
are so many things we must discuss. You know that I was offered that position in
Manchester but I never had a real opportunity to talk about it with Richard. I was afraid of
what he would say. If he 9 _________(ask) me to stay with him, I 10 _________ (refuse)
the job. On the other hand, I’ve been studying so hard and now there is an opportunity to
do what I really like. If it 11 __________(be) for your support, I 12 _________ (give) up
years ago. If I 13___________(refuse) the job I 14 __________(feel) I’ve let you down
too. I have to reply by Friday. If I 15 __________(make up) my mind by then, it 16
_________(be) too late. Tell me, what 17________(you, do) if you 18_________ (be) in
my shoes? If you 19 _________ (happen) to see Richard, could you talk to him to see
what his true feelings are? I wish I 20 _________(know) what to do.
I hope I 21 _________ (see) you soon. I am free on Wednesday and Thursday after 5
o’clock. If you 22 __________(have) time to drop by, 23 __________(leave) me a
message or 24 ___________(send) an e-mail. I can’t wait to hear about your trip to Spain.
Love
Barbara

6. Rewrite the sentences starting with the word written in bold letters.

1. I can't walk fast when I am tired.

If ________________________
2. I think you are late. Why don't you take the bus?
 If ________________________
3. I don't know whether they bought a house yesterday. They might show it to us today.
If ________________________
4. You mustn't enter this building if you don't work here.
Unless ________________________
5. When I am not saving for my holidays, I spend a lot of money on clothes.
Unless ________________________
6. You don't speak German very well, because you don't even try to learn anything.
If ________________________
7. They don't go to the cinema, so they don't know anything about new movies and actors.
If ________________________
8. I can't take that exam, because I didn't have enough time to revise.
If ________________________
9. We won't see you because we are not in Zagreb.
If ________________________
10. Jane: «Somebody has broken into my house. Do you think I should call the police?»
Jake: « If I ________________________
11. It was so cold that we turned the central heating on.
If ________________________
12. I could afford travelling around the world, because I had inherited a lot of money.
If ________________________
13. She overslept. She missed the plane. She didn't get a job.
If ________________________. If ________________________.
14. The teacher didn't catch him cheating, so he passed the exam.
If ________________________
15. Call me immediately, if you see him.
Should ________________________
16. My job is very stressful, but I earn a lot of money. That’s why I am not going to quit.
Were ________________________
17. Are you buying this book? Lend it to me when you have finished reading.
If you happen ________________________
18. Give him a chance if he gives you one, too.
Don’t ________________________
19. If we try hard, we can finish it in a week.
Provided ________________________
20. We might finish it in a week and we might win the contest.
Supposing ________________________
21. You must bid now, or you won't get that vase.
It’s time ________________________
22. I like your job very much. I would like to be in your shoes.
I wish ________________________
23. You have to go home.
It’s high time ________________________
24. I'm sorry I can't be there with you.
I wish ________________________
25. It is not polite that he is not coming with us. He never comes with us.
It’s high time ________________________
26. I'm sorry I lost your bag.
I wish ________________________
27. We don't know what to do.
 If only ________________________
28. They go on trips despite the rain.
Even if ________________________
29. If I hadn't seen this painting, I wouldn't have known what to talk about.
______________ otherwise __________
30. It's a pity she drinks.
If only ________________________

7. Translate the sentences into English.

1. Ako ideš u školu, ne ostaješ dugo vani.
____________________________________________
2. Da ideš u školu, ne bi dugo ostajao vani.
____________________________________________
3. Da si išao u školu, ne bi dugo ostao vani.
____________________________________________
4. Da sam na tvom mjestu, pozvao bih je na koncert.
____________________________________________
5. Idemo bez njih, osim ako se ne pojave u roku od 15 minuta.
____________________________________________
6. Da nisam zatvorila prozore, oluja bi ih razbila.
____________________________________________
7. Što će ona učiniti, ako on ne stigne?
____________________________________________
8. Da misliš na druge, ne bi to radio.
____________________________________________
9. Ako želiš kolač, mogu ga donijeti iz trgovine.
____________________________________________
10. Da sam samo više učio.
____________________________________________
11. Krajnje je vrijeme da se počneš ozbiljnije shvaćati svoje obveze.
____________________________________________
12. Ako si to znao, zašto to nisi napravio?
____________________________________________
13. Da sam čula da si još u Rimu, javila bih ti se.
____________________________________________
14. Željela bih imati više slobodnog vremena.
____________________________________________
15. Da ih pitaš da ti posude 1000 dolara, što bi oni rekli?
____________________________________________
16. Da smo barem ranije shvatili što se događa.
____________________________________________
17. Ako bi ona nazvala, reci joj da sam na sastanku.
____________________________________________
18. Vrijeme je da učinim nešto za sebe.
____________________________________________
19. Da nisi potrošila džeparac, sada bi si mogla kupiti sladoled.
____________________________________________
20. Ako biste htjeli pogledati stan, bit će mi drago da Vam pokažem.
____________________________________________
KEY:

REFRESH YOUR KNOWLEDGE

A. A3, B5, C2, D1, E4.
B. A2, B3, C5, D4, E1.
C. A3, B6, C7, D1, E5, F2, G4

1.
a)
1. If anyone wants …
2. …we go swimming.
3. …you won’t be allowed to join the club.
4. If we go to visit the grandparents, …
5. …unless you take a taxi.
6. The package won’t be delivered …
7. … unless you water them regularly.
8. If she hasn’t signed the application yet, …
9. If you eat raw potatoes, …
10. … where will you stay?

b)
1. If it doesn’t stop raining ....
2. ... you wouldn’t lie to her.
3. If you have finished, ...
4. I won’t lend you any money ...
5. If I spoke Italian, ...
6. If I were you ...
7. .... we’ll have enough time to buy the tickets.
8. ... if it weren’t so cold.
9. What would you do ...
10. If I am home on Saturday, ...

c)
1. The snow would have been cleared ...
2. ... if we lived closer to the ski resorts.
3. ... I would let you inside.
4. If John were in town, ...
5. If I had known you were coming, ...
6. ... she would have sent him the price list.
7. If we hadn’t got lost, ...
8. ... if you didn’t have this house?
9. ... I would have gone skating with them.
10. ... if I didn’t add this fertiliser into the water.

d)
1. … I had the tools.
2. … I wouldn’t have made the stew.
3. Unless we set off early in the morning…
4. ... if they lie to him.
5. … he would miss his family.
6. If he has been with the company for six months, ...
7. … if the airport hadn’t been closed.
8. … we would have passed the exam.
9. … if he didn’t like you.
10. ... why don’t we buy some more?
11. … I‘ll ask the others in the group to explain it to you.
12. … if you watered them.
13. … if she hadn’t had on that long skirt.
14. … if you had told us you were coming.
15. If I were rich, …
16. ... had sorted out those files yesterday.
17. If she won’t come with us, ...
18. If you would be so kind to help me, ...
19. He wouldn’t be so angry with himself now, ...
20. If they haven’t arrived yet, ...

2.
1. b 2. a 3. b 4. b 5. d 6. c 7. d 8. c 9. d 10. a 11. c 12. c 13. b
14. c 15. c

3.
14. was snowing, didn’t go
1. were, would leave 15. would you have agreed, hadn’t
2. had had, would have done changed
3. are, I’ll make 16. were, would become
4. had listened, wouldn’t be 17. weren’t
5. spends, starts 18. had accepted
6. had taken, would have been 19. changed
7. rains, won’t play 20. comes
8. would you do, saw 21. would start
9. would stay, didn’t have 22. knew
10. have already finished, put, wait 23. could be
11. hadn’t done, I wouldn’t have to 24. had stayed
12. see, I’ll show 25. had scored
13. had known, wouldn’t have let,
wouldn’t have had

4.
a)
1. only 6. should
2. didn’t 7. rather
3. as 8. couldn’t
4. would 9. Unless
5. have 10. hope
b)
1. for
2. had
3. been
c)
1. didn’t
2. wish
3. high
4. do
5. would
6. were
7. if

5.
1. had known 13. refuse/refused
2. would have met 14. will feel/would feel
3. had called 15. don’t make up my mind
4. would have invited 16. will be
5. had known 17. would you do
6. had come 18. were
7. would have had 19. happen
8. would call 20. knew
9. asked/had asked 21. ’ll see
10. would refuse/would have refused 22. have
11. had not been 23. leave
12. would have given 24. send

6. Suggested answers
1. If I'm tired, I can't walk so fast.
2. If you are late, why don't you take the bus?
3. If they had bought a house yesterday, they would show it to us today.
4. Unless you work here, you mustn't enter this building.
5. Unless I am saving for my holidays, I spend a lot of money on clothes.
6. If you tried to learn German, you would speak better.
7. If they went to the cinema, they would know something about new movies and actors.
8. If I had had enough time to revise, I would take that exam.
9. If we were in Zagreb, we would see you.
10. Jake: «If I were you, I would call the police.»
11. If it hadn't been so cold, we wouldn’t have turned the central heating on.
12. If I hadn't inherited a lot of money, I wouldn't have travelled around the world.
13. If she hadn't overslept, she wouldn't have missed the plane. If she hadn't missed the plane,
she would have got a job.
14. If the teacher had caught him cheating, he wouldn't have passed the exam.
15. Should you see him, call me immediately.
16. Were it not for the money, I would quit this stressful job.
17. If you happen to buy this book, lend it to me when you have finished reading.
18. Don't give him a chance unless he gives you one, too.
19. Provided that we try hard, we can finish it in a week.
20. Supposing we finish it in a week, we might win the contest.
21. It is time you bid for that vase.
22. I wish I had your job.
23. It is high time you went back home.
24. I wish I could be there with you.
25. It is high time he came with us.
26. I wish I hadn't lost your bag.
27. If only we knew what to do.
28. Even if it rains, they go on trips.
29. I saw this painting, otherwise I wouldn't have known what to talk about.
30. If only she didn't drink.

7. Suggested answers
1. If you go to school, you don't stay out long.
2. If you went to school, you wouldn't stay out long.
3. If you had gone to school, you wouldn't have stayed out long.
4. If I were you, I would invite her to the concert.
5. We are going without them, unless they show up in 15 minutes.
6. If I hadn't closed the windows, the storm would have broken them.
7. What will she do, if he doesn't arrive?
8. If you thought of others, you wouldn’t do that.
9. If you want / would like some cake, I can get it from the shop.
10. If only I had studied more.
11. It's high time you started taking your responsibilities more seriously.
12. If you had known that, why hadn't you done it?
13. If I had heard that you were still in Rome, I would have called you.
14. I wish I had more free time.
15. If you asked them to lend you $ 1000, what would they say?
16. If only we had realised sooner what was going on.
17. If she should call, tell her I am at the meeting.
18. It’s time I did something for myself.
19. If you hadn’t spent your pocket money, you could buy some ice cream now.
20. If you wish to look at the flat, I’ll be glad to show you around.