Conditional Sentences / If-Clauses Type I, II and III

Conditional Sentences are also known as Conditional Clauses or If Clauses. They are used to express that
the action in the main clause (without if) can only take place if a certain condition (in the clause with if) is
fulfilled. There are three types of Conditional Sentences.

Conditional Sentence Type 1

→ It is possible and also very likely that the condition will be fulfilled.
Form: if + Simple Present, will-Future
Example: If I find her address, I’ll send her an invitation.

Conditional Sentence Type 2

→ It is possible but very unlikely, that the condition will be fulfilled.
Form: if + Simple Past, Conditional I (= would + Infinitive)
Example: If I found her address, I would send her an invitation.

Conditional Sentence Type 3

→ It is impossible that the condition will be fulfilled because it refers to the past.
Form: if + Past Perfect, Conditional II (= would + have + Past Participle)
Example: If I had found her address, I would have sent her an invitation.

Exercise “The Cat and the Mouse” – Part 1

Complete the conditional sentences (type I, II and III)
1. Once upon a time the cat bit the mouse's tail off. “Give me back my tail,” said the mouse. And the cat
said, “Well, I (give)   you back your tail if you fetched me some milk. But that's impossible to do for a
little mouse like you.”
2. The mouse, however, went to the cow. “The cat (give / only)   me back my tail if I fetch her
some milk.”
3. And the cow said, “Well, I would give you milk if you (get)   me some hay. But that's
impossible to do for a little mouse like you.”
4. The mouse, however, went to the farmer. “The cat will only give me back my tail if the
cow (give)   me some milk. And the cow (only / give)   me milk if I get her some hay.”
5. And the farmer said, “Well, I would give you hay if you (bring)   me some meat. But that's
impossible to do for a little mouse like you.”
6. The mouse, however, went to the butcher. “The cat will only give me back my tail if the
cow (give)   me milk. And the cow will only give me milk if she (get)   some hay. And the
farmer (only / give)   me hay if I get him some meat.”
7. And the butcher said, “Well, I would give you meat if you (make)   the baker bake me a
bread. But that's impossible to do for a little mouse like you.”

Exercise “The Cat and the Mouse” – Part 2

Complete the conditional sentences (type I, II and III)

1. The mouse, however, went to the baker. “The cat (give / only)   me back my tail if I fetch her
some milk. And the cow (give / not)   me milk if I don't get her hay. And the farmer will only give me
hay if the butcher (have)   some meat for him. And the butcher will not give me meat if you (bake /
not)   him a bread.”
2. And the baker said, “Well, I (give)   you bread if you promise never to steal my corn or meal.”
3. The mouse promised not to steal, and so the baker gave the mouse bread, the mouse gave the butcher
bread. The butcher gave the mouse meat, the mouse gave the farmer meat. The farmer gave the mouse hay,
 the mouse gave the cow hay. The cow gave the mouse milk, the mouse gave the cat milk. And the cat gave
the mouse her tail back.
4. But imagine what would have happened otherwise:
5. If the mouse (promised / not)   never to steal corn or meal, the baker (not/give)   
the mouse bread.
6. If the baker (not / give)   the mouse bread, the butcher (refuse)   to give her meat
for the farmer.
7. If the butcher (refuse)   her any meat, the farmer (not / be)   willing to give the
mouse hay.
8. If the farmer (not / be)   willing to give the mouse hay, the mouse (not / receive)   
milk from the cow.
9. If the mouse (not / receive)   milk from the cow, she (not / get)   back her tail.

Type I, II or III
Complete the Conditional Sentences. Decide whether to use Type I, II or III.
1. If I had time, I   shopping with you.
2. If you   English, you will get along with them perfectly.
3. If they had gone for a walk, they   the lights off.
4. If she   to see us, we will go to the zoo.
5. I would have told you, if I   him.
6. Would you mind if I   the window?
7. If they   me, I wouldn't have said no.
8. My friend   me at the station if he gets the afternoon off.
9. If I   it, nobody would do it.
10. If my father   me up, I'll take the bus home.

Conditional Sentences Type I, II or III

Complete the Conditional Sentences with the correct form (Type I, II or III).
 If I   stronger, I'd help you carry the piano.
 If we'd seen you, we  .
 If we   him tomorrow, we'll say hello.
 He would have repaired the car himself if he   the tools.
 If you drop the vase, it  .
 If I hadn't studied, I   the exam.
 I wouldn't go to school by bus if I   a driving licence.
 If she   him every day, she'd be lovesick.
 I   to London if I don't get a cheap flight.
 We'd be stupid if we   him about our secret.