CONDITIONALS

Conditional sentences contain two clauses ; one which expresses a condition and the other
the result of the condition (if (a condition) is true, then (a consequence) happens). The
consequence can be expressed before or after the condition :

If you do well in the interview, you stand a chance of getting an offer of a place at university

Note: If the condition comes first, a comma is used

ZERO CONDITIONAL

We use the zero conditional to express things that are generally or always true (e.g.
scientific facts):

If the temperature of water drops to zero degrees, it freezes

Note: The present simple is usually used in both clauses

Note: In zero conditional sentences, WHEN and IF are often interchangeable

FIRST CONDITIONAL

We use the first conditional to express a present or future situation which we think is real
or possible:

If the weather improves, we will probably have a barbecue

The typical structure of first conditional is usually if + present simple (condition), + will +
infinitive (result), although other tenses and modals are possible.

If you have finished the exam, you can leave

If you are feeling unwell, please go and see the nurse

The following are alternatives, which can be used instead of IF in first conditional
sentences:

When, as long as, unless, as soon as, provided (that), even, though, even if, in case, on
condition that, in the event of, assuming that, given that

SECOND CONDITIONAL

We use the second conditional to express things which are imaginary/hypothetical,

contrary to the facts, impossible or improbable in the present or future:

If I had enough money, I’d buy myself a flat in the centre of town

The typical structure is if + past simple, and would + infinitive, but it is possible to use
COULD or MIGHT instead of WOULD in the result clause:

If everybody supported the climate change protest, the government might (=would) actually
pay attention.

THIRD CONDITIONAL

We use the third conditional to express things which are imaginary, contrary to the facts,
impossible or improbable in the past. The third conditional expresses the idea of re-
imagining what happened in the past:

If I had inherited that money, I’d have invested in the stock market. (in reality you didn’t
inherit that money)

The typical structure is if + past perfect simple, would+ have + past participle, but it is
possible to use the past perfect continuous in the IF clause and COULD HAVE or MIGHT
HAVE in the result clause.
If everybody had supported the climate change protest, the government might actually have
paid attention.

The following alternatives, which can be used instead of IF in second and third
conditional sentences and questions:

Imagine, supposing, assuming, even if/though

PRACTICE

1. Complete the sentences with an appropriate conditional form using the verb in
brackets.

a) The current is extremely strong today, so if you don’t stay in close proximity to the
coast, you _____________________________________ (get) carried out to sea.

b) You can dehydrate and die if you ________________________________ (not drink) water for
three or four days.

c) If you _____________________________________________ (take) a seat in the waiting room, the

dentist ________________________________ (call) you in a few minutes.

d) Even if _______________________________________ (have) loads of spare cash, I can assure

you that I ____________________________________ (not be) interested in booking one of
those low-budget package holidays. They don’t appeal to me.

e) Provided (= if) you _________________________________ (train) in a committed way, you

___________________________________ (attain) the level of fitness you aspire to.

f) Female bears don’t usually attack humans unless they

______________________________________ (have) their cubs with them.

g) If the weather hadn’t improved, our holiday ___________________________________________

(ruin)

h) It was obvious that you __________________________________ (not get) the job unless you
_________________________ (apply) for it.
2. Make the first conditional

a) If I ___________________________________ (go) out tonight, I _____________________________ (go)

to the cinema.

b) If you _______________________________ (get) back late, I _______________________________ (be)

angry.

c) If we ________________________________ (not/see) each other tomorrow, we

_____________________________ (see) each other next week.

d) If he _________________________________ (come), I __________________________ (be) surprised.

e) If we ______________________________ (wait) here, we ______________________________ (be)

late.

f) If we ______________________________ (go) on holiday this summer, we

______________________________ (go) to Spain.

g) If the weather _______________________ (not/improve), we ____________________________

(not/have) a picnic.

3. Make the second conditional

a) If I ________________________ (be) you, I ________________________________ (get) a new job.

b) If he __________________________ (be) younger, he _______________________ (travel) more.

c) If we ___________________________ (not/be) friends, I ________________________ (be) angry

with you.

d) If I _____________________________ (have) enough money, I ________________________ (buy) a

big house.

e) If she _________________________ (not/be) always so late, she _______________________ (be)

promoted.
 f) If we ___________________________ (win) the lottery, we ____________________________
(travel) the world.

g) If you ___________________________ (have) a better job, we __________________________ (be)

able to buy a new car.

4. Make the third conditional

a) If you _______________________- (not/ be) late, we ___________________________ (not/miss)

the bus.

b) If she __________________________ (study), she ________________________ (pass) the exam.

c) If we ______________________________ (arrive) earlier, we ________________________ (see)

John.

d) If they ____________________________ (go) to bed early, they _________________________

(not/wake) up late.

e) If he __________________________ (become) a musician, he __________________________

(record) a CD.

f) If she ______________________ (go) to art school, she ________________________________

(become) a painter.

g) If I ___________________________ (be) born in a different country, I

___________________________ (learn) to speak a different language.

5. Make the zero conditional

a) If I ________________________________ (wake up) late, I _________________________ (be) late for

work.

b) If my husband __________________________ (cook), he __________________________ (burn) the

food.
 c) If Julie _________________________ (not/wear) a hat, she _____________________ (get)
sunstroke.

d) If children _________________________ (not/eat) well, they __________________________

(not/be) healthy.

e) If you ___________________________ (mix) water and electricity, you __________________

(get) a shock.

f) If people ___________________________ (eat) too many sweets, they ___________________

(get) fat.

g) If you _______________________________ (smoke), you ______________________ (get) yellow

fingers.

6. Make the first, second and third conditional

a) (Third conditional) If the students ___________________________ (not/be) late for the

exam, they ______________________________ (pass)

b) (Third conditional) If the weather __________________________________ (not/be) so cold,

we _______________________________ (go) to the beach.

c) (Second conditional) If she _________________________________ (have) her laptop with

her, she ________________________________ (email) me.

d) (First conditional) If she _______________________________ (not/go) to the meeting, I

___________________________ (not/go) either.

e) (Third conditional) If the baby _____________________________ (sleep) better last night, I

___________________________________ (not/be) so tired.

f) (First conditional) If the teacher __________________________________ (give) us lots of

homework this weekend, I __________________________________ (not/be) happy.

g) (Second conditional) If Lucy ______________________________ (have) enough time, she

___________________________ (travel) more.
h) (First conditional) If the children ___________________________ (not/eat) soon, they
___________________________ (be) grumpy.

i) (First conditional) If I ____________________________ (not/go) to bed soon, I

____________________________ (be) tired in the morning.

j) (Second conditional) If I ________________________________ (want) a new car, I

____________________________________ (buy) one.