CONDITIONAL SENTENCES / -IF CLAUSES

The -if clause is the condition and the other part of the sentence is the result. Here are four
examples of conditionals.

Zero conditional: if + present, present

This type of sentence describes things that are generally true.
It’s a tropical country, so if it rains hard, everyone stays indoors.

There can be an imperative structure in the result clause:

If you feel dizzy, stop taking the tablets.

First conditional: if + present simple, will/won’t

It describes future events that will happen, or are likely to happen. It is a real possibility in the
speaker’s mind, not imaginary.
If we walk so slowly, we’ll be late.

Second conditional: if + past simple, would/wouldn’t

It describes an imaginary, hypothetical, improbable situation (unlikely to happen).
If I had a helicopter, I’d fly to school.

Note: We usually use were with all persons (‘was’ is also possible, not so formal)
If I were a racing driver, I would run for Ferrari.

When we give advice to someone, we always use If I were you…

If I were you, I’d go to the police.

Third conditional: if + past perfect, would / wouldn’t have + past participle

It describes an impossible condition. It refers to things in the past.
If I had heard the weather forecast, I wouldn’t have gone out.
If I hadn’t gone out, I would have finished my homework.

Modal verbs in conditional sentences

We can use modal verbs like can, could, may, might, must and should in the result clause.
If you ever come to Porto, you must phone me. / I can show you around the city.

We often use might and could when we are not certain about the results.
If you carry too many bags, you might drop the eggs. (uncertain)
If anyone believed my story, I could become famous. (uncertain)
Conditional sentences
A. Underline the correct verb form in the sentence.
1. Our teacher will be / was angry if we‘d be / we’re late for class.
2. If we would live / lived in another planet, we‘ll see / we could see the Earth in the sky.
3. If we take / will take a taxi, we arrived / we’ll arrive sooner.
4. If we won’t hurry / don’t hurry, we’ll be / we’d be late.
5. If we were / are birds, we would be able to / are able to fly.
6. If you don’t wear / wouldn’t wear your pullover you’ll feel / you felt cold.
7. If I studied / study harder, I get / would get better marks.
8. If you will lend / lend me your bike, I’ll let / I let you borrow my skateboard.
9. If you took / had taken more exercise, you might feel / had felt better.
10. If I had known / know it was your birthday, I would send / would have sent you a card.
11. If you had come / came to see the film, you had enjoyed / would have enjoyed it.
12. If our team had scored / scored more goals, we had won / could have won.

B. Complete each sentence with a first or second conditional.

1. If I _______________ (have) arms 5 metres long, I __________________ (be able to) reach
the top of that shelf.
2. Don’t worry; you’ve just got a cold. If you ________________ (take) an aspirin, you _______
_________(feel) better.
3. Vegetarians believe that if nobody ________________ (eat) meat, everyone _____________
__________ (live) longer.
4. If I ________________ (become) a famous rock star, I ________________ (buy) my parents
an enormous house.
5. It says ‘No Parking’. If you ________________ (leave) your car here, the police __________
___________(give) you a parking fine.
6. If people ________________ (use) more bikes instead of cars, there ___________________
(not be) so much pollution.
7. It’s not far. If you ________________ (follow) this path, you ____________________ (come)
to the station.
8. Actually Brutus is a very friendly dog. If you ________________ (touch) him, he __________
___________ (not bite) you.
C. Complete the sentences for each situation.
1. Eric was with us, so we didn’t get lost.

If Eric ___________________________ with us, we ______________________________ lost.

2. Getting up late makes me feel hungry.

If ___________________________________, I_______________________________ hungry.

3. I’m afraid I don’t know, so I can’t tell you.

If I _________________________________, I __________________________________ you.

4. The weather could be bad on Saturday, in which case we’ll have to cancel the barbecue.

If the weather _________________________, we ___________________________ barbecue.

5. Charlotte didn’t leave early, so she missed the bus.

If Charlotte __________________________________, she __________________________

the bus.
6. I didn’t buy more milk so I didn’t have enough for breakfast.

If I ___________________________________, I ________________________________
enough for breakfast.
7. He’s fat because he doesn’t take any exercise.

If he _____________________________, he ____________________________________ fat.

8. We forgot to take a map, so we got lost in the mountains.

If we _______________________ to take a map, we _____________________________ in the

mountains.
9. Jimmy’s father might buy him a new bike; it depends on him passing the exam.

If Jimmy _____________________________, his father ______________________________.

10. I noticed the mistake because I checked the figures.

If I ______________________________, I _________________________________________.
11. I don’t visit you very often because you live so far away.

If you _______________________________________________________________________.
12. The accident happened because the driver stopped suddenly.

If the driver __________________________________________________________________.

13. We can’t have lunch in the garden, because it’s raining.

If it _________________________________________________________________________.
14. The cat might die. If so, Alex will be upset.

If the cat ____________________________________________________________________.