CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

(„if”sentences)

There are 4 main types of if sentences in English, often called conditional sentences.
These sentences are in two halves (clauses):

the if part (if clause)

the other part where you can use words such as can, will, may, might, could and would (main
clause)

ZERO CONDITIONAL is a structure used for talking about general truths -- things which
always happen under certain conditions (note that most zero conditional sentences will mean the same
thing if "when" is used instead of "if"). The zero conditional is used to talk about things which are
always true -- scientific facts, general truths, and so on.
if clause main clause
If + Present Simple Present Simple
If you heat the water to 100 degrees, it boils.

1st CONDITIONAL is a structure used for talking about possibilities in the present or in the
future. The first conditional is used to talk about things which are possible in the present or the future --
things which may happen.
if clause main clause
If + Present Simple Future Simple, can, may
If you study hard, you will pass the test.

2nd CONDITIONAL is a structure used for talking about unreal situations in the present or in
the future. The second conditional is used to talk about things which are unreal (not true or not
possible) in the present or the future -- things which don't or won't happen.
if clause main clause
If + Past Simple would, could, might
If I had a million dollars, I would buy a big house.

3rd CONDITIONAL is a structure used for talking about unreal situations in the past. The
third conditional is used to talk about things which DID NOT HAPPEN in the past. If your native
language does not have a similar construction, you may find this a little strange, but it can be very
useful. It is often used to express criticism or regret.
if clause main clause
If + Past Perfect would/could/might have + Past
Participle
If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam. I failed the exam,
because I didn’t study
hard enough

If the "if" clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the "if" clause comes
second, there is no need for a comma –

Water boils if you heat it to 100 degrees.

You will pass the test if you study hard.
I would buy a big house if I had a million dollars.
I would have passed the exam if I had studied harder.
DGV
 EXERCISES

Make Zero Conditional sentences, use cues.

Jane / eat / too much chocolate / she /get / sick
_________________________________________________________________________________
You / not / eat / you / die
_________________________________________________________________________________
You / heat / ice / it / melts
_________________________________________________________________________________

3
Make 1st Conditional sentences, put the verbs in brackets in correct form.
If you _________________ (not study), you _____________ (fail) the test.
I _____________ (lend) you my umbrella if you _____________ (need) it.
If I ________________ (be late), I _______________ (call) you.

3
Write 2nd Conditional sentences, put the verbs in brackets in correct form.
If you _______________ (leave) your job, you ________________ (travel) around the world.
If you _____________ (be) nicer to him, he ____________________(lend) you the money
It _________________(be) nice if the rain ____________________(stop)!

3
Write 3rd Conditional sentences, put the verbs in brackets in correct order.
He crashed his car, because he fell asleep while driving.
If he __________________(fall) asleep while driving, he _____________________(crash) his car.
I lost my job because I was late for work.
I ____________________ (loose) my job if I ___________________ (be)late for work.
We couldn't go to the concert, because we didn't have enough money.
If we _________________ (have)enough money, we ____________________ (go)to the concert.
3

Put the verb in brackets in correct form.

If I __________________ (be) you, I wouldn’t risk.
If they had waited another month, they could probably ________________ (get)a better price for their
house.
It's quite simple really. When it's cold, water __________________ (freeze).
If he decides to accept that job, he __________________ (regret) it for the rest of his life.
If he hadn't been driving so fast, he ___________________ (hit) the motorcyclist.
If he __________________ (be) more careful, he would have spotted the mistake.
If she goes on passing her exams, ___________________ (be) qualified to practise as a lawyer.
If I pay you twice as much, will you _____________________ (able) to finish by Tuesday?
If only I'd invested in that company, I _____________________ (become)a millionaire by now.
9

TOTAL
21

DGV
 First Conditional

A Match the beginning of each sentence in A with its end in B.

A B
1 I will phone you ...... a if you make so much noise.
2 If you wash the dishes, ...... b we won’t be able to play basketball.
3 You will make Grandma very happy 1 c
...... if I arrive before you.
4 If it doesn’t stop raining, ...... d if you visit her today.
5 John won’t be tired ...... e if he goes to bed soon.
6 The baby won’t sleep ...... f I will dry them.

B Circle the correct words.

1 Andrew will water the garden if he 4 I will take / take an umbrella if it rains.
comes / will come home. 5 If it is / will be a nice day tomorrow, we will
2 We will buy our tickets if we will have / go for a bike ride.
have enough money. 6 He won’t cross the road unless he will see /
3 We will be late for the show unless you sees the green light.
hurry / will hurry.

C Complete the sentences with the verb in brackets. Use the First Conditional.

will give
1 If my aunt comes to visit, she .......................... (give) us a present.
2 If it doesn’t rain, we .......................... (go) to the beach.
3 If it .......................... (snow) tonight, we will make a snowman tomorrow.
4 If you don’t try, you .......................... (not succeed).
5 If you .......................... (bring) the sandwiches for the picnic, I will bring the drinks.
6 If he talks too long, his parents .......................... (not let) him use the phone.
7 He will turn on the heater if it .......................... (get) too cold.
8 You won’t understand the questions unless you .......................... (read) the book.

D Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets. Use the First Conditional.

go
1 If we ...................... will visit (visit) my friend George.
(go) to London, we ......................
2 If she ...................... (do) well in her exams, my sister ...................... (go) to university.
3 Jenny ...................... (not eat) supper if she ...................... (eat) all that ice cream.
4 My brother ...................... (drive) us to the cinema if we ...................... (ask) him.
5 Uncle Tim ...................... (phone) us if he ...................... (want) to come with us.

ESO 2 Photocopiable © B Burlington Books

 First Conditional Exercise

Put the verb into the correct first conditional form.

1. If I __________________ (go) out tonight, I __________________ (go) to the cinema.

2. If you __________________ (get) back late, I __________________ (be) angry.
3. If we __________________ (not / see) each other tomorrow, we __________________
(see) each other next week.
4. If he __________________ (come), I __________________ (be) surprised.
5. If we __________________ (wait) here, we __________________ (be) late.
6. If we __________________ (go) on holiday this summer, we __________________ (go)
to Spain.
7. If the weather __________________ (not / improve), we __________________ (not /
have) a picnic.
8. If I __________________ (not / go) to bed early, I __________________ (be) tired
tomorrow.
9. If we __________________ (eat) all this cake, we __________________ (feel) sick.
10. If you __________________ (not / want) to go out, I __________________ (cook)
dinner at home.
11. I __________________ (come) early if you __________________ (want).
12. They __________________ (go) to the party if they __________________ (be) invited.
13. She __________________ (stay) in London if she __________________ (get) a job.
14. He __________________ (not / get) a better job if he __________________ (not / pass)
that exam.
15. I __________________ (buy) a new dress if I __________________ (have) enough
money.
16. She __________________ (cook) dinner if you __________________ (go) to the
supermarket.
17. They __________________ (go) on holiday if they __________________ (have) time.
18. We __________________ (be) late if we __________________ (not / hurry).
19. She __________________ (take) a taxi if it __________________ (rain).
20. I __________________ (not / go) if you __________________ (not / come) with me.

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May be freely copied for personal or classroom use.
EXERCISE 1 : Make the zero conditional.

For example:

(not / rain / the flowers / die)

If it doesn’t rain, the flowers die.

1. (I / wake up late / I / be late for work)

__________________________________________________
2. (my husband / cook / he / burn the food)
__________________________________________________
3. (Julie / not wear a hat / she / get sunstroke)
__________________________________________________
4. (children / not eat well / they / not be healthy)
__________________________________________________
5. (you / mix water and electricity / you / get a shock)
__________________________________________________

For example:

he / get a headache / he / use the computer too much

He gets a headache if he uses the computer too much.

6. (I / feel good the next day / I / go to bed early)

__________________________________________________
7. (lots of people / come / Jenny / have a party)
__________________________________________________
8. (she / buy expensive clothes / she / go shopping)
__________________________________________________
9. (my daughter / pass her exams / she / work hard)
__________________________________________________
10. (David / be sick / he / drink milk)
__________________________________________________

English Supplementary worksheet: P. 4: Page 3|5

Exercise 2: Make the zero conditionals.
1. If I ____________ (wake up) late, I____________ (be) late for work.
2. If my husband____________ (cook), he___________ (burn) the food.
3. If Julie____________(not/wear) a hat, she_________ (get) sunstroke.
4. If children__________(not/eat) well, they_________ (not/be) healthy.
5. If you __________ (mix) water and electricity, you _______ (get) a shock.
6. If people____________ (eat) too many sweets, they__________ (get) fat.
7. If you____________ (smoke), you____________ (get) yellow fingers.
8. If children________ (play) outside, they__________ (not/get) overweight.
9. If you____________ (heat) ice, it____________ (melt).
10. If I____________ (speak) to John, he____________ (get) annoyed.
11. I __________ (feel) good the next day if I____________ (go) to bed early.
12. Lots of people__________ (come) if Jenny____________ (have) a party.
13. She__________ (buy) expensive clothes if she__________ (go) shopping.
14. My daughter _________ (pass) her exams if she__________ (work) hard.
15. David ____________ (be) sick if he____________ (drink) milk.
16. The river____________ (freeze) if it____________ (be) very cold.
17. I _________ (like) to visit the museums if I _________ (be) in a new city.
18. I ____________ (cycle) to work if the weather ____________ (be) fine.
19. My flatmate_______ (clean) really well if she_________ (clean) the house.
20. Everybody____________ (be) grumpy if it____________ (rain) a lot.

Exercise 3: Choose the correct sentence for zero conditionals.

1. If you eat fast food, ___________________________________.

a) you will gain weight.

b) you gains weight.
c) you gain weight.
d) you gained weight.

2. If you study hard, _____________________________________.

a) you get good grades.

b) you got good grades.
c) you getting good grades.
d) you will get good grades.

3. When she works early, ___________________________________.

a) she woke up early.

b) she will wake up early.
c) she wake up early.
d) she wakes up early.

English Supplementary worksheet: P. 4: Page 4|5

 Second Conditional Exercise

Put the verb into the correct tense to make the second conditional.

1. If I _________________ (be) you, I _________________ (get) a new job.

2. If he _________________ (be) younger, he _________________ (travel) more.
3. If we _________________ (not / be) friends, I _________________ (be) angry with
you.
4. If I _________________ (have) enough money, I _________________ (buy) a big
house.
5. If she _________________ (not / be) always so late, she _________________ (be)
promoted.
6. If we _________________ (win) the lottery, we _________________ (travel) the
world.
7. If you _________________ (have) a better job, we _________________ (be) able to
buy a new car
8. If I _________________ (speak) perfect English, I _________________ (have) a
good job.
9. If we _________________ (live) in Mexico, I _________________ (speak) Spanish.
10. If she _________________ (pass) the exam, she _________________ (be) able to
enter university.
11. She _________________ (be) happier if she _________________ (have) more
friends.
12. We _________________ (buy) a house if we _________________ (decide) to stay
here.
13. They _________________ (have) more money if they _________________ (not /
buy) so many clothes
14. We _________________ (come) to dinner if we _________________ (have) time.
15. She _________________ (call) him if she _________________ (know) his number.
16. They _________________ (go) to Spain on holiday if they _______________ (like)
hot weather.
17. She _________________ (pass) the exam if she _________________ (study) more.
18. I _________________ (marry) someone famous if I _________________ (be) a
movie star.

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May be freely copied for personal or classroom use.
 B1 IF-Clauses IF009

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb given.

1. If he had been able to afford it, he _____________________ her a diamond ring. (BUY)

2. If it rains this afternoon, we _____________________ out. (NOT GO)

3. If she _____________________ the exam, she won't get the job she has applied for. (NOT
PASS)

4. If she posted the letter now, they _____________________ it by Tuesday. (RECEIVE)

5. If I _____________________ about the dinner I would have come earlier. (KNOW)

6. My boss _____________________ angry if John comes to work late again. (BE)

7. If my girlfriend left me, I _____________________ miserable. (FEEL)

8. I _____________________ that if I were you. (NOT SAY)

9. If I had lost my way I _______________________ to the nearest police station. (GO)

10. If I _____________________ a spider in my bathroom I would cry out loud. (SEE)

11. The teacher will be very angry if you _____________________ in your homework on time.
(NOT HAND)

12. If you _____________________ to learn a lot, you would have taken this course. (WANT)

13. If you _____________________ quickly you will catch the bus. (RUN)

14. I would be very proud if she _____________________ my sister. (BE)

15. I _____________________ to your party if I had had time. (COME)

16. If you _____________________ the flowers, they won't survive. (NOT WATER)

17. The beach would be an ideal place for a picnic if it _____________________ so crowded.
(NOT BE)

18. If she _____________________ the book carefully, she would have understood it. (READ)

19. Be careful! If you touch this wire you _____________________ a shock. (GET)

20. She could win the race if she _____________________. (TRY)

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Date________________

Exercise 9
Future Tense
Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in future progressive tense.

Note: The future progressive tense (also called future continuous tense) describes actions
which will be ongoing in the future. It can be formed using either “will be” + present participle
(the -ing form of the verb ) or “am/is/are” + “going to be” + present participle. Usually, in the
future progressive tense, these two methods are interchangeable. Remember, that is not true in
the simple future tense.

Example: Sarah (run) will be running a marathon Saturday.

Example: Sarah (run) is going to be running a marathon Saturday.

1) Professor Baker (teach) _______ _____ ________ American history next semester.
2) I (clean) _____ _______ _____ _____ ________ the house while you are doing the
laundry.
3) The forecast says that it (rain) ______ _____ ________ all night.
4) Grandma (smile) _______ _____ ________ when she answers the door.
5) On Tuesday, the girls (take) _______ ________ _____ _____ ________ a taxi to the
airport.
6) The plumber (connect) ______ _____ _________ the water pipes to the
house tomorrow.
7) Brian (supervise) _______ _____ _________ the construction crew for a few
days.
8) The Fergusons (fishing) _______ _____ _______ while they are on vacation.
9) Stella (play) _____ _______ _____ _____ _________ the solo for the concerto.
10) Julia and Rick (look) _____ _______ _____ _____ _______ for a new house while
they are in Portland.
11) In order to earn a badge, the scouts (learn) _______ _____ _________ to tie knots
this Thursday.
12) The pastry chef (bake)______ _______ _____ _____ _______ turnovers early
tomorrow morning.