CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

First type: Present/Future True Conditionals 1

IF+PRESENT SIMPLE+FUTURE SIMPLE

e.g. If weather is fine we shall go on a trip.

Variations:
a) The going to future can be used instead of future
simple.
e.g. If he wins the lottery, he is going to buy a new car.
b) The present continuous or the present perfect can be
used in the if clause.
e.g. If Sue is coming, we won’t go to the party.
If you have finished writing the report, we’ll listen to
music.
c) In the main clause you can often find a modal verb or
imperative.
e.g. If my mother is at home, she can help us with our
homework.
If you need a friend, call us.
d) When something is always true we use:
IF + PRESENT SIMPLE + PRESENT SIMPLE
e.g. If you break your arm, it hurts.

USE: The first conditional is used when we think the action

is probable.
e.g. If she gets some flowers, she will be very
delighted. (I think she will get some flowers).

Second type: IF+PAST SIMPLE + PRESENT

CONDITIONAL
e.g. If he studied more, he would pass his exams.
Variations:
a) The verb in the main clause can be in the present
conditional continuous.
e.g. If he had the money, he would be flying to Paris
tomorrow.
b) The verb in the if clause can be in the past continuous.
e.g. If they weren’t working in the garden, they could
watch T.V.
USE: We use the second conditional when we think the
action on the if clause is improbable or unlikely
e.g. If I had the money, I’d buy expensive clothes. (I
don’t think I’ll have the money).

Third type: IF + PAST PERFECT + PERFECT

CONDITIONAL
e.g. If he had gone to London, he would have visited
Buckingham Palace.

Variations:

a) In the main clause we can use a present conditional or

perfect conditional continuous instead of the perfect
conditional.
e.g. If she hadn’t stolen the money, she wouldn’t be in
prison now.
If they hadn’t missed the plane, they would have
been flying to Paris now.
b) In the if clause, you can use a past perfect continuous
instead of the past perfect.
e.g. If she hadn’t been cooking, she would have gone
shopping.
USE: When the action of the if clause is impossible.
 EXERCISES

I Write the correct form of the verbs in the blanks:

1. If the question (be) difficult, we can ask the teacher.

2. Lee will go to the Disneyland if he (save) enough
money.
3. If I (buy) a lottery ticket, I might win the lottery.
4. My friend usually walks to school if he (have) enough
time.
5. If the movie (start) at eight, we will be late!
6. We can go water-skiing if Jeff’s boat (have) gas.
7. The class will have party if the students all (pass) their
tests.
8. If there (be) milk in the refrigerator, I’ll have milk with
my cake.
9. If my sister (eat) all of the cake, I will get angry.
10. My mother always punishes my sister if she (tell) a lie.

II Negatives: (Use contractions)

1. If the world (not end) tomorrow, we’ll have to go to

work as usual.
2. If the pizza (not come now), we can eat a sandwich
instead.
3. If there (not be) any milk in the refrigerator, I’ll go to
the supermarket.
4. If it (not snow) tomorrow, we can’t go skiing.
5. My dad will paint the garage if it (not rain) on Friday.
6. If we (not go) to work, we won’t get paid.
7. We can’t go if we (not buy) ticket.
8. I will call you if she (not go) to the movies, and we can
go out together.
 9. We should go jogging if it (not be) raining outside.
10. If the phone (not ring) this afternoon, I can take a nap.

III Underline the correct verb form:

If I 1) had/would have my life to live over again, I 2)

wouldn’t trust/wouldn’t have trusted a round garter; I never
trust a garter or a Wall Street man- that is what life has thought
me. If I 3) could have/could have had just one more chance, 4)
I’d wear/have wear corsets or else, 5) I’d gone/go without
stockings, and 6) play/playing “I was the eternal Summer girl”.
Dorothy Parker-The Garter
garter =jartieră

IV Practice inversion in if-clause

e.g. If Mary should ring, tell her to stay at home.

Should Mary ring, tell her to stay at home.
1. If I were you I would make a little more effort to save
some money.
Were……………………………………………………….
2.If they had known the truth, they wouldn’t have been so
upset.
Had………………………………………………………….
3. If you should happen to be in town, call on us.
Should……………………………………………………...
4. If I were you, I’d take up German lessons.
Were………………………………………………………..
5. If the tourists need further information, they can ask the
receptionist.
Should……………………………………………………...
6. If the weather is fine, we shall go swimming.
Should……………………………………………………...
7. If someone had phoned the police earlier, the thief would
have been caught.
 Had…………………………………………………………
8. If you had been more careful, you wouldn’t have lost your
credit card.
Had………………………………………………………...
9. If you had told me about your debt, I could have helped you.
Had…………………………………………………………
10.If you change your mind, we’ll go together to the party.
Should……………………………………………………..

V Practice the structural conversion:

1. If she were a successful actress, she would be often

interviewed.
Were…………………………………………………..
2. Suppose you lost an erring while walking in the park,
what would you do?
If………………………………………………………
3. If the taxi had come on time, we wouldn’t miss the
flight.
Had……………………………………………………
4. Suppose your boyfriend gave you some flowers, what
would tell him?
If………………………………………………………
5. If I hadn’t been for my teacher’s help, I wouldn’t have
finished the paper.
But for………………………………………………...
6. Since he hadn’t studied much, he didn’t pass the
entrance examination.
If………………………………………………………
7. Children had better take their parents’ advice.
Children……………………………………………….
8. If you don’t go on a strict diet, you won’t loose weight.
Unless you…………………………………………….
9. If they hadn’t stolen the car, they wouldn’t be in trouble
now.
 Hadn’t they……………………………………………
10. If he hadn’t been such a liar, she would marry him.
Hadn’t he……………………………………………

VI Put the verb in brackets into the right tense:

It’s the middle of January: New Year’s resolutions are

wobbling; the weather is depressing; and you’re probably too
broken to go anywhere until payday, which cannot come fast
enough. If that (1)(sound) like you, it (2)(be) the perfect time to
plan for a brighter future, by setting up a regular savings plan.
The January blues (3)(chase) away if you (4)(think) of a
holiday in the sun or a new wardrobe of spring clothes.
Most people’s biggest financial regret at the end of a
year is that if they (5)(save) enough, they (6)(afford) buying
new properties or spending vacation at the seaside. If people
(7)(not open) more savings accounts, less money (8)(be
stashed).
The independent financial advisers network IFA
Promotion has worked out that if one (9)(cut) back the going
for a drink after work two evenings a week, he (10)(can save)
260 a year. If this sum (11)(be invested) wisely, it (12)(bring)
you a nice profit.

VII Choose the right alternative:

College in the USA can be extremely costly, which

explains why parents often start saving for their child’s
education from the day the baby is born.
Teaching (called tuition) can be very expensive and, on
top of this, if you (1)(not have) a grant, you (2)(must pay) for
the accommodation, books, transport. If you (3)(have not got)
much money, the list of expenses (4)(seem) endless! You’ll also
need health inerrancy. If you (5)(not be) properly ensured, a
stay in the hospital (6)(can) make a huge hole in your bank
account.
The first thing you’ll need to pay, however, is the
application fee, which the college changes to cover the cost of
processing your application. If the college (7)(accept), then
they (8)(may also ask) for an enrolment deposit to reserve a
place at the college. This deposit will be non-refundable, so, if
you (9)(not turn up) for matriculations, you (10)(not get) the
money back!

VIII Match the two columns:

1. We are only prepared to accept your offer…………………

2. I should be very much obliged……………………………..
3. If there is any way in which we may help…………………
4. If I can be of any further help,……………………………..
5. If you have any suggestion to make,……………………….
6. Had your invitation reached me a little earlier,…………….
7. If this suggestion meets your approval,……………………
8. If this magazine is of interests to you……………………...
9. If reprints are available,……………………………………
10. I should be very glad to know……………………………

a) if you could let me have fell details of…

b) please do not hesitate to write to us.
c) kindly write to us at once.
d) I should have been happy to come to your country.
e) you will reduce the price.
f) I shall appreciate it immediately.
g) kindly let us know.
h) would you be so kind as to send us a few copies.
i) please send back to us the enclosed reader card.
j) if you can provide us with information about.
IX Rewrite the following sentences using unless:

1. If the students don’t write their homework, they will get

bad marks.
2. If we don’t hurry, we’ll miss the train.
3. If I don’t take my umbrella, I’ll get wet.
4. If it isn’t fine tomorrow, we won’t go for a ride.
5. If the employer doesn’t give him a pay rise, he will
resign.
6. If he hadn’t got bad news, he wouldn’t be so upset.
7. He wouldn’t have gone to the party if they hadn’t
invited him.
8. She could become a famous singer if she took music
lessons.
9. They wouldn’t invest their money if they weren’t sure
about the profit.
10. I wouldn’t have invited you at the cinema if I had seen
the film before.

X Put the verbs in the brackets into the right tense:

1. If I go to London, I (see) the Houses of Parliament and

the Town Bridge.
2. Many employees would be fired if that factory (close)
down.
3. If the weather is fine The Browns (spend) the weekend
in the mountains.
4. If you (not like) tennis, you will find the match boring.
5. If Susan (be) offered that job in a pub, she would take
it.
6. If the bus (arrive) on time, I (meet) my friend at the
bus-station.
7. The cat (scratch) you if you pull its tail.
8. If they sold their old cottage they (not get) a lot of
money for it.
 9. Mother gave me that pen. She (be) very upset if I lose
it.
10. If there (be) enough snow tomorrow, we (make) a huge
snowman.
11. If I (buy) a lottery ticket, I (could win) the lottery.
12. If Ben (give) somebody his word, he keep it.
13. If you (call) me, I (come). -supposition
14. If more mad cows (be found) many hitchers (lose) their
jobs.
15. If the Stock Exchange (crash), people (lose) their
money.
16. If guns (be abolished) we (feel) much safer.
17. If I (win) the lottery, I (go) on vacation to Paris.
18. If I (know) before that Athens was such a beautiful
place, I (spend) two weeks there.
19. If computers had existed 500 years ago, we (have)
Shakespeare’s file.
20. If I (not invest) all my money in shares, I (be) a poor
man now.

Conditional Sentences-Key
I.
1. is
2. saves
3. bought
4. has
5. starts
6. has
7. pass
8. is
9. eats
10. tells

II
 1. doesn’t end
2. doesn’t come
3. isn’t
4. doesn’t snow
5. doesn’t rain
6. doesn’t go
7. don’t buy
8. doesn’t go
9. weren’t
10. doesn’t ring

III
1. had
2. wouldn’t trust
3. could have
4. I’d wear
5. I’d go
6. play

IV
1. Were I you, I would make…
2. Had they known the truth, they wouldn’t have been…
3. Should you be in town, call on us.
4. Were I you, I’d take up…
5. Should the tourists need, … , they can ask…
6. Should the weather be fine, we shall go…
7. Had someone phoned…, the thief would have been
caught.
8. Had you been more careful, you wouldn’t have lost.
9. Had you told me about…
10. Should you change your mind,…

V
1. Were she… she would be often interviewed
2. If you had lost,…
 3. Had the taxi come on time,…
4. If he had given,…
5. But for my teacher,…
6. If he had studied more, he would have passed.
7. Children should take…
8. Unless you go on a strict diet, you…
9. Hadn’t they stolen the car,…
10. Hadn’t he been…

VI
1. sounds
2. will be/is
3. will be chased
4. think
5. had saved
6. would have afforded/would afford
7. hadn’t opened
8. would have been stashed
9. cuts
10. can save
11. is invested
12. will bring

VII
1. don’t have
2. will have to pay
3. haven’t got
4. will seen
5. aren’t
6. can
7. accepts
8. may also ask
9. don’t turn up
10. won’t get
VIII
1. e
2. a
3. f
4. b
5. c
6. d
7. g
8. i
9. h

IX
1. Unless they write their homework, the students will get
bad marks.
2. Unless we hurry, we’ll miss the train.
3. Unless I take my umbrella, I’ll get wet.
4. Unless it is fine tomorrow, we won’t go for a ride.
5. Unless the employer gives him a pay rise, he will
resign.
6. Unless he had got bad news, he wouldn’t be so upset.
7. Unless they invited him, he wouldn’t have gone to the
party.
8. Unless she took music lessons, she could become…
9. Unless they were sure about the profit, they wouldn’t
invest…
10. Unless I had seen the film before, I wouldn’t have
invited you at the cinema.

X
1. shall see
2. closed/had closed
3. will spend
4. don’t like
5. were offered/was offered
6. arrives, will meet
7. scratches
8. wouldn’t get
9. would be
10. is, will make
11. had bought, could have won
12. gives, will keep
13. called, would come
14. were found, would lose
15. crashed, would lose
16. were abolished, would feel
17. won, would go
18. had known, would have spent
19. would have had
20. hadn’t invest, wouldn’t be