Student´s name:__________________________

Teacher: Jimena Castellión Date:________

English Department

Grammar Notes: Conditional sentences

Types I and II
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.

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 will send her an invitation.

The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, don't use a comma.

Example: I will send her an invitation if I find her address.

Note: Main clause and / or if clause might be negative. Example: If I don’t see him this afternoon, I
will phone him in the evening.

Use: Conditional Sentences Type I refer to the future. An action in the future will only happen if a certain
condition is fulfilled by that time. We don't know for sure whether the condition actually will be fulfilled or
not, but the conditions seems rather realistic – so we think it is likely to happen.

Example: If I find her address, I’ll send her an invitation. I want to send an invitation to a friend. I
just have to find her address. I am quite sure, however, that I will find it.

Example: If John has the money, he will buy a Ferrari. I know John very well and I know that he
earns a lot of money and that he loves Ferraris. So I think it is very likely that sooner or later he will
have the money to buy a Ferrari.

Exercises on Conditional Sentences Type 1

1) Some friends are planning a party. Everybody wants to party, but nobody's really keen on
preparing and organising the party. So everybody comes up with a few conditions, just to make
sure that the others will also do something. Complete the Conditional Sentences Type I, use the
verbs from the table below:
Prepare will decorate looks will let move will hover Do will be organise will make
tidies will clean cuts will peel will mix gives will buy helps will play bring

1.If Caroline and Sue _______________ the salad, Phil ____________________the house.

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 Student´s name:__________________________
Teacher: Jimena Castellión Date:________

English Department

2.If Sue __________the onions for the salad, Caroline _________________the mushrooms.

3.Jane ______________the sitting room if Aaron and Tim _________________the furniture.

4.If Bob ____________________up the kitchen, Anita ____________________ the toilet.

5.Elaine ____________________ the drinks if somebody ____________her carry the bottles.

6.If Alan and Rebecca _____________the food, Mary and Conor _________ the sandwiches.

7.If Bob ____________________ after the barbecue, Sue ________________ the guests in.

8.Frank the DJ ____________________if the others ___________________along their CDs.

9.Alan ___________ the drinks if Jane ________________ him some of her cocktail recipes.

10.If they all __________________ their best, the party ____________________ great.

2) Complete the Conditional Sentences (Type I) by putting the verbs into the correct form.

1. If you (send) this letter now, she (receive) it tomorrow.

2. If I (do) this test, I (improve) my English.

3. If I (find) your ring, I (give) it back to you.

4. Peggy (go) shopping if she (have) time in the afternoon.

5. Simon (go) to London next week if he (get) a cheap flight.

6. If her boyfriend (phone / not) today, she (leave) him.

7. If they (study / not) harder, they (pass / not) the exam.

8. If it (rain) tomorrow, I (have to / not) water the plants.

9. You (be able/ not) to sleep if you (watch) this scary film.

10. Susan (can / move / not) into the new house if it (be / not) ready on time.

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.

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 Student´s name:__________________________
Teacher: Jimena Castellión Date:________

English Department

The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, don't use a comma.

Example: I would send her an invitation if I found her address.

Note: Main clause and / or if clause might be negative. Example: If I had a lot of money, I wouldn’t
stay here.

Were instead of Was

In IF Clauses Type II, we usually use were – even if the pronoun is I, he, she or it.

Example: If I were you, I would not do this.

Use: Conditional Sentences Type II refer to situations in the present. An action could happen if the
present situation were different. I don't really expect the situation to change, however. I just
imagine “what would happen if …”

Example: If I found her address, I would send her an invitation. I would like to send an invitation to
a friend. I have looked everywhere for her address, but I cannot find it. So now I think it is rather
unlikely that I will eventually find her address.

Example: If John had the money, he would buy a Ferrari. I know John very well and I know that he
doesn't have much money, but he loves Ferraris. He would like to own a Ferrari (in his dreams).
But I think it is very unlikely that he will have the money to buy one in the near future.

Exercise on Conditional Sentences Type 2

3) Janine is a daydreamer. She imagines what would happen if she won the lottery. Complete the
Conditional Sentences Type II.

would have came hit would be would pick wanted liked would charter owned would build

would buy found were would change played would have would invite had Were would feel

1. If I ___________________ the lottery, I ___________________ a chance to hit the jackpot.

2. If I _______________________ the jackpot, I_______________________rich.
3. If I _______________________ rich, my life _______________________ completely.
4. I _______________________ a lonely island, if I _______________________ a nice one.
5. If I ____________________ a lonely island, I _____________ a huge house by the beach.
6. I _______________________all my friends if I _________________ a house by the beach.
7. I________________ my friends up in my yacht if they __________to spend their holidays on my
island.
8. We ______________ great parties if my friends _______________________ to my island.

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 Student´s name:__________________________
Teacher: Jimena Castellión Date:________

English Department

9. If we _____________to go shopping in a big city, we ___________________ a helicopter.

10. But if my friends' holidays _____________ over, I _________________ very lonely on my lonely
island.

4) Complete the Conditional Sentences (Type II) by putting the verbs into the correct form.

1. If we (have) a yacht, we (sail) the seven seas.

2. If he (have) more time, he (learn) karate.
3. If they (tell) their father, he (be) very angry.
4. She (spend) a year in the USA if it (be) easier to get a green card.
5. If I (live) on a lonely island, I (run) around naked all day.
6. We (help) you if we (know) how.
7. My brother (buy) a sports car if he (have) the money.
8. If I (feel) better, I (go) to the cinema with you.
9. If you (go) by bike more often, you (be / not) so flabby.
10. She (not / talk) to you if she (be) mad at you.

5) Decide whether the following Conditional Sentences are Type I or Type II.
1. If they go to Australia, they will go whale-watching. Type I Type II
2. If she had a mobile, I would call her. Type I Type II
3. If Bob were here, he would have a solution for our problem. Type I Type II
4. If you move here, we will see each other more often. Type I Type II
5. You'll live longer if you stop smoking. Type I Type II
6. If Sarah didn't go with John, Anna would try to become his girlfriend. Type I Type II
7. I will only dance if they play my favourite song. Type I Type II
8. I wouldn't buy that computer if I didn't need it. Type I Type II
9. If she doesn't feel better tomorrow, she will see a doctor. Type I Type II
10. I'd lend you money if I had any. Type I Type II

6) Complete the Conditional Sentences. Decide whether to use Type I or II.

1.If you __________ your homework now, we _________ to the cinema in the evening. do go

2.If we _________________ the book now, we _______________ it tomorrow. order have

3.If I _______________ more money, I ________________a bigger car. have buy

4.If I ____________ my favourite movie star, I ____________ him for an autograph. meet ask

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 Student´s name:__________________________
Teacher: Jimena Castellión Date:________

English Department

5.I _________________you if I ___________________your help. need call

6.I ________________ swimming if the weather ________________ better. be go

7.If he __________________ time tomorrow, we ____________ the day after. not have meet

8.If I ______________ you, I ___________________ what to do. be know

9.If we ________________ the tickets soon, there ______________ any tickets left. order be

10.She ___________________ that if she ____________ your friend. not say be

7) Complete the Conditional Sentences. Decide whether to use Type I or II.

1.If they go to Washington, they (see) the White House.

2.If she (have) a hamster, she would call him Fred.

3.If he gave her a sweet, she (stop) crying.

4.If he (arrive) later, he will take a taxi.

5.We would understand him if he (speak) slowly.

6.Andy (cook) dinner if we buy the food.

7.I will prepare breakfast if I (wake up) early.

8.If they shared a room, they (fight) all day long.

9.If you hate walking in the mountains, you (enjoy / not) the tour.

10.Janet would go jogging if she (have / not) to do her homework.

More on conditional sentences

So far you have only learned the basic rules for Conditional Sentences. It depends on the context,
however, which tense to use. So sometimes it's possible for example that in an IF Clause Type I
another tense than Simple Present is used, e.g. Present Progressive or Present Perfect.

Conditional Sentences Type I (likely)

Condition refers to: IF Clause Main Clause

future action Simple Present If the book is interesting, … Future I …I will buy
it.

Imperative …buy it.

Modal …you can

Auxiliary buy it.

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 Student´s name:__________________________
Teacher: Jimena Castellión Date:________

English Department

Condition refers to: IF Clause Main Clause

action going on now Present Progressive If he is snoring, … Future I …I will wake

him up.

Imperative …wake him

up.

Modal …you can

Auxiliary wake him
up.

finished action Present Perfect If he has moved into his new flat, … Future I …we will
visit him.

Imperative …visit him.

Modal …we can

Auxiliary visit him.

present facts Simple Present If he gets what he wants, … Simple …he is very
Present nice.

Exercise on Conditional Sentences with Auxiliaries

8) Complete the conditional sentences (type I). Remember to use the auxiliary verbs.

(not / can / play) (might / win) (should / turn) (must / be) (can / have)
(must / look) (can / go) (can / improve) (may / go) (should / tell)
1. If it doesn't rain, we swimming tomorrow.
2. If you train hard, you first prize.
3. If we go to Canada next year, we our English.
4. I to the disco in the evening if I do the washing-up now.
5. If we go on holiday next week, I tennis with you.
6. If you see Gareth tomorrow, you him that you love him.
7. If my parents go shopping in the afternoon, I after my little sister.

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 Student´s name:__________________________
Teacher: Jimena Castellión Date:________

English Department

8. He a good drummer if he plays in a band.

9. If you are listening to the radio after 10 pm, you the volume down.
10. If you like that shirt, you it.

9) To illustrate the use of different tenses, similar examples are used in the exercise. Complete the
Conditional Sentences Type I according to the information in brackets.
1. If it (rain /still - action going on now) , (stay - imperative) here for another while.
2. If it (stop - completed action) raining, we (go - future) .
3. If it (start - fact) raining, we always (close - fact) the windows.
4. If it (rain / should - not very likely) , please (close - imperative) the windows.
5. If it (rain - future action) , the windows (must / close - passive voice) .

10) Complete the Conditional Sentences Type I according to the information in brackets.
1.If we (visit - fact) our grandparents, we always (go - fact) to the restaurant in their street.
2.If my sister (speak - action going on now) on the phone, I (call - future) you later on.
3.You (go / can) outside if you (do - completed action) your homework.
4.If we (get - future action) the loan, our house (build - future action / passive voice) this autumn.
5.I always (ask - fact) my mother if I (know / not - fact) what to do.

Summary: Conditionals 0,1 and 2

Summary Usage

Conditional 0 Situations that are always true if something happens.

If I am late, my father takes me to school. NOTE

She doesn't worry if Jack stays out after This use is similar to, and can usually be replaced by, a time clause
school. using 'when' (example: When I am late, my father takes me to school.)

Often called the "real" conditional because it is used for real - or

Conditional 1 possible - situations. These situations take place if a certain condition is
If it rains, we will stay at home. met.

He will arrive late unless he hurries up. NOTE

Peter will buy a new car, if he gets his In the conditional 1 we often use unless which means 'if ... not'. In other
raise. words, '...unless he hurries up.' could also be written, '...if he doesn't
hurry up.'.

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 Student´s name:__________________________
Teacher: Jimena Castellión Date:________

English Department

Conditional 2
Often called the "unreal" conditional because it is used for unreal -
If he studied more, he would pass the impossible or improbable - situations. This conditional provides an
exam. imaginary result for a given situation.
I would lower taxes if I were the NOTE
President.
The verb 'to be', when used in the 2nd conditional, is always conjugated
They would buy a new house if they had as 'were'.
more money.

12) Complete the Conditional Sentences Type I.

1. If you (eat) an ice-cream, I (have) a hot chocolate.
2. If she (need) a computer, her brother (give) her his computer.
3. If we (have / not) time this afternoon, we (meet) tomorrow.
4. He (talk) to her if you (want / not) to do it.
5. You (win / not) the game if you (know / not) the rules.

13) Complete the Conditional Sentences Type I.

1. If you (wash) the dishes, I (cook) dinner tonight.
2. If my dad (have) time next week, we (paint) my room.
3. You (learn) a lot about American history if you (visit) the exhibition.
4. If the weather (be / not) too bad tomorrow, we (play) golf.
5. We (get / not) there on time if we (catch / not) the bus.

14) Complete the Conditional Sentences Type II.

1. If I (have) more time, I (learn) to play the guitar.
2. If she (study) harder, she (get) better marks.
3. If we (know) more about history, we (be / not) afraid of the test.
4. I (go) jogging with Tom and Sue if they (be) here this week.
5. It (surprise) me if she (help / not) you.

15) Complete these conditional sentences:

1.You must ________________ an English test if you ____________ to study in the USA.
2.If they _________________ older, they _______ to the concert on their own next Saturday.

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 Student´s name:__________________________
Teacher: Jimena Castellión Date:________

English Department

3.I __________________________________ more money if I ______________ a better job.

4.If I ______________ enough money, I __________________ to go to Europe this summer.
5.If he _______________________, give him my message.
6.You don’t get fit unless you ________________________________ regularly.

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