Understanding Conditionals

The Type 1 conditional structure is used to talk about real and possible
situations in the present or future. It expresses a cause-and-effect
relationship where the condition is likely to happen or is happening,
and the result will also likely happen. This type of conditional is often
used to talk about future possibilities based on current conditions.
Structure required:
If/When + Present Indefinite (Condition) + Future Indefinite (Result)
Examples:
1. If she invites me, I will go.
2. If it rains, we will cancel the match.
3. If I get a promotion, I will buy a car.
4. If she is late, we will go without her.
5. If you ask more politely, I will buy you a drink.
6. If you don’t behave, I will throw you out.
7. If he wins the first prize, his mother will be happy.
7. If he wins the first prize, his mother will be happy.

If/When + Present Indefinite (Condition) + S+ can/may +V1+O (Result)

1. If he finishes his work on time, he too can join us in the party tonight.

Keep in mind that the condition (expressed in the If/when clause) is always presented in the Present Indefinite
Tense, while the outcome, effect, or result is conveyed in the Future Indefinite Tense.

Exercises
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.

Type 2
The type 2 conditional structure is used to talk about unreal or unlikely situations in the present or future. It is often
formed using the following pattern:

If + past simple, would + base form of the verb.

For example:
• If I had more time, I would travel to more countries.
• If she studied harder, she would get better grades.
• If it rained tomorrow, we would stay indoors.

In these examples, the condition presented in the "if" clause is unlikely or not true in the present or future. The use of
"would" in the main clause indicates the result or action that would happen if the condition were true.
It's important to note that in type 2 conditionals, the verb in the "if" clause is in the past simple tense, while the verb in the
main clause is in the conditional (would + base form) tense. This structure is commonly used in English to express
hypothetical or imaginary situations.
Structure required:
If/When + simple past (Condition) + S + would/could/might +V1+O
(Result)
Examples
1. If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house.(I probably won't win the lottery)
2. If I met the Queen of England, I would say hello.
3. She would travel all over the world if she were rich.
4. She would pass the exam if she ever studied.(She never studies, so this won't happen)
5. If I understood what the teacher said, I could tell you. ( but I don’t understand )

There is another way of expressing a type 2 conditional, and it follows a similar pattern of presenting an unreal or unlikely
situation in the present or future. The key elements include:

Structure: If/When + Subject + were + imaginary person or thing + Subject + would/could/might + V1 + Object (Result)

If/When clause: This sets up the condition. It can use either "if" or "when" to introduce the condition.
Subject: This is the imaginary person or thing that is involved in the condition.
Main clause: This includes the subject, followed by "would," "could," or "might," and then the base form of the verb. It
expresses the result or action that would occur if the condition in the "if/when" clause were true.
Here's an example:
• If I were a bird, I would fly to faraway places.
In this sentence:
If clause: If I were a bird (imaginary situation, as I am not actually a bird).
Main clause: I would fly to faraway places (the result or action that would happen if the imaginary condition were true).

This type of structure is commonly used for hypothetical or unreal situations.

Examples
• If I were a bird, I would fly in the sky of love and freedom.
• If I were you, I would directly propose her.
• If I were you, I would want to be a doctor. ( but I am not you)
• If she weren’t ill, she would go to the school. ( but she is ill )
• If I were a chairman, I would offer new and different ideas. ( but I am not chairman)
Exercises
Put the verb into the correct second conditional form:
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.
19. We never _________________ (be) late again if we _________________ (buy) a new car.
20. You _________________ (lose) weight if you _________________ (eat) less.

Type 3 Conditional Sentence refers to utterly (hypothetical) impossible alternate results

based on an alternate highly unlikely condition if met in the past. An action could have happened
in the past if a certain condition had been fulfilled. Things were different then, however. We just
imagine, what would have happened if the situation had been fulfilled.

Structure required

If + Past Perfect Tense (alternate condition) + S + would/could/might/should +have

+V3 + O (alternate Result)
Examples:
1. If I had found her address, I would have sent her an invitation.
Sometime in the past, I wanted to send an invitation to a friend. I didn't find her address, however.
So in the end I didn't send her an invitation.
2. If John had had the money, he would have bought a Ferrari.
I knew John very well and I know that he never had much money, but he loved Ferraris. He would
have loved to own a Ferrari, but he never had the money to buy one.
3. If I hadn’t studied, I wouldn’t have passed my exams.
4. If I had known you were coming I would have baked a cake.
5. I would have been happy if you had called me on my birthday.

Put in the correct third conditional verb form:

1. If you ______________ (not / be) late, we ______________ (not / miss) the bus.
2. If she ______________ (study), she ______________ (pass) the exam.
3. If we ______________ (arrive) earlier, we ______________ (see) John.
4. If they ______________ (go) to bed early, they ______________ (not / wake) up late.
5. If he ______________ (become) a musician, he ______________ (record) a CD.
6. If she ______________ (go) to art school, she ______________ (become) a painter.
7. If I ______________ (be) born in a different country, I ______________ (learn) to speak a
different language.
8. If she ______________ (go) to university, she ______________ (study) French.
9. If we ______________ (not / go) to the party, we ______________ (not / meet) them.
10. If he ______________ (take) the job, he ______________ (not / go) travelling.
11. He ______________ (be) happier if he ______________ (stay) at home.
12. She ______________ (pass) the exam if she ______________ (study) harder.
13. We ______________ (not / get) married if we ______________ (not / go) to
the same university.
14. They ______________ (be) late if they ______________ (not / take) a taxi.
15. She ______________ (not / meet) him if she ______________ (not / come) to London.
16. He ______________ (take) a taxi if he ______________ (have) enough money.

17. I ______________ (call) you if I ______________ (not / forget) my phone.

18. We ______________ (come) if we ______________ (be) invited.

redraft the following worksheet -

1. If it doesn't _____________(rain), plants cannot grow.
2. If I _____________ (try) to cook, I ruin the food.
3. If you smoke, your skin _________________ (age) more quickly.
4. If you heat ice, it __________________ (melt).
5. I feel good if you _____________ (visit) me regularly.
6. Water evaporates if you _____________(boil) it.
7. Deren _____________(cycle) to work if the weather is good.
 8. I feel sick if I ______________ (eat) too much chocolate.
9. You need to take my sister to the hospital if she ____________ (drink) milk as she is allergic to it.
10. If Andy ______________ (go) to bed late, he cannot wake up early.

Conditionals

. Put the verb into the correct tense form:

1. The accident was your fault. If you ............................................ (drive) more carefully, it wouldn’t have happened.

2. a. Why do you read newspapers?

b. Well, if I ............................................ (not/read) newspapers, I wouldn’t know what was happening in the world.

3. If Liz ............................................ (not/go) to bed so late, she wouldn’t be tired all the time.

4. I’d be surprised if Ann ............................................ (come) to see us now.

5. If I’d known you were busy, I ............................................ (not/disturb) you.

6. If you hadn’t provoked the dog, it ............................................ (not/attack) you.

7. I wouldn’t have got soaking wet, if I ............................................ (have) an umbrella.

8. If he hadn’t been so nervous, he ............................................ (not/fail) his driving test.

9. I’d have gone out last night, if I ............................................ (not/have) so much work to do.

10. Cities would be nicer places, if they ............................................ (be) cleaner.

. Put the verb into the correct tense form:

1. Ken got to the airport in time for his flight. If he ............................................ (miss) it, he ............................................ (be) late for his interview.

2. It’s good that you reminded me about Ann’s birthday. I ............................................ (forget) it.

3. I didn’t have my address book in New York. Otherwise, I ............................................ (send) you a postcard.

4. a. Did you have a good time in Prague?

b. We ............................................ (enjoy) it more, if the weather ............................................ (be) better.

5. I’m not tired. If I ............................................ (be) tired, I would go home now.

6. I wasn’t tired last night. If I ............................................ (be) tired, I would have gone home earlier.

7. If Jim ............................................ (not/lend) me the money, I wouldn’t have been able to buy the car.

8. If Mary ............................................ (not/wear) a seatbelt, she would have been severely injured in the car crash.

9. If you had some breakfast, you ............................................ (not/be) hungry now.

10. If I ............................................ (have) some money I ............................................ (get) a taxi, but unfortunately I’ve left my wallet at home.

. Put the verb into the correct tense form:

1. If you ............................................ (find) a wallet in the street, what would you do with it?

2. I must hurry. My friend will be annoyed if I ............................................ (not/be) on time.

3. I didn’t realize that Gary was in hospital. If I ............................................ (know) that, I would have gone to visit him.
4. If the phone ............................................ (ring), can you answer it?

5. I cannot decide what to do. What would you do if you ............................................ (be) in my position?

6. a. What shall we do tomorrow?

b. Well, if the weather ............................................ (be) nice, we can go to the beach.

7. a. Let’s sit outside.

b. No, it’s too cold. If it ............................................ (be) warmer, I wouldn’t mind.

8. a. Did you go for a picnic yesterday?

b. No, it was too cold. If it ............................................ (be) warmer, we might have gone.

9. If you ............................................ (have) enough money to go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

10. I’m glad we had a map. I’m sure we would have got lost, if we ............................................ (not/have) one.

II. Complete the story “The Cat and the Mouse” using conditional sentences:

1. Once upon a time the cat bit the mouse's tail off. “Give me back my tail,” said the mouse. And the cat said,

“Well, I (give)_______________ you back your tail if you fetched me some milk. But that's impossible to do for a little
mouse like you.”

2. The mouse, however, went to the cow. “The cat (give / only) ______________ me back my tail if I fetch her

some milk.”

3. And the cow said, “Well, I would give you milk if you (get)_____________ me some hay. But that's

impossible to do for a little mouse like you.”

4. The mouse, however, went to the farmer. “The cat will only give me back my tail if the cow

(give)_________________ me some milk. And the cow (only / give) ______________________ me milk if I

get her some hay.”

5. And the farmer said, “Well, I would give you hay if you (bring) _____________ me some meat. But that's

impossible to do for a little mouse like you.”

6. The mouse, however, went to the butcher. “The cat will only give me back my tail if the cow (give)

_____________________ me milk. And the cow will only give me milk if she (get) __________ some hay.

And the farmer (only / give) _____________ me hay if I get him some meat.”

7. And the butcher said, “Well, I would give you meat if you (make) ________________ the baker bake me a

bread. But that's impossible to do for a little mouse like you.”

8. The mouse, however, went to the baker. “The cat (give / only)____________________ me back my tail if I

fetch her some milk. And the cow (give / not) ___________ me milk if I don't get her hay. And the farmer will
only give me hay if the butcher (have)__________________ some meat for him. And the butcher will not give

me meat if you (bake / not) _______________ him a bread.”

9. And the baker said, “Well, I (give) __________ you bread if you promise never to steal my corn or meal.”

10. The mouse promised not to steal, and so the baker gave the mouse bread, the mouse gave the butcher
Bread. The butcher gave the mouse meat; the mouse gave the farmer meat. The farmer gave the mouse hay; the mouse
gave the cow hay. The cow gave the mouse milk; the mouse gave the cat milk. And the cat gave the mouse her tail back.

11. But imagine what would have happened otherwise:

12. If the mouse (promised/not) _______________ never to steal corn or meal, the baker

(not/give)____________the mouse bread.

13. If the baker (not / give) _______________ the mouse bread, the butcher (refuse) ______________ to give her meat for
the farmer.

14. If the butcher (refuse) _____________her any meat, the farmer (not/be) __________willing to give the mouse hay.

15. If the farmer (not/be)______________willing to give the mouse hay, the mouse (not/receive)

_________________milk from the cow.

16. If the mouse (not/receive) _________________ milk from the cow, she (not/get) __________back her tail