Conditional sentences overview

Most students are familiar with the standard conditional forms in English. There are several alternate forms,
too.
Before we take a look at alternate conditional forms, lets revise the regular forms.
There are mainly three types of conditional sentences in English.
First conditional
The first conditional is used to talk about real situations. It refers to the present or the future. ere we use a
simple present tense in the if!clause and will + infinitive "simple future# in the main clause.
If you eat too much food, you will fall ill.
If you skip breakfast, your grades will suffer.
If you work hard, you will succeed.
Second conditional
The second conditional, too, is used to refer to the present or the future. owever, it suggests that the
situation is
less probable, improbable or imaginary. ere we use a simple past tense in the if-clause and would +
infinitive
in the main clause.
If you ate too much food, you would fall ill.
ere, although the reference is to the present or the future, the situation is imaginary.
If you skipped breakfast, your grades would suffer.
Third conditional
The third conditional is used to talk about past situations that did not happen. ere we use a past perfect
tense
in the if!clause and would have + past participle in the main clause.
If she hadnt skipped her breakfast, her grades would have improved. "$he skipped her breakfast and
conse%uently her grades failed.#
If he hadnt called me names, I wouldnt have broken his neck. "e called me names, so I broke his neck.#
Notes
Could and might can also be used in the main clauses.
Exercise
&omplete the following sentences.
'. If she ((((((((. a little longer, she could meet them. "waited ) will wait ) had waited#
*. If she recogni+ed us, why (((((((((.. she say i, "doesnt ) didnt ) hadnt#
-. If you heat ice, it ((((((((. "will melt ) would melt ) would have melted#
.. If they all had voted for me, I ((((((((((( "will win ) would win ) would have won#
Conditional sentences exercise
&omplete the following sentences using appropriate conditional verb forms.
'. If you (((((((. run into /ake, tell him that he owes me '00 dollars.
a# should
b# would
c# Either could be used here
*. If I had another '000 dollars, I ((((((( a car.
a# could buy
b# could have bought
c# Either could be used here
-. If he should be late, we ((((((.. to go without him.
a# will have
b# would have
c# Either could be used here
.. 1hat would you do if you ((((((( to lose your 2ob,
a# are
b# were
c# Either could be used here
3. If you (((((((. to move a bit, I could sit here.
a# had
b# were
c# are
4. ad I reali+ed what you intended, I ((((((((.. this.
a# will not have permitted
b# would not have permitted
c# would not permit
5. 1ere she my daughter, I ((((((((( her wear that mini!frock.
a# will not let
b# would not let
c# would not have let
6. If you (((((((. finish early, give me a ring.
a# should
b# happen to
c# Either could be used here
7. I will get up earlier if there ((((((( a good reason to.
a# is
b# was
c# has been
'0. It would be nice if you (((((((. me a few dollars.
a# lent
b# lend
c# will lend
Conditional sentences exercise 2
'. If you had taken the necessary precautions, none of this ((((((((((((..
a# would happen
b# would have happened
c# had happened
d# will happen
*. If I were you, I ((((((((((.. that mole e8amined.
a# would get
b# will get
c# would have got
c# would be getting
-. If I ((((((((((. a lottery, I would spend all my time traveling.
a# win
b# won
c# have won
d# had won
.. ad I reali+ed what you intended, I ((((((((((((. my permission.
a# would not give
b# would not have given
c# will not give
d# had not given
3. If it ((((((((((((((.. for your help, I dont know what I would have done.
a# wasnt
b# hadnt been
c# werent
d# hasnt been
4. If we (((((((((( there, we would never have found what was happening.
a# didnt go
b# hadnt gone
c# havent gone
d# werent
5. If the weather stays good, we ((((((((( a game of tennis tomorrow.
a# would play
b# will play
c# would have played
d# will be playing
Conditional sentences exercise 3
This exercise tests our understanding of tenses and conditional forms!
'. If I had a penny, I ((((((((((( some peanuts.
a# can buy
b# could buy
c# could have bought
*. If I ((((((((((( her address, I could have a written to her.
a# knew
b# know
c# had known
-. e (((((((((((.. if he had been more careful.
a# might not fall
b# may not fall
c# might not have fallen
.. I ((((((((((. you if I had enough money.
a# will help
b# would help
c# would have helped
3. If I were in your position, I ((((((((((((.. such a disgraceful act.
a# will not commit
b# would not commit
c# would not have committed
4. 1hat would you do if you (((((((((((.. the first pri+e in a bumper draw,
a# get
b# got
c# would have got
5. There might have been a great flood, if the rains (((((((((((..
f.oa# had not stopped
b# would not stop
c# did not stop
6. ad the driver been alert, the accident (((((((((((
a# could have been averted
b# could be averted
c# can be averted
7. I would not accept the offer, if I (((((((((( you.
a# am
b# were
c# had been
'0. If you were a little more careful, you (((((((((((((
a# would not be cheated
b# would not have been cheated
c# will not be cheated