There are four (4) basic types of conditional clauses:

0 - zero 1: for what IS always trueIn ZERO 1 clauses we can replace IF with
WHEN/WHENEVER

If (When/Whenever)PRES.SIMPLESim..Simple
+ Present
Present Simple
I(When/Whenever)+
Simple
If (When/Whenever) I go to bed late, I have a headache in the morning.
If (When/Whenever it rains, the streets are wet. = The streets are wet if (When/whenever) it
rains.

0 zero 2: what WAS always

true

In ZERO 2 clauses : IF = WHEN = WHENEVER

If (When/Whenever)
+ Past
Past
Simple
Simple If (When/Whenever) it snowed, the children didn't go to school

Past Simple

If (When/Whenever) it rained, the streets were wet. = The streets were wet if
(when/whenever) it rained.

1 first : what will be true = REAL FOR THE

FUTURE

!! NEVER WILL FUTURE in ifclause !!

If + Present Simple
will + inf inifive
Simple)
!!!
If the weather is fine next weekend, we will go for a walk.

(= Future

If it rains tomorrow, the streets will be wet (tomorrow). = The streets will be wet if it rains
tomorrow.

2 second: UNREAL FOR THE PRESENT

!! Verb (to) be = WERE (was can also be used, but is less English

If + Past Simple

would + infinitive (= Present

If I were you, I wouldn't do it.

Conditional)

If the weather were fine, we would go out.(=but it isn't fine)

If it rained, the streets would be wet. (but it doesn't rain)

3 third : UNREAL FOR THE PAST

If + Past Perfect

would + have + ed/3.column

(= Perfect

Conditional)

If I had known you were coming to Ljubljana, I would have met you at the airport.
If it had rained yesterday, the streets would have been wet. (but it didn't rain)

**THE CROSS = MIXED

CONDITIONALS

UNLESS =
JUFA
IF NOT !!

I.

FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH THE MOST SUITABLE FORM OF THE

VERB.
1. Unless you (HAVE) ____________________ a permit , you (NOT GET )
___________________ a job.
2. If water (BOIL) ___________________ , it (TURN) _____________________
into steam
3. If it (RAIN) ____________________ tonight , I (NOT GO)
______________________ out.
4. If you (ASK) ____________________ me one hour ago, I (HELP)
_______________________ you.
5. If I (HAVE) _____________________ his address , I (CALL ON)
___________________________ him , but I don't .
6. If she (NEED) ___________________ help , she always ( COME)
___________________ to me.
7. Joe (FINISH)_______________ his work earlier last night if you (HELP)
__________ him.
8. You (MISS) ______________ the train if you (NOT HURRY UP)
___________________ .
9. She (HELP) ____________________ you last time if only you (BE)
________________ more polite.
10.
She (HELP) _____________________ the poor if she (BE)
______________ the President .
II.

1. Mum'll be furious if she ever (FIND) ______________ out about this.

2. If you (FIND) ___________________ a wallet in the street , what would you
do ?
3. If you've finished with your work , we (HAVE) ___________________ a short
break .
4. When you (SEE) __________________ her , please tell her to bring me my
book back .
5. He would have married her if she (BE) _____________________ rich .
6. Will you please tell Nina to call me when she (GET) ________________ back.
7. If the neighbours _______________ (NOT STOP) shouting, I'll call the police.
8. We (HAVE) ________________ if Johny ______________ (NOT BE) ill during our
holidays.
9. Should she call, tell her I _________________ (COME BACK) in the evening.

KEY
I.
1. have , won't get
2. boils , turns
3. rains , won't go
4. had asked , would have helped
5. had , would call on
6. needs , comes / needed, came
7. would have finished, had helped
8. will miss , don't hurry up
9. would have helped , had been
10.
would help , were