CONDITIONAL SENTENCE

There are four types of conditional sentence, they are :

I. The Zero Conditional

We can make a zero conditional sentence with two present simple verbs (one in the 'if clause' and
one in the 'main clause'):

If + present simple, .... present simple.

This conditional is used when the result will always happen. So, if water reaches 100 degrees, it
always boils. It's a fact. I'm talking in general, not about one particular situation. The result of the 'if
clause' is always the main clause.

The 'if' in this conditional can usually be replaced by 'when' without changing the meaning.

For example:

 If water reaches 100 degrees, it boils. (It is always true, there can't be a different result
sometimes).
 If I eat peanuts, I am sick. (This is true only for me, maybe, not for everyone, but it's still
true that I'm sick every time I eat peanuts)

Here are some more examples:

1. If people eat too much, they get fat.
2. If you touch a fire, you get burned.
3. People die if they don't eat.
4. You get water if you mix hydrogen and oxygen.
5. Snakes bite if they are scared
6. If babies are hungry, they cry

II. The First Conditional

The first conditional has the present simple after 'if', then the future simple in the other clause:

if + present simple, ... will + infinitive

It's used to talk about things which might happen in the future. Of course, we can't know what will
happen in the future, but this describes possible things, which could easily come true.

For example:

1. If it rains, I won't go to the park.

2. If I study today, I'll go to the party tonight.
3. If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes.
4. She'll be late if the train is delayed.
5. She'll miss the bus if she doesn't leave soon.
6. If I see her, I'll tell her.
 First vs. Zero Conditional:

The first conditional describes a particular situation, whereas the zero conditional describes what
happens in general.

For example (zero conditional): if you sit in the sun, you get burned (here I'm talking about every
time a person sits in the sun - the burning is a natural consequence of the sitting)

But (first conditional): if you sit in the sun, you'll get burned (here I'm talking about what will happen
today, another day might be different)

III. The Second Conditional

The second conditional uses the past simple after if, then 'would' and the infinitive:

if + past simple, ...would + infinitive

(We can use 'were' instead of 'was' with 'I' and 'he/she/it'. This is mostly done in formal writing).
It has two uses.:
1. First, we can use it to talk about things in the future that are probably not going to be true.
Maybe I'm imagining some dream , for example.
 If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house.(I probably won't win the lottery)
 If I met the Queen of England, I would say hello.
 She would travel all over the world if she were rich.
 She would pass the exam if she ever studied.(She never studies, so this won't happen)
2. Second, we can use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible, because
it's not true. Is that clear? Have a look at the examples:
 If I had his number, I would call him. (I don't have his number now, so it's impossible for
me to call him).
 If I were you, I wouldn't go out with that man.

How is this different from the first conditional? This kind of conditional sentence is
different from the first conditional because this is a lot more unlikely.
For example
(second conditional): If I had enough money I would buy a house with twenty bedrooms
and a swimming pool (I'm probably not going to have this much money, it's just a
dream, not very real)
But (first conditional): If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes (It's much more
likely that I'll have enough money to buy some shoes)
 First vs. Second Conditional:

The first conditional describes things that I think are likely to happen in the future, whereas the
second conditional talks about things that I don't think will really happen. It's subjective; it depends
on my point of view.

For example:
(first conditional): If she studies harder, she'll pass the exam (I think it's possible she will study
harder and so she'll pass)

But (second conditional): If she studied harder, she would pass the exam (I think that she won't
study harder, or it's very unlikely, and so she won't pass)

IV. The Third Conditional

We make the third conditional by using the past perfect after 'if' and then 'would have' and the past
participle in the second part of the sentence:
if + past perfect, ...would + have + past participle
It talks about the past. It's used to describe a situation that didn't happen, and to imagine the result
of this situation.
For example:

1. If she had studied, she would have passed the exam (but, really we know she didn't study
and so she didn't pass)
2. If I hadn't eaten so much, I wouldn't have felt sick (but I did eat a lot, and so I did feel sick).
3. If we had taken a taxi, we wouldn't have missed the plane
4. She wouldn't have been tired if she had gone to bed earlier
5. She would have become a teacher if she had gone to university
6. He would have been on time for the interview if he had left the house at nine
Do this exercise by yourself before you look at the key !
Conditional exercise (zero/first / second / third conditionals)

1. (First conditional) If we __________________ (not / work) harder, we __________________ (not pass)

the exam.
2. (Third conditional) If the students __________________ (not be) late for the exam, they
__________________ (pass).
3. (Third conditional) If the weather __________________ (not be) so cold, we __________________ (go) to
the beach.
4. (Second conditional) If she __________________ (have) her laptop with her, she __________________
(email) me.
5. (First conditional) If she __________________ (not go) to the meeting, I __________________ (not go)
either.
6. (Third conditional) If the baby __________________ (sleep) better last night, I __________________ (not
be) so tired.
7. (First conditional) If the teacher __________________ (give) us lots of homework this weekend, I
__________________ (not be) happy.
8. (Second conditional) If Lucy __________________ (have) enough time, she __________________ (travel)
more.
9. (First conditional) If the children __________________ (not eat) soon, they __________________ (be)
grumpy. 10. (First conditional) If I __________________ (not go) to bed soon, I __________________ (be)
tired in the morning.
10. (Second conditional) If I __________________ (want) a new car, I __________________ (buy) one.
11. (Second conditional) If José __________________ (not speak) good French, he __________________ (not
move) to Paris.
12. (First conditional) If John __________________ (drink) too much coffee, he __________________ (get) ill.
13. (Third conditional) If we __________________ (tidy) our flat, we __________________ (not lose) our
keys.
14. (Third conditional) If Luke __________________ (not send) flowers to his mother, she
__________________ (not be) happy.
15. (Second conditional) If the children __________________ (be) in bed, I __________________ (be able to)
have a bath.
16. (Second conditional) If you __________________ (not be) so stubborn, we __________________ (not
have) so many arguments!
17. (Third conditional) If Julie __________________ (not go) to Sweden, she __________________ (go) to
Germany.
18. (First conditional) If she __________________ (go) to the library, she __________________ (study) more.
19. (Third conditional) If we __________________ (not have) an argument, we __________________ (not be)
late.
20. (Second conditional) If you __________________ (arrive) early, it __________________ (be) less
stressful.
21. (Third conditional) If I __________________ (not go) to the party, I __________________ (not meet)
Amanda.
22. (Second conditional) If Julie __________________ (like) chocolate, I __________________ (give) her
some.
23. (Second conditional) If Luke __________________ (live) in the UK, I __________________ (see) him more
often.
24. (Third conditional) If the children __________________ (not eat) all that chocolate, they
__________________ (feel) sick.
25.
26. (First conditional) If they __________________ (not / arrive) soon, we __________________ (be) late.
27. (Third conditional) If she __________________ (study) Mandarin, she __________________ (go) to
Beijing.
28. (Second conditional) If we __________________ (not be) so tired, we __________________ (go) out.
29. (First conditional) If you __________________ (buy) the present, I __________________ (wrap) it up.
30. (First conditional) If Lucy __________________ (not quit) her job soon, she __________________ (go)
crazy.
Answers
1. (First conditional) If we don’t work harder, we won’t pass the exam.
2. (Third conditional) If the students hadn’t been late for the exam, they would have passed.
3. (Third conditional) If the weather hadn’t been so cold, we would have gone to the beach.
4. (Second conditional) If she had her laptop with her, she would email me.
5. (First conditional) If she doesn’t go to the meeting, I won’t go either.
6. (Third conditional) If the baby had slept better last night, I wouldn’t have been so tired.
7. (First conditional) If the teacher gives us lots of homework this weekend, I won’t be happy.
8. (Second conditional) If Lucy had enough time, she would travel more.
9. (First conditional) If the children don’t eat soon, they’ll be grumpy.
10. (First conditional) If I don’t go to bed soon, I’ll be tired in the morning.
11. (Second conditional) If I wanted a new car, I would buy one.
12. (Second conditional) If José didn’t speak good French, he wouldn’t move to Paris.
13. (First conditional) If John drinks too much coffee, he’ll get ill.
14. (Third conditional) If we had tidied our flat, we wouldn’t have lost our keys.
15. (Third conditional) If Luke hadn’t sent flowers to his mother, she wouldn’t have been happy.
16. (Second conditional) If the children were in bed, I would be able to have a bath.
17. (Second conditional) If you weren’t so stubborn, we wouldn’t have so many arguments!
18. (Third conditional) If Julie hadn’t gone to Sweden, she would have gone to Germany. 1
19. 9. (First conditional) If she goes to the library, she’ll study more.
20. (Third conditional) If we hadn’t had an argument, we wouldn’t have been late.
21. (Second conditional) If you arrived early, it would be less stressful.
22. (Third conditional) If I hadn’t gone to the party, I wouldn’t have met Amanda.
23. (Second conditional) If Julie liked chocolate, I would give her some.
24. (Second conditional) If Luke lived in the UK, I would see him more often.
25. (Third conditional) If the children hadn’t eaten all that chocolate, they wouldn’t have felt sick.
26. (First conditional) If they don’t arrive soon, we’ll be late.
27. (Third conditional) If she had studied Mandarin, she would have gone to Beijing.
28. (Second conditional) If we weren’t so tired, we would go out.
29. (First conditional) If you buy the present, I’ll wrap it up.
30. (First conditional) If Lucy doesn’t quit her job soon, she’ll go crazy