Conditionals

Examples:
Conditional 0

Use:

If I am late, my mother takes me to school.

She doesn't worry if Jack stays out after school.

Situations that are always true if

something happens.

NOTE

This use is similiar to, and can

usually be replaced by, a time
clause using 'when' (example: When
am late, my father takes me to
school.)

Conditional 1

Often called the "real" conditional

because it is used for real - or possible ituations. These situations take place if
a certain condition is met.

NOTE

n the conditional 1 we often use unless

which means 'if ... not'. In other words,
...unless he hurries up.' could also be
written, '...if he doesn't hurry up.'.

Conditional 1
If it rains, we will
stay at home.
Often called the "real" conditional He will arrive
because it is used for real - or late unless he
possible
situations.
These
situations take place if a certain
condition is met.
Use:

NOTE
In the conditional 1 we often use
unless which means 'if ... not'. In
other words, '...unless he hurries
up.' could also be written, '...if he
doesn't hurry up.'.

hurries up.
Peter will buy a
new car, if he
gets his raise.

Conditional 2

If he studied more, he would pass the exam.

I would lower taxes if I were the President.
Often called the "unreal" conditional They would buy a new house if they had more money.
because it is used for unreal mpossible
or
improbable
situations. This conditional provides
an imaginary result for a given
situation.

Use:

NOTE

The verb 'to be', when used in the

2nd conditional, is often conjugated
as 'were'.
Conditional 3

If he had known that, he would have decided

differently.
Jane would have found a
Often referred to as the "past" new job if she had stayed in Boston.
conditional because it concerns
only
past
situations
with
hypothetical
results.
Used
to
express a hypothetical result to a
past given situation.

Use:

Structure
Conditional 0 is formed by the use of the present simple in the if clause followed by a comma + the
present simple in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first without using a comma between
the clauses.
If he comes to town,

we have dinner

We have dinner

if he comes to town.

Conditional 1 is formed by the use of the present simple in the if clause followed by a comma + will +
verb (base form) in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first without using a comma
between the clauses.
If he finishes on time,

we will go to the movies.

We will go to the movies

if he finishes on time.

Conditional 2 is formed by the use of the past simple in the if clause followed by a comma + would + verb
(base form) in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first without using a comma between the
clauses.
If they had more money,

they would buy a new house.

They would buy a new house

if they had more money.

Conditional 3 is formed by the use of the past perfect in the if clause followed by a comma + would have
+ past participle in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first without using a comma
between the clauses.
If Alice had won the competition,

life would have changed.

Life would have changed

if Alice had won the competition

Choose the phrase which best completes the conditional statement.

1. If he comes,
a. we will go to lunch.
b. we would go to lunch.
c. we went to lunch.
2. I would buy a new house
a. if I have a lot of money.
b. if I win the lottery.
c. if I inherited a million dollars.
3. If she misses the bus,
a. I take her to school by car.
b. I would take her to school by car.
c. she have to walk.
4. If I had known you were in town,
a. I would buy you some flowers!
b. I would have bought you some flowers.
c. I will buy you some flowers.
5. If he studied a lot,
a. he might pass the exam.
b. he can pass the exam.
c. he is going to pass the exam.
6. I would get a new job
a. if I have been you.
b. if I am you.
c. if I were you.
7. He will surely fail his exams
a. if he not work harder.
b. unless he begins to study.
c. if he weren't serious.
8. She would be living in New York now
a. if she gets the job.

b. if she had got the job.

c. if she would get the job.
9. They would have bought that new car
a. if they had had the money.
b. if they had the money.
c. if they were having the money.
10. I leave on Saturdays
a. if she will come to visit.
b. if she comes to visit.
c. if she won't come to visit.

Choose the correct conditional form to complete the sentences below.

1. If I ..(stay) in Boston, I would have found a new apartment.
2. She would help the poor if she .. (be) the President.
3. If he goes to Rome on a business trip, he often .. (visit) the Vatican.
4. We won't go to the film unless they .. (arrive) in the next 5 minutes.
5. She .. (buy) a new car if she had had the money.
6. If Enrico were me, he .. (go) to New York immediately.
7. They will talk to John if he .. (come).
8. She comes to work 30 minutes late if her child .. (miss) the bus to
school.
9. If Jack .. (think) twice, he wouldn't have made such a stupid mistake.
10. Katherine .. (become) a VIP if she studies hard!
11. If they.. (know) all the facts, they would have found the defendant
guilty.
12. Unless you.. (hurry up), we will never arrive on time.
13. If I were in charge, I .. (change) the standard business routines.
14. He takes his daughter out to dinner if she .. (come) to town.
15. If I hadn't known better, I.. (trust) him.

Exercise 2 Key

Exercise 1 Key
1.a 2.c 3.a 4.b 5.a 6.c 7.b 8.b 9.a 10.b

1. had stayed 2. were 3. visits 4. arrive 5. would have bought 6.

would go 7. comes
8. misses 9. had thought 10. will become 11. had known 12. hurry
up 13. would change 14. comes 15. would have trusted