Grammar / Conditionals

Created by Shirley Brown

Conditionals - Summary

Zero Conditional

If + present tense ………….. present tense / imperative

Use

To talk about facts or general truths.

To explain how things work or give instructions.

The focus is on the present or ‘general’ time

Examples

If you pour water on ice it melts.

If / When you press this button, a light comes on.

(We use ‘when’ if the event is certain to happen)

First Conditional

If + present tense*…………. future tense*

*note that other present and future tense forms are possible, not only simple tenses

Use

To talk about things that are certain, or very likely to happen in the future.

To talk about factual situations relating to a possible event in the future

Examples

If I pass the exam, I’ll stay in Australia for another year

If you ring the bell at reception, someone will come to help you

*If you have listened / have been listening to the teacher carefully, you will know what you have to do

*If you’ve been watching the news you will have heard what has happened

Second Conditional

If + past tense* ………….. would + infinitive

*Note, past continuous tense is also possible

Use

To talk about hypothetical, unlikely or impossible situations in the present and future.

Examples

If I were tidier, I would be able to find things easily

If I had more money, I’d buy a new car

If I could stay in Australia longer, I would

*If I were living alone I would be a lot happier

Third Conditional

If + past perfect ………….. would have + past participle

could have + past participle

might have + past participle

Use

To talk about situations relating to the past when we want to imagine how things might have been different. Often used to show regret about a past situation.

Examples

If he hadn’t decided to go out that night, he wouldn’t have / might not have met his girlfriend

If I hadn’t injured myself, I would have / could have / might have won the race

If I had studied harder, I would have got a better result

If you had listened to the teacher carefully, you would have known what to do

Mixed Conditional

If + past perfect ………….. would + infinitive* (*or continuous form)

Use

To talk about the hypothetical effects of a past event on the present situation

Examples

If I had taken my mother’s advice, I wouldn’t be in this mess now

If he hadn’t had that accident, he wouldn’t be in hospital.

If I hadn’t decided to come to Australia, I would be (living)* in England

If you had listened to the teacher carefully, you would know what to do

*If I had saved the money, I could be living in luxury now

Exercises

Put the verb in brackets into the correct tense. In some cases, there is more than one possibility.

1. If it (rain) at the weekend, I (stay) at home.

2. If I (win) the lottery, I (buy) a new car.

3. If I (not fall) off the ladder, I (not break) my leg.

4. If you (do) more exercise, you (be) healthier.

5. If I (give up) smoking, I (feel) better.

6. If I (help) you with your assignment, (you help) me with mine?

7. Where (you live) if you (can choose) any country in the world?

8. If the car in front (not brake) so suddenly, I (not crash) into the back of it.

9. Who (help) you if I (not be) there?

10. If you (need) any help, just (ask).

11. What (you do) now if you (not come) to Australia?

12. If you (can be) a famous person, who (you choose)?

13. If you (not pass) the driving test, what (you do)?

14. If the door (be locked), (call) security.

15. If I (can not get) to the meeting on time, I (call) you.

16. If you (eat) breakfast, you (not be) hungry now.

17. If I (be) you, I (not marry) him.

18. If I (know) the answer, I (tell) you!

19. (you take) the job if they (offer) it to you?

20. When (you tell) me the truth if I (not ask) you?

Answers

1. If it rains this weekend, I’ll stay at home. (1^st)

2. If I win the lottery, I’ll buy a new car (1^st) / If I won the lottery, I’d buy a new car (2^nd). (The answer depends on how likely or unlikely you think you are to win the lottery. The first answer suggests you believe there is a real possibility, while the second one suggests winning the lottery is highly unlikely).

3. If I hadn’t fallen off the ladder, I wouldn’t have broken my leg (3^rd) - past

4. If you do more exercise, you’ll be healthier (1^st) / If you did more exercise, you’d be healthier (2^nd). Choice of 1^st conditional provides a more factual answer referring to the likely outcome, whereas 2^nd conditional suggests the speaker thinks it unlikely that the person will do more exercise to become healthier.

5. If I give up smoking, I’ll feel better (1^st) / If I gave up smoking, I’d feel healthier (2^nd). Factual & possible (1^st) as opposed to hypothetical (2^nd).

6. If I help you with your assignment, will you help me with mine? (1^st) / If I helped you with your assignment, would you help me with mine? (2^nd) – a simple factual question as opposed to a more tentative / hypothetical question.

7. Where would you live if you could choose any country in the world? (2nd) – hypothetical.

8. If the car in front hadn’t braked so suddenly, I wouldn’t have crashed into the back of it. (3^rd) – refers to the past.

9. Who would have helped you if I hadn’t been there? (3^rd) - past

10. If you need any help, just ask (zero) – note the use of the imperative in the second part of the sentence.

11. What would you be doing now if you hadn’t come to Australia? (3^rd) – note the use of continuous in the first part of the sentence to show continuity of action.

12. If you could be a famous person, who would you choose? (2^nd) – hypothetical.

13. If you don’t pass the driving test, what will you do? (1^st) / If you hadn’t passed the driving test, what would you have done? (3^rd) – (1^st) refers to the reality of the future, (3^rd) refers to the past.

14. If the door is locked, call security (zero) – instruction

15. If I can’t get to the meeting on time, I’ll call you (1^st) – future

16. If you had eaten breakfast, you wouldn’t be hungry now (mixed) – relating a past situation to a present situation.

17. If I were you, I wouldn’t marry him (2^nd) / If I had been you, I wouldn’t have married him (3^rd) – hypothetical relating to present / future as opposed to the past.

18. If I knew the answer, I’d tell you (2^nd) / If I’d known the answer, I would have told you (3^rd) – impossible situation in the present as opposed to a past situation.

19. Would you take the job if they offered it to you (2^nd) / Would you have taken the job if they had offered it to you? (3^rd) – hypothetical future, as opposed to a past situation.

20. When would you have told me the truth if I hadn’t asked you? (3^rd) - past

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