Conditional SentencesType 1: We use type 1 sentences to talk about something which is highly probable to happen in the future. We usually use present simple in the if-clause and future simple in the main clause.
If present simple, future simple.
If present progressive, can/may + verb 1st form (for ability and possibility)
If present perfect, imperative sentences/ should.
Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tenses.
1 If I see him I (give) him a lift.
2 The table will collapse if you (stand) on it.
3 If he (eat) all that he will be ill.
4 If I find your passport I (telephone) you at once.
5 The police (arrest) him if they catch him.
6 If he (read) in bad light he will ruin his eyes.
7 Someone (steal) your car if you leave it unlocked.
8 What will happen if my parachute (not open)?
9 If he (wash) my car I'll give him 10.
10 If she (need) a radio she can borrow mine.
11 If you (not go) away I'll send for the police.
12 I'll be very angry if he (make) any more mistakes.
13 If he (be) late we'll go without him.
14 She will be absolutely furious if she (hear) about this.
15 If you put on the kettle I (make) the tea.
16 If you give my dog a bone he (bury) it at once.
17 If we leave the car here it (not be) in anybody's way.
18 He'll be late for the train if he (not start) at once.
19 If you come late they (not let) you in.
20 If he (go) on telling lies nobody will believe a word he says.
21 Unless he (sell) more he won't get much commission.
22 If I lend you ?10 when you (repay) me?
23 We'll have to move upstairs if the river (rise) any higher.
24 If he (work) hard today can he have a holiday tomorrow?
25 Ice (turn) to water if you heat it.
26 If the house (burn) down we can claim compensation.
27 If you (not like) this one I'll bring you another.
28 Unless you are more careful you (have) an accident.
29 Tell him to ring me up if you (see) him.
30 If I tell you a secret, you (promise) not to tell it to anyone else?
31 If you (not believe) what I say, ask your mother.
32 If he (like) the house will he buy it?
33 If you will kindly sit down I (make) enquiries for you.
34 Unless I have a quiet room I (not be able) to do any work.
35 She won't open the door unless she (know) who it is.
35 She won't open the door unless she (know) who it is.
36 Should you require anything else please (ring) the bell for the attendant.
Zero conditional
When we talk about things that are generally or always true, we can use:If/When/Unless plus a present form PLUS present simple or imperative
If he gets there before me, ask him to wait.
When you fly budget airline, you have to pay for your drinks and snacks.
Unless you need more space, a small car is big enough for one person.
When you fly budget airline, you have to pay for your drinks and snacks.
Unless you need more space, a small car is big enough for one person.
Note that we are not talking about a specific event but something which is generally true.
In the condition clause, we can use a variety of present forms. In the result clause, there can only be the present simple or imperative.
If you visit London, go on the London Eye.
If unemployment is rising, people tend to stay in their present jobs.
If you've done that, go and have a coffee.
When you go on holiday, take plenty of sun cream. It'll be very hot.
If you visit London, go on the London Eye.
If unemployment is rising, people tend to stay in their present jobs.
If you've done that, go and have a coffee.
When you go on holiday, take plenty of sun cream. It'll be very hot.
When I'm concentrating, please don't make so much noise.
When I've finished an article, I always ask Kate to read it through.
When I've finished an article, I always ask Kate to read it through.
Notice that 'unless' means the same as 'if not'.
Unless he asks you politely, refuse to do any more work on the project.
Unless prices are rising, it's not a good investment.
Unless you've been there yourself, you don't really understand how fantastic it is.
Unless prices are rising, it's not a good investment.
Unless you've been there yourself, you don't really understand how fantastic it is.
Type 2: We use type 2 sentences to talk about unreal or imaginary present and future. We usually use past simple in the if-clause would + verb 1st form in the main clause.
If past simple, would + verb 1st form.
If past progressive, could/might + verb 1st form (for ability and possibility)
If past perfect, would + be + verb 1st + ing
would be/have (as state verbs) + extra words.
would have been + verb 1st + ing
Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tenses.
If past simple, would + verb 1st form.
If past progressive, could/might + verb 1st form (for ability and possibility)
If past perfect, would + be + verb 1st + ing
would be/have (as state verbs) + extra words.
would have been + verb 1st + ing
Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tenses.
1 If I had a typewriter I (type) it myself.
2 If I (know) his address I'd give it to you.
3 He (look) a lot better if he shaved more often.
4 If you (play) for lower stakes you wouldn't lose so much.
5 If he worked more slowly he (not make) so many mistakes.
6 I shouldn't drink that wine if I (be) you.
7 More tourists would come to this country if it (have) a better climate.
8 If I were sent to prison you (visit) me?
9 If someone (give) you a helicopter what would you do with it?
10 I (buy) shares in that company if I had some money.
10 I (buy) shares in that company if I had some money.
11 If he (clean) his windscreen he'd be able to see where he was going.
12 If you drove your car into the river you (be able) to get out?
13 If you (not belong) to a union you couldn't get a job.
14 If I (win) a big prize in a lottery I'd give up my job.
15 What you (do) if you found a burglar in your house?
16 I could tell you what this means if I (know) Greek.
17 If everybody (give) ?1 we would have enough.
18 He might get fat if he (stop) smoking.
19 If he knew that it was dangerous he (not come).
20 If you (see) someone drowning what would you do?
21 I (be) ruined if I bought her everything she asked for.
22 If you slept under a mosquito net you (not be) bitten so often.
23 I could get a job easily if I (have) a degree.
24 If she (do) her hair differently she might look quite nice.
25 If we had more rain our crops (grow) faster.
26 The whole machine would fall to pieces if you (remove) that screw.
27 I (keep) a horse if I could afford it. '
28 I'd go and see him more often if he (live) on a bus route. 29 If they (ban) the sale of alcohol at football matches there might be less violence.
30 I (offer) to help if I thought I'd be any use. '
31 What would you do if the lift (get) stuck between two floors?
32 If you (paint) the walls white the room would be much brighter.
33 If you (change) your job would it affect your pension?
34 If you knew you had only six weeks to live how you (spend) those six weeks?
35 You wouldn't have so much trouble with your car if you (have) it serviced regularly.
36 I'd climb over the wall if there (not be) so much broken glass on to it.
Type 3: We use type 3 sentences to talk about unreal or imaginary past. We usually use past perfect in the if-clause would +have + verb 3rd form in the main clause.
If past perfect, would + have + verb 3rd form.
If past perfect progressive, could/might + have + verb 3rd form (for ability and possibility)
would + have +been + verb 1st + ing
would have been/had (as state verbs) + extra words.
Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tenses.
1 If I had known that you were in hospital I (visit) you.
2 The ground was very soft. But for that, my horse (win).
3 If you (arrive) ten minutes earlier you would have got a seat.
4 You would have seen my garden at its best if you (be) here last week.
5 But for his quickness I (be) killed.
6 I shouldn't have believed it if I (not see) it with my own eyes.
7 If he had slipped he (fall) 500 metres.
8 If he had asked you, you (accept)?
9 If I (had) a map I would have been all right.
10 If I (know) that you were coming I'd have baked a cake.
10 If I (know) that you were coming I'd have baked a cake.
11 I (offer) to help him if I had realized that he was ill.
12 If you had left that wasp alone it (not sting) you.
13 If I (realize) what a bad driver you were I wouldn't have come with you.
14 If I had realized that the traffic lights were red I (stop).
15 But for the fog we (reach) our destination ages ago.
16 If you had told me that he never paid his debts I (not lend) him the money.
17 If you (not sneeze) he wouldn't have known that we were there.
18 If you (put) some mustard in the sandwiches they would have tasted better.
19 The hens (not get) into the house if you had shut the door.
20 If he had known that the river was dangerous he (not try) to swim across it.
21 If you (speak) more slowly he might have understood you.
22 If he had known the whole story he (not be) so angry.
23 I shouldn't have eaten it if I (know) that there was ginger in it.
24 If I (try) again I think that I would have succeeded.
25 You (not get) into trouble if you had obeyed my instructions. 26 If you hadn't been in such a hurry you (not put) sugar into the sauce instead of salt.
27 If I (be) ready when he called he would have taken me with him.
28 She had a headache; otherwise she (come) with us.
29 If she had listened to my directions she (not turn) down the wrong street.
30 If you (look) at the engine for a moment you would have seen what was missing.
31 Rome (be captured) by her enemies if the geese hadn't cackled.
32 He would have been arrested if he (try) to leave the country.
33 I (take) a taxi if I had realized that it was such a long way.
34 You (save) me a lot of trouble if you had told me where you were going.
35 They would have forced their way into the house if I (not call) for help.
36 If he had put out his pipe before putting it in his pocket he (not burn) a hole in his coat.
Finish these sentences, taking care to use the correct tenses.
1 If he had taken my advice . . .
2 If you ate less . . .
3 We'll send for the doctor if . . .
4 If she practised more . . .
4 If she practised more . . .
5 If there isn't enough wine in that bottle . . .
6 If you had checked the petrol before we started . . . 7 This clock wouldn't have run down if . . .
8 Try on the blue one if . . .
9 If these gates are locked . . .
10 If we leave before breakfast . . .
11 If the river rises any higher . . .
12 Her life might have been saved if . . .
13 If the volcano starts erupting ...
14 The grass would look better if . . .
15 Unless it is a nice day . . .
16 If you don't put enough stamps on a letter, the person who gets it . . .
17 He would lend it to you if . . .
18 Unless this hotel gets another cook . . .
19 If the storm becomes worse . . .
20 If your uncle sees you . . .
21 If you tried to climb it without a guide . . .
22 If you didn't shake the camera so much, your photographs . . .
23 I'd have brought my coat . . .
24 If (=as) you don't like the picture . . .
25 He would have given her diamonds if . . .
26 If you had asked his permission . . .
27 If the fire had been noticed earlier . . .
28 If you had any sense . . .
29 You would have been angry if . . .
30 If he had put the flowers into water at once . . .
31 I should have ordered more coal if . . .
32 If you leave the gate open . . .
33 You will have to go to the dentist if . . .
34 He would have been drowned if . . .
35 If I'd had a car . . .
34 He would have been drowned if . . .
35 If I'd had a car . . .
36 If Tom rings while I'm out . . . 
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