CONDITIONALS

Conditionals

Each type of conditional contains a different pair of tenses. With each type certain variations are
possible.

TYPE O: GENERAL CONDITIONALS.   If  Present + Present

Use this structure to talk about  HABITS AND GENERAL TRUTHS.

If-clause............... Present Simple
Main-clause...…… Present Simple

Example:

• If you don't eat, you get hungry.
• I go to the doctor's if I'm sick.
• If I don´t get enough sleep, I feel tired.
• If you mix yellow and blue, you get green.

EXERCISE 1  Practice Zero Conditionals
EXERCISE 2  Choose the right option.
EXERCISE 3 Complete the sentences

TYPE 1: PROBABLE CONDITIONALS.     If  Present + Future

This type of sentence implies that the action in the If-clause is QUITE PROBABLE.

If-clause............... Present simple

Main-clause...…... Future (will + Infinitive)

Use this structure to talk about things that may happen in the future (there is a possibility that the situation in the if-clause will happen in the future)

Examples:

• If it rains, I will stay at home.
• If he runs, he will get there in time.
• I will pass my exam if I study hard.

EXERCISE 1  Choose the correct form
EXERCISE 2  Connect the sentences
EXERCISE 3  Fill the gaps

TYPE   2:  IMPROBABLE CONDITIONALS.     If  Past +  Would 

This type of sentence implies that the action in the If-clause is UNREAL(IMPOSIBLE) OR IMPROBABLE

If-clause............... Past

Main-clause...…... Would + Infinitive

Examples:

• If I were you, I would buy that car.
• If she had more time, she would travel more often.
• If they won the lottery, they wouldn't work any more.
• If I didn't want to go, I would tell you.

Sometimes, we use should, could or might instead of would, for example: If I won a million dollars, I could stop working.

EXERCISE 1   Fill in.
EXERCISE 2  Connect the sentences halves.
EXERCISE 3  Complete the sentences.

TYPE   3: NO POSSIBILITY  CONDITIONALS.    

 If  Past Perfect +  Would have Past Participle 

We can use the Third Conditional to talk about 'impossible' conditions, impossible because they are in the past and we cannot change what has happened.

	condition	result
	Past Perfect	WOULD HAVE + Past Participle
If	she had studied	she would have passed the exam.

If she had studied, she would have passed the exam (but, really we know she didn't study and so she didn't pass)

Sometimes, we use should have, could have, might have instead of would have, for example: If you had bought a lottery ticket, you might have won.

Examples	Explanation
If you had driven more carefully, you would not have had an accident.	Criticism: You had an accident because you didn't drive carefully enough.
If we had played a little better, we could have won the game.	Regret: We didn't play well, so we lost the game.
If you had saved your money, you could have bought a computer.	Criticism: You didn't save your money, so now you can't afford a computer.
If it had snowed, we could have gone skiing.	Regret: It didn't snow, so we couldn't go skiing.

Exercise 1 Conditional sentences type III

Exercise 2 Multiple choice

Exercise 3 Conditional sentences, type III - Exercise Mix 1