Conditionals in English

Do you know how many conditionals there are in English? Do you have doubts? Solve them all in this article where you will learn the four types of conditionals, their uses, and practice with exercises! Let’s get to work!

What are conditionals in English and when are they used?

Conditionals are widely used in English, although it might seem they are not common in our daily communication. Basically, a conditional is a grammatical structure that allows us to express something that happens based on whether a condition is met or not.

How many conditionals are there in English? There are four types of conditionals in English, and each of them addresses something that could happen (in the present or future) or something that could have happened (in the past). Have you ever regretted something? In that case, you have probably used a conditional to express your regret. Look at these examples:

Examples:

• If I had not lost my wallet, I would have all my documents. (If I hadn’t lost my wallet, I would have all my documents.)
• If they had attended the course, they would have learnt how to paint. (If they had attended the course, they would have learnt how to paint.)

Types of conditional

Zero Conditional

The zero conditional is used to talk about general truths or situations that are real and possible.

To construct it, use the following structure:

If + subject + present simple verb, subject + present simple verb

As you can see, the verbs in both clauses are in present simple.

Examples:

• If you fall, you get hurt. (If you fall, you get hurt.)
• If you walk in the rain, you get wet. (If you walk in the rain, you get wet.)

First Conditional

The first conditional is used to talk about a possible condition and a probable result in the future.

To construct it, use the following structure:

If + subject + present simple verb, subject + will/won’t + infinitive verb

In this case, the verb in the condition clause is in present simple, while the verb in the response clause is in the future with will.

Examples:

• If they pay me for the project, I will buy a new car. (If they pay me for the project, I will buy a new car.)
• If they get some days off, they will visit us. (If they get some days off, they will visit us.)

Second Conditional

The second conditional is used when there is little probability that something will happen.

To construct it, use the following structure:

If + subject + past simple verb, subject + would/wouldn’t + infinitive verb

In this case, the verb in the condition clause is in past simple, while the response clause uses the modal verb would followed by the infinitive verb.

Examples:

• If he were more organized, he would give better outcomes. (If he were more organized, he would give better outcomes.)
• If they were rich, they would travel the world. (If they were rich, they would travel the world.)

Third Conditional

The third conditional is used to talk about the past in situations of regret.

To construct it, use the following structure:

If + subject + past perfect verb, subject + would/wouldn’t have + past participle of the verb

In this case, the verb in the condition clause is in past perfect, while the response clause uses the modal would/wouldn’t have followed by the past participle.

Examples:

• If you had listened to me, you would have saved your tears. (If you had listened to me, you would have saved your tears.)
• She would have played better if she had trained every day. (She would have played better if she had trained every day.)

Conditional Expressions with Unless, As long as, Provided, In case, Even if

These conjunctions are used with the modal verbs “will,” “would,” and “could.” These conjunctions relate to possibilities and conditions:

• He won’t go unless she goes with him. (He won’t go unless she goes with him.)
• We would offer a discount as long as they accepted the delivery dates. (We would offer a discount as long as they accepted the delivery dates.)
• We could change the design provided they paid the extra cost. (We could change the design provided they paid the extra cost.)
• I would take an umbrella in case it rained. (I would take an umbrella in case it rained.)
• He wouldn’t stop working even if he retired. (He wouldn’t stop working even if he retired.)

Conditional exercises in English

Zero conditional exercises

Zero conditional affirmative exercise

Complete the following affirmative sentences in zero conditional.
1. If Tony _______________ (wake up) at 7 a.m., he ________ (be) grumpy.
2. If I ______________ (go) late to bed, I _________ (feel) terrible the next day.
3. Anna ___________ (miss) her friend if she doesn’t _________ (see) her for a week.

Answers:

1. wakes up / is
2. go / feel
3. misses / see

Zero conditional negative exercise

Form negative sentences in zero conditional using the given elements.
1. I / not call my mom / she / get upset.
2. You / not drink soda / be healthy.
3. She / clean the house / not do laundry.

Answers:

1. If I don’t call my mum, she gets upset.
2. Don’t drink soda if you want to be healthy.
3. If she cleans the house, she doesn’t do the laundry.

Zero conditional interrogative exercise

Translate the following interrogative sentences into English using the zero conditional.
1. What time do you wake up if you have to go to the university?
2. What do you like to do if you have free time?
3. Where does Ana go if she has to exercise?

Answers:

1. What time do you wake up if you have to go to university?
2. What do you like to do if you have free time?
3. Where does Ana go when she has to exercise?

First conditional exercises

First conditional affirmative exercise

Complete the following affirmative sentences in first conditional.
1. We ___________ (visit) Doha if we ___________ (travel) to Qatar.
2. If you ___________ (give) your mom a present, she _________ (be) very happy.
3. Mary ___________ (buy) a new house if she ___________ (get) a good job

Answers:

1. will visit / travel
2. give / will be
3. will buy / gets

First conditional negative exercise

Translate the following negative sentences into English using the first conditional.
1. If you don’t study, you won’t pass the exam.
2. Alex won’t go to the park if the rain doesn’t stop.
3. If John doesn’t hurry, he won’t catch the plane.

Answers:

1. If you don’t study, you will not pass the exam.
2. Alex won’t go to the park if the rain doesn’t stop.
3. If John doesn’t hurry up, he will not catch the plane.

First conditional interrogative exercise

Complete the sentences with the correct verb conjugation to create interrogative sentences with the first conditional.
1. If I _________ (pay) for the tickets, ________ (go/you) with me to the concert?
2. __________ you (buy) her an ice cream if she__________ (win) the first place?
3. If John __________ (ask) you how to apply, __________you (help) him?

Answers:

1. paid / would you go
2. Would you buy / won
3. asked / would you

Second conditional affirmative exercise

Translate the following affirmative sentences in second conditional into English.
1. If I got the job, I would buy a car.
2. If he paid his bills on time, he wouldn’t have problems.
3. If I had more time, I would go to your birthday party.
4. If they were nicer, they would smile.

Answers:

1. If I got the job, I would buy a car.
2. If you paid your bills in time, you wouldn’t have problems.
3. If I had more time, I would come to your birthday party.
4. If they were nicer, they would smile.

Second conditional negative exercise

Conjugate the verbs in parentheses to create negative sentences in second conditional.

1. We __________ (not got) to the concert, if we __________(not buy) the tickets,
2. If you ___________ (not turn off) the TV, you ____________ (not missed) the interview.
3. If Luke ____________ (not have) money, he __________ (not live) in a mansion.
4. I ____________ (not buy) jewelry if I ____ (have) more money.

Answers:

1. won’t go / don’t buy
2. don’t turn off / won’t miss
3. didn’t have / wouldn’t live
4. won’t buy / have

Second conditional interrogative exercise

Create second conditional interrogative sentences with the following elements.

1. You look taller. You used big shoes
2. Sue lives in Seattle. She took the ferry to work.
3. We have a discount. We were at the restaurant
4. I have a good job. I live in a mansion

Answers:

1. Would you look taller if you used big shoes?
2. Would Sue take the ferry to work if she lived in Seattle?
3. Would we have a discount if we were at the restaurant?
4. Would I live in a mansion if I had a good job?

Third conditional exercises

Third conditional affirmative exercise

Choose the correct option to form sentences in the third conditional.

1. If we _________for the test, we could have passed.

a. had studied
b. have studied
c. had study

2. She could ____________ if she had worked harder.

a. has gone
b. have gone
c. had gone

3. If they __________ the news, they might have known.

a. would have read
b. have read
c. had read

4. If I _____________ this was boring, I would have seen a different episode.

a. had known
b. could have known
c. knew

Answers:

1.a / 2.b / 3.c / 4.a

Third conditional negative exercise

Translate the following negative sentences in third conditional into Spanish.
1. If I had not practiced, I would not have passed the exam.
2. Andy would not have gone to the match if she had not had the tickets.
3. If they had not been ill, they would have gone to the cinema.
4. If I had not come to Brooklyn, I would not have met you.

Answers:

1. If I hadn’t practiced, I wouldn’t have passed the exam.
2. Andy wouldn’t have gone to the match if she hadn’t had the tickets.
3. If they hadn’t been ill, they would have gone to the cinema.
4. If I hadn’t come to Brooklyn, I wouldn’t have met you.

Third conditional interrogative exercise

Rewrite the following sentences in third conditional interrogative form.
1. You had known about the party. You told me.
2. They had won the competition. They have bought something.
3. I had known about her. I have stayed.
4. He had caught the bus. He has called you.

Answers:

1. Would you have told me if you had known about the party?
2. If they had won the competition, what would they have bought?
3. If I had known about her, would I have stayed?
4. Would he have called you if he had caught the bus?