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Joy English · Level B1 · Conditionalsjoy-english.com

First and second conditionals

Name:Date:

Talk about real possibilities in the future and imaginary situations in the present.

Choose the correct form

Choose the best option to complete each conditional sentence.

  1. If you ___ this button, the machine will start.
    • a) press
    • b) will press
    • c) pressed
  2. If I ___ able to fly, I would visit every country in the world.
    • a) am
    • b) will be
    • c) were
  3. If Mina doesn't study, she ___ the exam.
    • a) didn't pass
    • b) won't pass
    • c) wouldn't pass
  4. I'd buy that jacket if it ___ cheaper.
    • a) were
    • b) is
    • c) would be
  5. What ___ you do if you saw a snake in your garden?
    • a) will
    • b) do
    • c) would
  6. You won't improve ___ you practise every day.
    • a) without
    • b) unless
    • c) if not
  7. If Tomás ___ the answer, he would tell us. But he doesn't know it.
    • a) knows
    • b) will know
    • c) knew
  8. If the weather is nice on Saturday, we ___ a picnic in the park.
    • a) would have
    • b) will have
    • c) had

Complete the conditionals

Type the correct form of the verb in brackets.

  1. If it ___ (snow) tonight, the schools will close tomorrow.
  2. If I had a bigger kitchen, I ___ (cook) for my friends more often.
  3. We ___ (not / get) there on time if we don't take a taxi.
  4. If Aiko ___ (live) closer to the sea, she would go swimming every day.
  5. I'm sure you ___ (enjoy) the course if you join it.
  6. If I ___ (be) you, I would talk to the teacher about it.
  7. What would you do if you ___ (not / have) a phone?
  8. Unless the train ___ (be) late, I'll be home by six.

Answer key

Choose the correct form

  1. a) pressThis is a real possibility, so the if-clause uses the present simple.
  2. c) wereFlying is imaginary, so we use the second conditional: if + past simple. With be, we use were.
  3. b) won't passThe if-clause uses the present simple, so this is the first conditional: won't + verb.
  4. a) wereThe main clause uses would, so the if-clause needs the past simple. Were (or was) is correct.
  5. c) wouldThe if-clause uses the past simple (saw), so the main clause needs would.
  6. b) unlessUnless means if not: you won't improve if you don't practise every day.
  7. c) knewHe doesn't know, so the situation is imaginary. The second conditional uses if + past simple.
  8. b) will haveThe if-clause uses the present simple, so the main clause uses will.

Complete the conditionals

  1. snowsThe main clause uses will, so this is the first conditional: if + present simple.
  2. would cook / 'd cookThe if-clause uses the past simple, so the main clause needs would + verb.
  3. won't get / will not getThe if-clause uses the present simple, so the main clause needs won't (will not) + verb.
  4. livedThe main clause uses would, so the if-clause needs the past simple: lived.
  5. will enjoy / 'll enjoyJoining is a real possibility (if you join), so we use will in the main clause.
  6. were / wasIf I were you is a common way to give advice. Was is also used in everyday speech.
  7. didn't have / did not haveThe main clause uses would, so the if-clause needs the past simple negative: didn't have.
  8. isUnless works like if in the first conditional, so we use the present simple, not will.

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