English Handout BEN’S ENGLISH EXPLAINATION COURSE Year: 2021
12th Grade Name_______________________________________ Teacher: (Benedito)
Conditional sentences: Resume
1. The first conditional sentences
Rule: If + present simple (condition) + will + verb (result)
Eg: If condition result
present simple will + base verb
If it rains, I will stay at home
The first conditional refers to the future. It is used when there is a possibility that the if-event might happen.
Other modal verbs (can, may, etc) and shall can be used in place of will.
2. The second conditional sentences
The second conditional is used to express the consequence of an unrealistic action or situation in the present or
future. The situation can be:
− Very improbable (1 – 5% probability);
− Completely unrealistic (with a 0% probability).
For example: If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world. There is a very low probability (1% chance)
that the first part of the sentence (winning the lottery) will happen. But if it happens the second part is 100%
certain.
Rule: If + past simple + would/ wouldn’t + verb or would/ woldn’t + verb + if + past simple
Eg: If I lived in a big city, I would go out more often or I’d go out more often if I lived in a big city.
3. The third conditional sentences
The third conditional sentences always refer to the past. We speculate about situations that happened or did not
happen in the past.
Examples:
If I had won a million, I would have started a business of my own. (But I didn’t win anything)
If he had met her, he would have told her. (Unfortunately, he didn’t meet her)
If we hadn’t practiced, we wouldn’t have won the match. (But we practiced and won)
We use the past perfect in the if clause and perfect infinite (have + past particle) in the main clause.
Exercises-application
a. The first conditional
1. Write these sentences, putting the verbs in brackets into present simple or future simple.
a) If the train’s late, we (walk)
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b) She (call) you if she (have) time.
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c) If it costs too much, I (buy) a smaller one,
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d) What will you do if the taxi (not come)?
1
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e) Will you phone me if there (be) any problems?
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f) I (ask) Peter if I (see) him tomorrow.
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g) I (go) next week, if I (can) get a train ticket.
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h) If he (see) me here, he (be) really angry.
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b. The second conditional
2. Write these sentences, putting the verbs in brackets into the correct tense.
Example: If you drove more carefully, you (not have) so many accidents.
If you drove more carefully, you wouldn’t have so many accidents.
a) If he (get up) earlier, he’d get to work on time.
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b) If I (have) more time, I could tell you more about it.
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c) If you (sell) more products, you’d earn more money.
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d) I could help you if you (trust) me more.
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e) His car would be a lot a safer if he (buy) new types.
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f) The children would be better swimmers if they (go) swimming more frequently.
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g) I wouldn’t mind having children if we (live) in country.
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c. The third conditional
3. Rewrite the sentences and use the third conditional. Keep the same meaning.
Example: My car was out of order. I did not drive there
If my car had not been out of order. I would have driven her there.
a) She did not give me her phone number. I could not call her.
If she___________________her phone number, I could have called her.
b) If he had not been at work, he_________________________with us.
c) My dad did not buy any sugar. My mum did not make any cake.
If my dad_____________________some sugar my mum would have made some cake.
d) I travelled round the world because I have won the lottery.
I wouldn’t have travelled round the world if I___________________the lottery.
e) We did not have enough money. We could not afford to eat in restaurants.
If we___________________enough money, we could have afforded to eat in restaurants.
f) I come back home late because I had worked long hours.
I would not have have come back home late if I______________________long hours.
End Good work The teacher!
