Life Intermediate Unit 6b

Real conditionals: if + present simple: Zero conditional

and first conditional, if, when, unless

When it’s sunny, we usually If it’s sunny

go to the beach. If it rains, tomorrow, we’ll go
we stay at home and read. to the beach.

Presentation
If 1 present simple, present simple Position of if
You use if or when with the present simple followed by You can use if in two possible positions.
the present simple in the main clause to talk about facts • if-clause first: If it rains, we’ll stay at home.
and things which are generally true:
• main clause first: We’ll stay at home if it rains.
If it’s sunny, we go to the beach.
When the if-clause is at the beginning of the sentence,
When it’s sunny, we go to the beach. you use a comma to separate it from the main clause.
If it rains, we stay at home. If it’s sunny, we’ll go to the beach.
When it rains, we stay at home.
if or when?
This is often called the zero conditional.
When you talk about things that are generally true, you
If 1 present simple, will can use if or when. There’s no difference.
You can also use if with the present simple to talk about If it’s sunny / When it’s sunny... If it rains / When it
a possible future situation or action. You use will / won’t rains...
in the main clause to talk about the result of that When you talk about situations in the future, there is a
situation or action: difference between if and when.
If it’s sunny tomorrow, we’ll go to the beach. If I see Jim, I’ll let him know. (You don’t know if you’re
This is often called the first conditional. going to see Jim, but you know it’s a possibility.)
Note that you use if with the present simple, not will, to When I see Jim, I’ll let him know. (You know you are
talk about the future. definitely going to see Jim.)
(don’t say If it will be sunny tomorrow, we’ll go to the unless
beach.)
unless 5 if … not
You can also use the present simple to talk about the
We’ll go to the beach tomorrow unless it rains. 5 We’ll go
future after time conjunctions. See Unit 54.
to the beach tomorrow if it doesn’t rain.

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 Intermediate Unit 6b
Exercises

1 Match 1–6 to a–f.

1 I’ll be really surprised a if he passes all his exams.
2 I’ll take a break b when the teacher isn’t in the classroom.
3 If you talk to Ruth, c they’ll cancel the flight.
4 It’s really cold d when I finish this exercise.
5 If the storm doesn’t stop, e when the wind blows from the north.
6 The children always behave badly f will you tell her about the party?
2  Complete the conversation with the present simple or will future form of the
verbs in brackets. Then listen and check.
Conversation 1
A: What do you usually do at the weekend?
B: If I 1 (not / have) any work to do, we 2 (often / go) away
somewhere.
Conversation 2
C: What are you doing this weekend?
D: I’m not sure. If the weather 3 (be) good, we 4 (take)
the kids to the zoo.
Conversation 3
E: Is Tim here today?
F: I don’t know. I haven’t seen him.
E: Well, if you 5 (see) him, 6 (you let) me know, please?
I need to talk to him.
Conversation 4
G: The receptionist isn’t here today. She’s not well.
H: OK. I’ll tell Laura. She 7 (usually / cover) on reception if the receptionist
8
(be) absent.
3 Complete the second sentence so that it has the same meaning as the first sentence.
1  ou won’t pass the exam if you don’t study.
Y
You won’t pass the exam unless .
2 We’re going camping this weekend if it doesn’t rain.
We’re going camping this weekend unless .
3 I’ll drive you to the airport tomorrow if John doesn’t want to.
I’ll drive you to the airport tomorrow unless .
4 We don’t go out in the evenings unless we can get a babysitter.
We don’t go out in the evenings if .
5 That plant will die unless you water it.
That plant will die if .
4 Complete these sentences so that they are true for you.
1 I’ll probably tomorrow, unless .
2 If I have time this evening, .
3 I don’t usually unless I really have to.
4 If I have any free time during the week, I usually .

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Life Intermediate Unit 10b
Unreal conditionals: if + past simple: Second conditional

Presentation
You use if with the past simple to talk about situations If clause: if 1 past Main clause: would 1
that are … simple infinitive
• possible but not probable: If I had a lot of money, I’d (would) buy a yacht.
If I won the lottery, … (I don’t think it’s very probable If he didn’t have to work, he wouldn’t (would not) get
that I’ll win the lottery.) up so early.
• impossible: If you won the lottery, would you spend all the
If I were you, … (but I’m not and I never will be.) money?
Yes, I would. / No, I wouldn’t.
You use the if-clause to describe the situation. You
use would/wouldn’t 1 infinitive in the main clause to TIP  he contracted form of would is ’d. Do not confuse
T
talk about the imagined reaction to, or result of, the it with the contracted form of had in the past
situation: perfect. Would is followed by the infinitive. Had is
followed by the past participle.
If I won the lottery, I’d buy a luxury yacht.
I’d go 5 I would go
If I were you, I’d concentrate on my work. I’d gone 5 I had gone (not I would gone)
You can also use if with the past simple to talk about … If I was or If I were?
• imagined present situations: When you use the verb be with if in the simple past, you
If I had a lot of money, … (the real situation is that I can use was or were for I, he, she and it.
don’t have a lot of money.)
If I were rich ... / If I was rich ...
• imagined future situations:
If he were my husband ... / If he was my husband ...
If I got a new job next week, … (I don’t think I will get
a new job.) Were is more formal.
This is often called the second conditional. You often use If I were you to give advice. If I were you 5
If I was / were in your position. You use would / wouldn’t
for the advice.
If I were you, I’d get on with my work!

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 Intermediate Unit 10b
Exercises

1 Put the words in order.

1 the lottery give I to charity won I’d the money if 4 asked for mind if wouldn’t he you some help
. .
2 taller he’d were he be a great if basketball player 5 if by bus I have go to work I’d didn’t a car
. .
3 if I more energy did I’d some exercise have 6 worrying it stop if I about were I’d you
. .

2 Choose the correct options. Then listen and check.

A: So, if you 1 won / would win a million pounds on the lottery, what 2 did / would you do with it?
B: I don’t know. I think 3 I bought / I’d buy a house, and if my family 4 needed / would need some money,
5
I gave / I’d give them some, of course.
A: Did / Would you give any money to charity?
6

B: If 7 I knew / I’d know the money was going to help someone have a better life, well, yes, I 8 did / would. What
about you?
A: If 9 I had / I’d have a million pounds, 10 I started / I’d start my own business. 11 I opened / I’d open an art
gallery or something like that …
B: Nice idea. If 12 I started / I’d start a new business, I think 13 I wanted / I’d want to run a restaurant or a bar.

3 Complete the people’s thoughts.

1 I have to work this morning. If I didn’t have to 1 2
work this morning, I’d have breakfast in bed.

2 I haven’t got enough time. If I

,
to school on my bike.

3 I haven’t got enough money. If I

, 3 4
that scooter.

4 I don’t know how to drive. If I

,
a taxi driver.

4 Complete the sentences so that they are true for you.

1 If I had ,I .
2 If I could ,I .
3 If I didn’t have to ,I .

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Life Intermediate Unit 12b
if clauses 3: past perfect: Talking about things that did not
happen, would have, could have, should have

If the driver hadn’t

Oh no! Did you just seen the dog in time,
They really see that! It could have he’d have hit it.
shouldn’t have got killed!
let it go.

Presentation
Use if 1 past perfect to talk about situations that did TIP You can use couldn’t have to talk about a lack of
not happen in the past. The situation described is often ability in the past. In this case you cannot use
the opposite of what really happened. Use would have 1 might have, nor can you use an if clause: The
past participle to talk about the hypothetical past driver couldn’t have reacted any quicker. (5 it was
consequences of the imagined past situation: physically impossible)

imagined past situation Real or imaginary?

imagined past result
When you want to talk about a real past situation,
if 1 past perfect would have + past participle
If the driver hadn’t seen
use if 1 past simple:
the dog in time, he’d have hit it. If you knew the dog wasn’t on the lead, why didn’t you
Note: this is often referred to as the third conditional.
warn the driver?
If you knew 5 you did know.
The contracted form for both had and would is ’d: Compare it with a sentence using if 1 past perfect:
If I’d told you, you’d have told the police.
If I’d known the dog wasn’t on the lead, I would have
Don’t confuse the two forms. Had is followed by a past warned the driver.
participle: If I’d told you, … 5 If I had told you, …
If I’d known 5 I didn’t know.
Would is followed by have 1 past participle: You’d have
You often use if 1 a real past situation to express
told the police. 5 You would have told the police.
criticism of a past action.
would have, could have, might have
should have, ought to have
Use would have to describe the logical consequence of
Use should have and ought to have to talk about the
a hypothetical situation: He would definitely have hit the
correct or morally right thing to do in a past situation.
dog (if he hadn’t seen it in time).
You often use these forms to criticise past actions:
Use could have or might have to speculate on one of
If they couldn’t control the dog, it shouldn’t (or ought not
two or more possible consequences of a hypothetical
to) have been off the lead.
past situation: If the driver hadn’t stopped in time, it
could/might have got killed! (5 This is one possible If you knew the dog was loose, you ought to have (or
hypothetical consequence.) should have) warned the driver.

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 Intermediate Unit 12b
Exercises

1 Choose the correct options.

1 If I’d arrive / arrived on time, I’d have / had spoken to him before he left.
2 If my phone hadn’t / wouldn’t have run out of battery, I’d called / have called you.
3 I hadn’t arrived / wouldn’t have arrived late if my car hadn’t / wouldn’t have broken down.
4 They’d never found out / have found out, if he hadn’t / wouldn’t have said something.
5 I think we could have / had won, if we’d try / tried harder.
6 If you’d really want / wanted to come, you’d found / have found a way.
2 Complete the sentences about the imagined past situations.
1The teacher was very angry with him because he hadn’t done his homework.
The teacher wouldn't have been so angry with him if he had done his homework.
2 I was very tired this morning because I went to bed late last night.
If I late last night, I so tired this morning.
3 You didn’t tell me it was her birthday, so I didn’t bring her a present.
If you her birthday, I a present for her.
4 I passed the exam because you helped me.
I the exam if you me.
5 I didn’t see you, so I didn’t say hello.
I hello if you.
6 I didn’t miss my train because it was delayed.
If the train on time, I it.

3 Complete the sentences using the verbs in the boxes.

might have would have should have
1 That was a very silly thing to do! You really been more careful.
2 If I’d paid more attention, I learnt something new.
3 If she’d won the competition, she been the first woman to do so.
could have shouldn’t have wouldn’t have
4 If you’d paid more attention, you got lost.
5 If you didn’t know what you were doing, you been on the boat!
6 That was very irresponsible. Someone got hurt.

4  Write the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Then listen and check.
A: You missed a good concert last night. You really should have been there.
B: But I was!
A: If you 1 (be) there, why 2 (I/not/see) you?
B: I was in the gallery. If you 3
(look) up, you 4 (see) me. I waved
at you, but you didn’t wave back.
A: If I 5 (not wave) back, it 6 (be) because I couldn’t see you! Why
didn’t you text me or something? If you 7 (send) a text, we 8 (go)
out for a drink or something.
B: I tried, but I didn’t have any credit on my phone. And anyway, I had to go home early.

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