Conditionals: The Complete Guide
Welcome to your conditionals worksheet! Conditionals are a key part of English grammar that
we use to talk about possible and imaginary situations and their results. Think of them as a way
to create an "if-then" statement. Mastering these will help you express yourself with much more
precision.
Zero Conditional
The Zero Conditional is used for things that are always true, such as scientific facts, general
truths, and rules. It describes a cause-and-effect relationship where the result is certain. The
time we are talking about is "now" or "always."
Structure: If + Present Simple, Present Simple
Examples:
● If you heat ice, it melts.
● When it gets dark, I turn on the lights.
● If you mix red and blue, you get purple.
● The alarm goes off if you press that button.
● If you don't water plants, they die.
● If you bake bread, you need to turn on the oven.
● If she cleans the window, she must do this with window spray.
● If I sleep early, I feel better.
● I feel better if I sleep early.
● If I cool water to 0 degrees Celsius, it turns to ice.
● It turns to ice if I cool water degrees Celsius.
● If you want to print a t-shirt, you need special ink.
● You need special ink if you want to print a t-shirt.
First Conditional
The First Conditional is used for real or very likely situations in the future. We use it to talk
about a possible future action and its probable future result. The situation is not a certainty like
the zero conditional, but it is a real possibility.
Structure: If + Present Simple, will + base verb
Examples:
● If it rains tomorrow, we will go to the cinema.
● I will call you if I have time later.
● If she studies hard, she will pass her exam.
● If they don't leave now, they will miss their flight.
● He will feel much better if he takes some medicine.
● If you need to work on your laptop, you will need a charger.
● You will need a charger if you need to work on your laptop.
● If it is cold outside, you will take more clothes.
● If it is cold outside, I will wear a coat.
● It is warm outside, I will wear my shorts.
● I will wear my shorts if it is warm outside.
● If I want tea, I will turn on the kettle.
● I will turn on the kettle if I want tea.
● We will go to the movies if the sequel is at the cinema.
● If the sequel is at the cinema, we will go to the movies.
Second Conditional
The Second Conditional is for unreal or imaginary situations in the present or future. We
use it to talk about something that is impossible or very unlikely to happen. It's often used to
give advice or dream about a different reality.
Structure: If + Past Simple, would + base verb
Examples:
● If I won the lottery, I would buy a new house.
● If she were rich, she would not have to work.
● I would travel all over the world if I had more money.
● If he spoke English fluently, he would get a better job.
● If I were you, I would apologize.
● If I drew a picture, I would sell it.
● I would sit on a chair if I bought one.
● If I were in Spain, I would go to the beach.
● I would visit the pub if my work was finished.
● If my work was finished, I would visit the pub.
Third Conditional
The Third Conditional is used to talk about unreal situations in the past. We use it to
imagine a different outcome for a past event that cannot be changed now. It's often used to
express regret or relief.
Structure: If + Past Perfect, would have + past participle
Examples:
● If he had left earlier, he would have caught the train.
● She would have passed the test if she had studied for it.
● If you hadn't helped me, I would have been in trouble.
● I would have baked a cake if I had known you were coming.
● If we had taken a taxi, we wouldn't have been late.
If you had scratched the car, you would have had trouble.
He would have swum if he had trained more
If she hadn’t liked you, she would have lost chance.
We wouldn’t have written new laws if the old laws had worked.
If putin hadn’t burned in the past, we wouldn’t have had any problems.
Mixed Conditionals
Mixed conditionals are used when the time in the main clause is different from the time in the if
clause. They combine the second and third conditional structures.
Type 1 Mixed Conditional (Past Condition Present/Future Result)
This type is used for a hypothetical past action that has a present result. The past event didn't
happen, so the present situation is what it is.
Structure: If + Past Perfect, would + base verb
Examples:
● If I had won the lottery, I would be rich now.
● If she had studied harder, she would have a better job today.
● If we hadn't missed the flight, we would be in Paris now.
● He wouldn't be so tired if he had gone to bed earlier last night.
● If you had listened to my advice, you would be happy now.
If he had locked his bike, he would be riding it today.
He wouldn’t be so drunk if he had stopped early
She would pass theory test if she had read more paragraphs
You would count better if you had used a calculator.
Type 2 Mixed Conditional (Present Condition → Past Result)
This type is used for a hypothetical present situation that had a past consequence. It connects a
general truth or characteristic with a specific past action.
Structure: If + Past Simple, would have + past participle
Examples:
● If I were more patient, I would have handled that situation better yesterday.
● She would have gone to the party if she wasn't so shy.
● If he wasn't so afraid of flying, he would have taken a plane to the conference.
● I would have been so angry if you didn't have a car.
● If you were a good cook, you would have helped us with dinner last night.
Our team would have played better if we trained harder now.
If he given up yesterday, he would have been there next time
If you were a better driver, you would have avoided that accident
Exercises
Exercise A: Match the two parts of the sentences.
1. If you freeze water, it becomes ice.
2. If I found a wallet, I would return it.
3. I would have bought a new phone if I had saved more money.
4. If she gets a promotion, she will buy a new car.
5. If you hadn't brought an umbrella, you would have gotten wet.
a) she will buy a new car.
b) you would have gotten wet.
c) it becomes ice.
d) I would return it.
e) if I had saved more money.
Exercise B: Complete the sentences with the correct conditional form.
1. If he studies harder, he will pass his exams.
2. She wouldn't be so tired if she gone to bed earlier last night.
3. If I had a million dollars, I would travel the world.
4. When you heat metal, it expands.
5. I would help you if you had asked me.
Exercise C: Fill in the blank with a verb to make a logical sentence. Use the correct
conditional form.
1. If I were a millionaire, I would travel the world.
2. The roads would be safer if everyone drove at the speed limit.
3. If she had woken up earlier, she would have taken the bus.
4. If the baby is hungry, he feeds.
5. You would be healthy now if you had listened to my advice.
Exercise D: Identify the type of conditional for each sentence.
1. If you mix these two chemicals, they explode. Zero
2. He would have gone to the party if he wasn't so shy. Mixed (Present - Past)
3. If I had known you were in town, I would have called you. Third
4. I will take a picture if the sun comes out. First
5. If I were an actor, I would live in Hollywood. Second
