Conditionals are sentences with if that describe a condition and its result. English has four main types, depending on whether the situation is a fact, a real possibility, imaginary, or in the past and impossible to change. The table shows all four types side by side. Then try the exercises below and read why each answer is correct.
| Type | Form | Use it for | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero | if + present, present | facts, things that always happen | If you heat ice, it melts. |
| First | if + present, will + verb | real possibilities in the future | If it rains, we’ll stay at home. |
| Second | if + past, would + verb | imaginary or unlikely situations now or in the future | If I had more time, I’d learn Japanese. |
| Third | if + past perfect, would have + participle | imaginary situations in the past | If we had left earlier, we wouldn’t have missed the train. |
Conditionals exercises
Four sets of 20 questions: start with Basics (zero and first conditional) and move up to the third conditional and alternatives to if, or try the At work set. Prefer to check everything at the end? Switch to Exam mode.
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If you heat ice, it .
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If it tomorrow, we’ll stay at home.
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If you (study), you’ll pass the exam.
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If you mix red and white, you pink.
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I you if I need help.
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If she (not / hurry), she’ll miss the bus.
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What will you do if you the job?
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Plants die if they water.
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If I see Tom, I (tell) him.
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If you press this button, the machine .
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We to the beach if the weather is nice.
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If you (be) tired, go to bed.
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If I late, I’ll text you.
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If you don’t water the flowers, they .
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(you / come) to the party if I invite you?
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If you eat too fast, you sick.
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Call me if you any problems.
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If it (not / rain), we’ll have a picnic.
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If water reaches 0°C, it .
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I won’t go you come with me.
Teachers: download these questions as a printable worksheet with an answer key. It’s free to use in class.
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If I a million dollars, I would travel the world.
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If I were you, I that job.
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If she (live) closer, we would see her more often.
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What would you do if you a famous person?
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If I you, I’d talk to her.
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If I had more time, I learn Japanese.
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We (buy) a bigger house if we had more money.
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If he so lazy, he would get better marks.
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If it tomorrow, we’ll cancel the trip.
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If I won the lottery, I stop working.
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If I (know) the answer, I would tell you. (but I don’t)
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If you harder, you’d pass.
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I go out tonight if I didn’t have so much homework.
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If I (be) taller, I’d play basketball.
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If you late again, you’ll lose your job.
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If you could live anywhere, where you live?
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If they now, they would catch the last train.
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She would be happier if she (not / work) so hard.
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I wouldn’t do that if I you.
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If I find your keys, I you know.
Teachers: download these questions as a printable worksheet with an answer key. It’s free to use in class.
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If I had known you were coming, I a cake.
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If we earlier, we wouldn’t have missed the train.
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She (pass) the exam if she had studied harder.
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If it hadn’t rained, we the match.
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I wouldn’t have got lost if I a map.
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If you (not / help) me, I would have failed.
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You can borrow my car you drive carefully.
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you hurry, you’ll miss the flight.
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I’ll lend you the money you pay me back next week. (on condition that)
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If I to lose my job, I would move back home.
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I known about the problem, I would have helped.
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If you (call) me, I could have picked you up.
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If I were rich, I a house by the sea.
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If she had asked me, I her.
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Supposing you a million euros, what would you do?
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you need any help, please call me. (formal: if you need)
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We would have been on time the traffic.
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If it for your help, I would have failed.
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Even if you (offer) me double, I wouldn’t take the job.
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I’ll take an umbrella it rains.
Teachers: download these questions as a printable worksheet with an answer key. It’s free to use in class.
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If we the deadline, the client will be angry.
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If I were the manager, I more staff.
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If the client (agree), we’ll sign the contract tomorrow.
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If we had started earlier, we the project on time.
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Please let me know if you any questions.
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We would save money if we (work) from home more often.
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sales improve, we’ll have to cut costs.
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If the printer runs out of paper, a red light .
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If I (know) about the meeting, I would have come.
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We can offer a discount you order 100 units or more.
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If you the report by Friday, I’ll review it at the weekend.
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If I had more experience, I for the senior position.
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If they (not / lower) the price, we wouldn’t have bought from them.
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If the meeting on time, we’ll have lunch together.
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If I you, I’d ask for a pay rise.
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you have any problems, please contact IT. (formal)
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We would have lost the client your quick response.
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If our competitors prices, we will have to do the same.
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What would you do if you (lose) your biggest client?
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If you don’t back up your files, you lose everything.
Teachers: download these questions as a printable worksheet with an answer key. It’s free to use in class.
The golden rule: no “will” or “would” after “if”
The if part takes a present or past tense, and will or would go in the result part: If it rains, we’ll stay home (not if it will rain). If I had known, I would have helped (not if I would have known). The two parts can come in either order; use a comma when if comes first.
First or second conditional?
It depends on how real the situation feels to you. If I get the job, I’ll move to London means I’ve applied and it’s possible. If I got a job in London, I’d move means I’m just imagining. For advice, use If I were you, I’d…
Alternatives to “if”
- unless = if not: Unless you hurry, you’ll miss the bus.
- as long as / provided (that) = only if: You can borrow it as long as you’re careful.
- in case = as a precaution: Take an umbrella in case it rains.
- Formal inversion: Should you need help… (= If you need) · Had I known… (= If I had known)
Common mistakes
- ❌ If I will see him, I’ll tell him. → ✅ If I see him, I’ll tell him.
- ❌ If I would have money, I would buy it. → ✅ If I had money, I would buy it.
- ❌ If I knew, I would told you. → ✅ If I had known, I would have told you.
FAQ
What are unreal conditionals?
Unreal conditionals describe situations that are not true or not likely: the second conditional (unreal present or future) and the third conditional (unreal past). Mixing them gives mixed conditionals, such as If I had studied medicine, I would be a doctor now.
Is it “If I were” or “If I was”?
Both are used. If I were is more formal and is the standard choice in exams and in the fixed phrase If I were you. If I was is common in informal speech.