English Grammar: Conditionals
Complete each sentence with a suitable form of the verb in brackets.
1) If Spain __________ (win) the World Cup, what ______ you _______ (do)?
2) If you __________ (must not) hurry, you __________ (miss) the plane.
3) I didn’t know that Henry had had an accident, otherwise I __________ (visit) him.
4) Where __________ you __________ (go) if you __________ (can) decide?
5) If Ann __________ (go) to the supermarket, please __________ (tell) her to buy milk.
Answers:
1) If Spain __________ (win) the World Cup, what ______ you _______ (do)?
If Spain won the World Cup, what would you do (do)?
2) If you __________ (must not) hurry, you __________ (miss) the plane.
If you mustn’t hurry, you’ll miss the plane.
3) I didn’t know that Henry had had an accident, otherwise I __________ (visit) him.
I didn’t know that Henry had had an accident, otherwise I would have visited him.
4) Where __________ you __________ (go) if you __________ (can) decide?
Where would you go if you could decide?
5) If Ann __________ (go) to the supermarket, please __________ (tell) her to buy milk.
If Ann goes to the supermarket, please tell her to buy milk.
Extra examples & explanation:
Basic rules:
Zero Conditional: It is always true; 100%. It is, for example, a scientific fact.
(Siempre es cierto; 100%. Es, por ejemplo, un hecho científico).
The structure of the conditional (La estructura del condicional)
If + simple present + simple present
An example
If you heat ice, it melts.
(Si calientas hielo, se derrite)
1st Conditional: It is a real possibility in the future.
(Es una posibilidad real en el futuro)
The structure of the conditional
If + simple present + simple future (will)
An example
If she doesn’t take an umbrella, she’ll get wet.
(Si ella no coge un paraguas, se mojará)
Note: Imperatives can be used to replace either clause of the first conditional
(Nota: Los imperativos se pueden utilizar para reemplazar cualquier oración del primer condicional)
An example
If you go to Paris, visit the Eiffel Tower.
(Si vas a París, visita la Torre Eiffel)
2nd Conditional: A hypothetical situation in the present. It is something that does not happen.
(Una situación hipotética en el presente. Es algo que no sucede)
The structure of the conditional
If + subject + past tense / subject + would/could (not) + infinitive + clause
An example
If she studied, she would pass.
(Si ella estudiara/estudiase, aprobaría)
3rd Conditional: A hypothetical situation in the past. It is something that did not happen.
(Una situación hipotética en el pasado. Es algo que no sucedió)
The structure of the conditional
If + subject + past perfect / subject + would/could (not) have + infinitive + clause
An example
If she hadn’t studied, she wouldn’t have passed.
(Si ella no hubiera/hubiese estudiado, no habría aprobado)
