Study Guide: Conditional Sentences for ESL Students

Conditional sentences are used to express possibilities, hypothetical situations, or the consequences of actions. They consist of two clauses:

1. The “if” clause (condition)
2. The main clause (result)

Types of Conditional Sentences

1. Zero Conditional

• Form: If + present simple, present simple
• Use: To talk about facts or general truths.

Examples:

• If you heat water, it boils.
• If people exercise regularly, they stay healthy.
• If the sun sets, it gets dark.

2. First Conditional

• Form: If + present simple, will + base verb
• Use: To talk about real or possible situations in the future.

Examples:

• If it rains tomorrow, we will stay home.
• If you study hard, you will pass the test.
• If she calls me, I will answer.

3. Second Conditional

• Form: If + past simple, would + base verb
• Use: To talk about unreal or hypothetical situations in the present or future.

Examples:

• If I had a million dollars, I would travel the world.
• If he were here, he would help us.
• If we lived closer to the city, we would go out more often.

Note: Use were instead of was for all subjects in formal English.

4. Third Conditional

• Form: If + past perfect, would have + past participle
• Use: To talk about hypothetical situations in the past that did not happen.

Examples:

• If I had studied more, I would have passed the exam.
• If they had arrived earlier, they would have seen the show.
• If she had known about the meeting, she would have attended.

5. Mixed Conditional

• Form: Combines parts of the second and third conditionals
• Use: To talk about a past situation and its present consequence, or vice versa.

Examples:

• If I had studied medicine, I would be a doctor now. (Past action affecting the present)
• If she were more organized, she would have finished the project on time. (Present condition affecting the past)

Tips for Understanding and Practicing Conditionals

1. Look for Time References:
   • Zero and first conditional often refer to present or future.
   • Second and third conditional refer to hypothetical situations.
2. Practice by Creating Examples:
   • Zero Conditional: Write facts or habits (e.g., If I drink coffee, I feel more awake.)
   • First Conditional: Write plans or predictions (e.g., If I finish work early, I will go for a walk.)
   • Second Conditional: Write dreams or imaginary situations (e.g., If I were famous, I would live in a big house.)
   • Third Conditional: Reflect on regrets or missed opportunities (e.g., If I had left earlier, I wouldn’t have been late.)
3. Use Conditional Questions:
   • What would you do if you won the lottery? (Second conditional)
   • What will you do if it rains tomorrow? (First conditional)

Additional Practice Sentences by Type

Zero Conditional:

• If you mix red and blue, you get purple.
• If babies are hungry, they cry.

First Conditional:

• If you take the train, you will arrive faster.
• If he doesn’t apologize, she won’t forgive him.

Second Conditional:

• If I spoke Spanish, I would visit Spain.
• If we didn’t have a car, we would use public transportation.

Third Conditional:

• If I had known you were sick, I would have visited you.
• If they had prepared better, they would have won the game.

Further Examples

• If you call her now, she will probably answer.
• If I knew his address, I would send him a letter.
• If you mix yellow and blue, you get green.
• If we had taken a taxi, we wouldn’t have missed the train.
• If she were more patient, she would handle the situation better.
• If I had studied architecture, I would be designing buildings now.
• If you leave ice in the sun, it melts.
• If I had prepared for the presentation, I would have done better yesterday.
• If I find my glasses, I’ll be able to read this book.
• If I didn’t have to work tomorrow, I would go to the beach with you.
• If he eats too much sugar, he gets a stomachache.
• If we had started earlier, we would be halfway there by now.
• If she doesn’t call me tonight, I’ll be very upset.
• If I were you, I would talk to the manager.
• If the flight is delayed, we’ll have to wait at the airport.
• If I hadn’t missed the bus, I wouldn’t have arrived late.
• If she speaks too quickly, I don’t understand her.
• If he exercised regularly, he would feel healthier.
• If I hadn’t spent all my savings, I would have enough money for the trip now.
• If it rains, the roads become slippery.

Exercise 1: Personal Reflection Questions

Answer these questions using your own experiences and imagination:

1. If you won a million dollars, what would you do first?
2. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
3. If you had studied something different in school, what would it have been?
4. If you see someone drop their wallet, what will you do?
5. If you could meet any famous person, who would it be?
6. If you hadn’t started learning English, what language would you have chosen instead?
7. If it rains tomorrow, what plans will you make?
8. If you didn’t have to work for a living, how would you spend your time?
9. If you had been born 100 years ago, what kind of life would you have had?
10. If you were the president of your country, what changes would you make?

Exercise 2: Complete the Sentences

Fill in the blanks with your ideas to complete these conditional sentences:

1. If I had more time, I ____________.
2. If the weather is nice this weekend, I ____________.
3. If I were better at math, I ____________.
4. If I had remembered to set my alarm, I ____________.
5. If I meet my favorite celebrity, I ____________.
6. If I were an animal, I ____________ because ____________.
7. If my best friend moved to another country, I ____________.
8. If I could speak three languages fluently, I ____________.
9. If I hadn’t missed the train, I ____________.
10. If I had a superpower, it would be ____________ because ____________.

Exercise 3: “What Would You Do?” Scenarios

Imagine these situations and answer the questions:

1. What would you do if you got lost in a new city without your phone?
2. What will you do if you forget your umbrella on a rainy day?
3. What would you do if someone accidentally spilled coffee on your laptop?
4. What would you have done if you had forgotten to bring your passport to the airport?
5. What will you do if your car breaks down on the way to work?
6. What would you do if you were offered a job in a country where you don’t speak the language?
7. What would you have done if you had been late to your final exam?
8. What will you do if you can’t find a seat at a crowded restaurant?
9. What would you do if your favorite store suddenly gave you a free shopping spree?
10. What would you have done if you had been given a second chance at something important?