All Conditional Forms

1. (If / When) I leave work, I usually go to the fitness center to work out.

2. She hates TV. She thinks television is a waste of time. (If / When) she watches any television at all, it is usually a documentary or a news program.

3. My friend always keeps in touch by mail. (If / When) I get a letter, I usually write back immediately.

4. If I (have) enough money, I (go) on safari to Kenya. However, my bank account is empty!

5. I love to travel! When I (have) enough money, I (go) abroad. I do it almost every year.

6. I really wanted to go on safari to Kenya with my friends, but I couldn't afford to go. If I (have) enough money, I (go) with them.

7. I'm sorry, I didn't know you were allergic to chocolate. If I (know) , I (make) you a vanilla birthday cake.

8. Stop asking me what Amanda bought you for Christmas. Even if I (know) what she bought you, I (tell, not) you.

9. Nobody here speaks English. Too bad Gloria isn't here. If she (be) with us, she (can) act as our interpreter.

10. I am afraid I won't be able to come to your wedding next week because my company is sending me to New York to attend a trade show. I (miss, never) your wedding if I (have) a choice in the matter.

11. If the weather is nice tomorrow, she (walk) along the river to school.

12. If you help me move tomorrow, I (treat) you to a dinner and a movie.

13. If you were to help me move tomorrow, I (treat) you to a dinner and a movie.

14. If I were in Tahiti right now, I (snorkel) along a beautiful reef. I wouldn't be stuck here in this office with mountains of paperwork.

15. If Jerry hadn't stopped to pick up that quarter, he (cross) the street when the bus ran the red light. He might have been killed!

16. Tina's train arrived ahead of schedule. If I hadn't decided to go to the train station early, she (wait) there for more than twenty minutes before I arrived.

17. If I (pass) the test, I (get) an "A" in the class. Instead, I got a "C." I really should have studied more.

18. If I (be) rich, I (buy) that new Mercedes we saw yesterday. Unfortunately, I can't even afford a used car.

19. We (go) skiing this weekend, but there's no snow. Oh, well! We will just have to find something else to do instead.

20. If Heather spoke Chinese, she (translate) the email for you yesterday.

"Were to" in Past, Present and Future

1. She loves her husband. If she (get) a divorce, it would devastate her.

2. If they (tear) down that old opera house, we would not have any historical architecture left in the city.

3. If the hurricane (hit) Miami, thousands of people might have lost their lives.

4. I can't stand him. If he (be) hired, I would quit.

5. I have no fire insurance. If my house (burn) down, I would have no way to buy new furniture.

6. If he (be) found guilty, he would have gone to jail for 30 years.

7. If the airlines (cancel) the flight, I would never make it to the family reunion on time.

8. He was not wearing a motorcycle helmet. If he (crash) into that car, he would have been killed.

9. If the government (increase) income tax, I would not be able to survive.

10. If I (lose) my job, I would use the Internet to find a new one.

Mixed Conditionals

1.a. She will take care of the children for us next weekend because her business trip was canceled.
1.b. But, she (take, not) would not be taking care of the children for us next weekend if her business trip (be, not) had not been canceled.

2.a. Tom is not going to come to dinner tomorrow because you insulted him yesterday.
2.b. But, he (come) if you (insult) him.

3.a. Marie is unhappy because she gave up her career when she got married.
3.b. But, Marie (be) happy if she (give, not) up her career when she got married.

4.a. Dr. Mercer decided not to accept the research grant at Harvard because he is going to take six months off to spend more time with his family.
4.b. But, Dr. Mercer (accept) the research grant at Harvard if he (take, not) six months off to spend more time with his family.

5.a. Professor Schmitz talked so much about the Maasai tribe because she is an expert on African tribal groups.
5.b. But, Professor Schmitz (talk, not) so much about the Maasai tribe if she (be, not) an expert on African tribal groups.

6.a. I am unemployed because I had a disagreement with my boss and I was fired.
6.b. But, I (be, not) unemployed if I (have, not) a disagreement with my boss and I (be, not) fired.

7.a. Nicole speaks Chinese fluently because she lived in China for ten years.
7.b. But, Nicole (speak, not) Chinese fluently if she (live, not) in China for ten years.

8.a. I will not help you study for your test because you have spent the last two weeks partying and wasting time.
8.b. But, I (help) you study for your test if you (spend, not) the last two weeks partying and wasting time.

9.a. Eleanor and Ben are not going skiing with us this year because Eleanor just had a baby.
9.b. But, Eleanor and Ben (go) skiing with us this year if Eleanor (have, not, just) a baby.

10.a. I am completely exhausted, so I will not go with you to the movies tonight.
10.b. But, if I (be, not) completely exhausted, I (go) with you to the movies tonight.

11.a. She is not worried about the conference tomorrow because she is not giving a speech.
11.b. But, she (be) worried about the conference tomorrow if she (give) a speech.

12.a. Frank is not going to the graduation ceremony because he broke his leg snowboarding last week.
12.b. But, Frank (go) to the graduation ceremony if he (break) his leg snowboarding last week.

13.a. They are not releasing the prisoner next month because there was so much public opposition to his parole.
13.b. But, they (release) the prisoner next month if there (be) so much opposition to his parole.

14.a. The hotels filled up months in advance because the festival is going to include jazz artists from around the globe.
14.b. But, the hotels (fill) up months in advance if the festival (include) jazz artists from around the globe.

15.a. We are not worried about the recent string of robberies in the neighborhood because the police have started regularly patrolling the area.
15.b. But, we (be) worried about the recent string of robberies in the neighborhood if the police (start, not) regularly patrolling the area.

Continuous Conditional Forms

1. They canceled all the flights out of Chicago today because of the blizzard. If it (snow, not) so hard, I would not be stuck in the airport.

2. Charles arrived late again to work yesterday. He came running into the office complaining of car problems, but everyone knew it was a lie. If the boss (stand) there when he showed up, I am sure he would have been fired.

3. If I were in Hawaii right now, I (sunbathe) on a beach. I would not be stuck here in this office with mountains of paperwork.

4. John is so incredibly lazy! If we went over to his house right now, I bet he (lie) on the couch with some pizza in one hand and a remote control in the other.

5. If I were a millionaire, I (work, not) here in this factory. I (shop) in Paris, (ski) in Innsbruck or (sail) the Mediterranean on my super yacht.

6. I wish we had time to organize a surprise party for Linda. If all of her friends (sit) in her apartment waiting for her when she gets home from work tomorrow, she would be so surprised!

7. If she (stay) in that hotel next week while the trade show is being held, she might be able to meet some contacts and tell them about our new line of computer software.

8. When Mike came home yesterday, he claimed he had been jogging. I didn't believe a word he said. If he had really been jogging, he (sweat) or at least out of breath. I think he went down to the coffee shop and had a donut.

9. Jane's plane arrived a half an hour ahead of schedule. If we hadn't decided to go to the airport early, she (wait) there a long time before we arrived.

10. If Sam hadn't stopped to pick up that quarter, he (cross) the street when the car ran the red light. He could have been killed!

11. When I went up to the cash register to pay for the Coke, the lady behind the counter was talking to a friend of hers on the phone. I waited and waited until I finally had to demand that she help me. If I hadn't said anything, I (wait) there for hours.

12. I am looking out the window right now and I see children playing soccer and hide-and-go-seek in the street. If it were winter, it would be too cold to play outside. All the kids would be indoors. They (watch) TV, (read) books or (play) board games with their friends.

13. If Bob (stand, not) behind us right now, I would tell you what happened. Just wait until he leaves, and I'll tell you the whole story.

14. Did you hear about the bomb the terrorists planted on the plane yesterday? A bag full of plastic explosives was in the cargo bay. Luckily, nobody was hurt. The plane with the bomb was having some engine problems so the passengers had to disembark. If they hadn't had difficulties with the engine, the passengers (sit) in the plane when the bomb went off. Talk about a miracle!

15. If you went to the studio early tomorrow morning, you (wait) there when the actors arrive for work. I'm sure you could get ten or twenty autographs that way.

Future Real Conditional

I am not sure what I am going to do when I (graduate) , but I do know I want to travel. I am probably going to work at my father's restaurant for a few months during the summer. When I (have) enough money, I (go) to Europe to visit some friends I met while studying.

I have always wanted to visit Europe. I especially want to visit Sweden. If I (get) to go to Sweden, I (stay) with my friend Gustav. His family has a house on an island in a lake near Stockholm. I am sure we (spend) a few days on the island if weather conditions (allow) .

I am not sure what other countries I will visit. If it (be) not too expensive, I (spend) a couple of days in Paris sightseeing. If I (go) to Paris, I (climb) the Eiffel Tower, (take) a boat tour of the Seine, and (photograph) daily life in the Latin Quarter.

Present Unreal Conditional / Past Unreal Conditional

1. If I (have) enough money, I (backpack) around Europe. But, unfortunately, I am broke.

2. If I (have) enough money in my twenties, I (backpack) around Europe. But, unfortunately, I was broke.

3. She would have been here earlier if she (miss, not) the train.

4. Thank you for helping me study. If you hadn't tutored me, I (fail) the test.

5. If I exercised more, I (be) much more fit and I (have, not) so many health problems.

6. It's too bad Frank isn't with us. If he (be) here, he (can, translate) the letter for us.

7. Stop asking me what Joe bought you for your birthday. Even if I (know) what he bought you, I (tell, not) you.

8. My business trip to California was only two days. If the trip (be) longer, I (visit) my friends in Los Angeles.

9. I'm sorry, I didn't know you were allergic to chocolate. If I (know) , I (make) you a vanilla birthday cake.

10. Did you hear that Margaret won $2,000 in Las Vegas, and she used the money to buy a new washing machine and dryer? How boring! If I (win) that much money, I (go) to Tahiti for a couple of weeks.

11. Sally's alarm didn't go off, and she was almost late to the interview. If she (arrive) late, she (might, not, get) the job.

12. Jane is polite and well mannered. She (say, never) anything rude or insulting. That is just the kind of person she is.

13. Martha said that Paul called Nick a jerk at the party. I don't believe that! Paul is polite and well mannered. He (say, never) anything rude or insulting like that.

14. Penny's baby daughter almost drank some of the furniture polish which was sitting on the coffee table. If she (drink, actually) the polish, she (could, get) sick or even died.

15. If I (can, go) anywhere in the world, I (go) to Egypt to see the pyramids.

Past Real Conditional / Past Unreal Conditional

Clarence: Mary, have you ever had a teacher who changed your life or influenced you greatly?

Mary: Yes. But the teacher influenced me in a very negative way. I have always had problems with math, and I think it comes from my seventh grade math teacher, Mr. Harris. He thought girls couldn't do math. When any girl (ask) a question, he always (sigh) and (say) , "Girls can't do math. It's a well-known fact." When a boy (ask) a question, he (smile) and (ask) for his answer.

Clarence: That's terrible! Your teacher actually said that to you?

Mary: Yes. If he ever did let me answer a question, and I actually got it right, he always (say) that it was a lucky guess.

Clarence: Your parents (should, do) something about him. They (could, go) to the principle of the school and complained about the way Mr. Harris treated the girls. If you (be) my child, I (demand) that such an irresponsible teacher be fired.

Mary: You're right! If somebody (force) Mr. Harris to treat the children equally, I (become) more confident in math. His behavior (might, affect) every girl in that class.

Clarence: It might have. I'm glad our children don't have teachers like that!

Past Unreal Conditional

After I graduated from university, I applied for a marketing position with a prominent bank with branches all over the world. I didn't get the job because they wanted someone who spoke Spanish fluently. I (could, take) Spanish in high school, but I didn't. I took an acting class instead. If I (take) Spanish, I (get) the job. Just imagine, if I had actually gotten the job, I (move) to Spain. My entire life (could, go) in a totally different direction. If I had accepted the job and moved to Spain, I (might, meet) a Spanish woman and (get) married. If that had actually happened, I probably (stay) in Spain. We (might, have) children. Unfortunately, I didn't get the job and I didn't go to Spain. I got a boring job and I live alone. If I had just taken Spanish, my life (be) much more interesting.

Present Real Conditional / Present Unreal Conditional

Michael: Sharon, I am having some problems at work, and I was wondering if you might be able to give me some advice.

Sharon: Sure, what's the problem?

Michael: The computer sales business is more difficult than I thought. When customers (come) in to look at the new computer models, they often (ask) me which model they should buy. If they (ask) me to suggest a model, I (be) usually quite honest with them. Most computer users don't need a very advanced computer; they just need a basic model which they can use for word-processing, bookkeeping and Internet access. If I am honest and I (recommend) one of the cheaper models, my boss (get) angry at me. He always says that a good salesperson can convince a customer to buy one of the more expensive advanced models. I don't really feel comfortable doing that. What would you do in my situation? Isn't it wrong to make them buy something which they don't need?

Sharon: I think you should help your customers make an intelligent decision. If I (be) you, I (educate) the customers. I (teach) them how to make a good decision by themselves. I (make, not) the decision for them. When a customer (ask) a question, answer it honestly. You don't need to lie to the customer, and you don't need to make the decision for them.

Michael: When I (sell) an inexpensive computer to a customer, my boss (complain) that I am not trying hard enough. What would you tell him?

Sharon: If I (be) in your situation, I (tell) him that I wasn't comfortable forcing customers to buy products which they don't need. Tell him that you don't want to lie to honest people, and that you want to provide them with good service. Remind him that when customers (get) good service, they (return) to a store and spend more money.

Michael: I think that's a great idea. He (might) change his mind if I said that to him. Maybe he (realize) that good service is the most important thing to consumers. And, of course, I (feel) much more comfortable if I (be) able to be honest with the customers. Thanks for your advice.

Present Unreal Conditional

 

Did you hear about that guy who won 180 million dollars in the lottery? If I (win) that much money, I (quit) my job the next day. I (travel) around the world and (stay) in the most luxurious hotels. If I (want) anything, I (buy) it. If I (see) a beautiful Mercedes that I wanted, I (buy) it. If I wanted to stay in a beautiful hotel and the hotel (be) full, I (buy) the hotel and make them give me a room. I (can) do anything in the world if I had 180 million dollars ... Oh, I am starting to sound a little materialistic... Well... I (do) good things with the money as well. If anybody (need) help, I (give) them some money to help them out. I (donate) money to charities. I (give) money to help support the arts. If I (win) that much money, I wouldn't keep it all for myself. I (help) as many people as possible.

If / When

1  .......... I am late to work, my boss gets very angry. That is why I am always on time.

2. .......... I leave work, I usually go to the fitness center to work out.

3. .......... he eats, he tries to choose healthy foods.

4. His car is very reliable, and he rarely has any trouble with it. But he has had a couple of difficulties in the past. ........ his car breaks down or he has any problems, he calls the auto club.

5. His car is terrible! It always breaks down. .......... his car breaks down or he has any problems, he calls the auto club.

6. Mary gets six weeks paid vacation a year. She loves to travel. ........ she goes on vacation, she always goes somewhere exotic.

7. Diane works harder than anyone I know. I don't think she has taken a day off in three years. But she does really love to travel. ........... she goes on vacation, she goes somewhere exotic.

8. He loves going to the movies. ........... he goes to the movies, he always gets a large popcorn with tons of butter.

9. She hates TV. She thinks television is a waste of time. ........ she watches any television at all, it is usually a documentary or a news program.

10. My friend always keeps in touch by mail. .........  I get a letter, I usually write back immediately.