Grammar Usage – Conditionals

S5( ) Name ____________ No.( )

➢ Revision of Conditional Type 0 to 3

 Type 0

 Type 1

 If vs. Unless

Exercise A. Complete the five suggestions for gardeners with if-conditionals.

1. choose / wrong plants for your garden / plants / not grow
→ If you choose the wrong plants for your garden, the plants will not grow.
2. soil / rich / plants / need fertilizer
→ The plants may not need fertilizer unless the soil is rich.
3. plants / covered with mulch / diseases not infect so easily
→ If plants are covered with mulch, diseases won’t infect them so easily.
4. weeds / not picked / plants / compete for water and nutrients
→ If weeds are not picked, the plants will compete for water and nutrients.
5. a small fence / around the garden / keep … out / unwanted animals
→ If a small fence is put around the garden, it will help keep unwanted
animals out.
 Type 2

NB. Remember to use “were” with whatever subject in formal situation.

  Type 3

Exercise B. Read the passages about famous explorers. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the
verb to make unreal conditions or results in the past.

Two Famous Explorers

Throughout history, we have benefited from the courageous explorers whose daring adventures opened new
frontiers to us. Whether they set out to sail the seas, cross unexplored lands, or take to the skies in flight, they changed
our perception of the world.
Vasco da Gama is one such explorer. He was the first European to sail
from Europe (Portugal) around Africa to India and back. In 1497, with four
ships, he made the trip to India in 23 days. The return trip, however, took
almost four and a half months because of the monsoon winds. If he (listen)
___________________________ to the advice of the local people and
waited, he (not/lose) ___________________________ more than half of his
crew. He returned with only two of the four ships. If he (wait)
________________________ a while before returning to Portugal, maybe
all four ships (return) ____________________________ with him. Da
Gama was a true adventurer, and his discovery brought the spice trade to
Portugal.
Charles Lindbergh was an explorer of the skies who made the first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. As a young
man, Lindbergh’s interest was in aviation. He dropped out of college to travel around the country performing airplane
stunts for audiences at county fairs. In 1924, he joined the Army and received pilot training. Later, he was hired to fly
mail between St. Louis and Chicago. If Lindbergh (stay) ____________________________ in school and, (study)
____________________________ engineering, he probably (never/become) ____________________________ a pilot.
In 1927, Lindbergh set a goal to be the first person to fly non-stop from New York to Paris and win a $25,000 prize for
doing so. On May 20, 1927, Lindbergh took off in his plane, the Spirit of St. Louis, and flew almost 4,000 miles across
the Atlantic in 33.5 hours. After this historic feat, Lindbergh continued to promote aviation and even wrote a book about
his transatlantic flight. If Lindbergh. (not/travel) ____________________________ around the country on a postflight
tour, people (not/consider) ____________________________ aviation as a means of travel.
 Wish

Exercise C. Use the correct form of the verb in this conversation.

Summer Study Abroad
Brad: I’m not really looking forward to taking classes this summer, but it’s something that I have to do. I wish I
_________ (can travel) instead. That’s what I did last summer: I traveled around Spain for two months.
Alan: Where would you want to go this summer? Around the U.S.?
Brad: No, I really wish I _________ (have) the money to go overseas again. In fact, I wish I _________ (can spend)
an entire year overseas.
Alan: An entire year?
Brad: Yeah, don’t you wish you _________ (can do) something like that, too? You know, just take a break from
school and do something else?
Alan: No, not really. I’m happy studying here. But I sure wish I _________ (take) a heavier load so I could finish
school sooner. I need to start making some money.
Brad: Not me. I’m happy taking just 12 credits every semester. My only wish is that I _________ (not wait) so long to
start college after high school. It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do.
Alan: You know what? I just remembered something, and it just might be what you’re looking for. I wish I _________
(know) where I saw it. It was a poster about studying abroad. You go overseas and get credit for it.
Brad: That sounds perfect! I wish I _________ (can get) credit for the time I spent in Spain last summer. I went to so
many places and learned so much about the history and culture of Spain.
Alan: Maybe you still can if you take a test or write a paper. Hey, I remember now . . . I saw the poster near the
International Center. It was a Study Abroad poster. Why don’t you stop by and check it out?
Brad: I will. I wish I _________ (know) about this program earlier. It sounds perfect
for me. Thanks, Alan. Don’t you wish you _________ (be) able to come with me?

Exercise D. Rewrite the sentences using the correct type of conditional. Do not change the meaning of
the sentence. (Please pay attention to the use of punctuation marks.)

1. The weather forecast says it will rain tomorrow. Let’s cancel our picnic.
If it rains tomorrow, we will cancel our picnic.
2. I want to buy a new car. Of course, I will try my best to save enough money.
If I save enough money, I will buy a new car.
3. Why don’t you accept Mary’s invitation? I want to go too, and so should you!
If I were you, I would accept Mary’s invitation.
4. Sally is not in the office right now. She should be the one to answer the phone.
If Sally were in the office, she would answer the phone.
5. I don’t have a screwdriver of the proper size. I can’t (use a different modal in this case) fix your bicycle, sorry!
If I had a screwdriver of the proper size, I could fix your bicycle.
6. Mark didn't visit his girlfriend because he was ill.
If Mark hadn’t been ill, he would have visited his girlfriend.
7. I didn't have enough money so I didn't buy a new pair of jeans.
If I had had enough money, I would have bought a new pair of jeans.
8. She hurt her back when she carried the heavy box.
If she hadn’t carried the heavy box, she wouldn’t have hurt her back.
9. She hurt her back when she carried the heavy box. She is still staying in the hospital.
If she hadn’t carried the heavy box, she wouldn’t be still staying in the hospital.
10. Diana was late for work because she missed the bus.
If Dianna hadn’t missed the bus, she wouldn’t have been late for work.
11. We didn't move to Paris last year and so I didn't learn French.
If we had moved to Paris last year, I would have learned French.
12. We didn't move to Paris last year and so I didn't learn French. I am learning Spanish now instead.
If we had moved to Paris last year, I wouldn’t be learning Spanish.

➢ Using Continuous Verb Forms in Conditionals

When we use the continuous form, we refer to an action that
(1) either lasts for a longer period of time;
(2) or is happening when the speaker is saying it.
e.g. If it were not raining right now, I would go for a walk.
If it had not been raining, I would have gone for a walk.
If I were living in Chile, I would be working at a bank.
Exercise E. Change the statements into conditional sentences:
1. It is snowing, so I won’t go with you.
If it weren’t snowing, I would go with you.
2. The child is crying because his mother isn’t here.
If the child’s mother were here, the child wouldn’t be crying.
3. Joe got a ticket because he was driving too fast.
If Joe hadn’t been driving too fast, he would not have got a ticket.

➢ Using Mixed Conditionals

There are mainly two types of mixed conditionals.
The following type refers to an unreal past condition and its probable result in the present. It
expresses a situation which is contrary to reality both in the past and in the present.
e.g. If I had eaten (type 3) breakfast several hours ago, I would not be (type 2) hungry now.
We wouldn't be lost (type 2) if we had looked (type 3) at the map.

The second type of mixed conditional refers to an unreal present situation and its probable (but
unreal) past result. In this type of mixed conditional, the time in the if clause is now or always
and the time in the main clause is before now.
e.g. If he were (type 2) a good student, he would have studied (type 3) for the test yesterday.
I would have been (type 3) happy to help you if I weren't (type 2) in the middle of another
meeting.
Exercise F. Change the statements into conditional sentences:
1. The room is full of flies because you left the door open.
If you hadn’t left the door open, the room wouldn’t be full of flies now.
2. I didn’t finish my report yesterday, so I can’t begin a new one today.
If I had finished my report yesterday, I could begin a new one today.
3. I’m not you, so I didn’t tell him the truth.
If I were you, I would have told him the truth.
4. I’m not a good cook, so I didn’t invite them for lunch.
If I were a good cook, I'd have invited them for lunch.

Exercise G. Fill in the blanks with the correct verbs to form continuous and mixed conditional
sentences. Use the tenses indicated in parentheses. You may need negative forms.

Comforting a Sick Friend

1. If you _______________ (feeling/not) so sick, I _______________ (invite) you to go to a movie.
(present↑) (present↑)
2. If you _______________ (coughing) less, you _______________ (stop) taking the medicine that
makes you sleepy.
(present↑) (present↑)
3. If you _______________ (eating) right, your immune system _______________ (be) stronger.
(past↑) (present↑)
4. If you _______________ (blowing/not) your nose so much, it _______________ (get/not) so red.
(past↑) (past↑)
5. If I _______________ (be/not) your true friend, I _______________ (give/not) you a hug.
(present↑) (past↑)
6. If you _______________ (call/not) me, you _______________ (enjoying/not) my homemade
chicken soup right now.
(past↑) (present↑)
➢ Inverted Conditionals
Inverted conditionals are more formal than regular conditionals.
They are found to begin with:
Should sb. do (type 1);
Were sb. (to do) (type 2);
and Had sb. done (type 3).

e.g. If you need more information, call our office in Green Street.
→ Should you need more information, call our office in Green Street.
If the negotiations fell through, it would bring about unforeseen problems.
→ Were the negotiations to fall through, it would bring about unforeseen problems.
If the people had not been informed, the situation would have been much worse.
→ Had the people not been informed, the situation would have been much worse.

Exercise H. Create sentences with the same meaning by omitting if.

1. If you should need more money, go to the bank before six o’clock.
Should you need more money, go to the bank before six o’clock.
2. If I were you, I wouldn’t have done that.
Were I you, I wouldn’t have done that.
3. If they had realized the danger, they would have done it differently.
Had they realized the danger, they would have done it differently.
4. She would have gotten the job if she had been better prepared.
Had she been better prepared, she would have gotten the job.
5. If there is a global nuclear war, life on earth will end forever.
Should there be a global nuclear war, life on earth will end forever.
6. They would have bought the house if they had been able to afford it.
Had they been able to afford it, they would have bought the house.
7. If you skip the open house, you’ll miss the chance to meet the realtor.
Should you skip the open house, you will miss the chance to meet the realtor.
8. If you liked houses with small yards, I’d invite you to look at houses in my area.
Were you to like houses with small yards, I’d invite you to look at houses in my area.
9. If you had offered them $15,000 more, they’d have taken it and you’d have a house!
Had you offered them $15,000 more, they’d have taken it and you’d have a house!
10. Jill and Sam would have known what repairs the house needed if they had arranged for an inspection.
Had Jill and Sam arranged for an inspection, they would have known what repairs the house needed.
Exercise I. Circle the letter of the correct answer.
1. If you park in a restricted area, you _____ a ticket on your windshield.
a. would find b. will find c. found d. could found
2. I get nervous if I _____ in front of a group.
a. had to speak b. spoke c. have to speak d. will speak
3. If today _____ Friday, we could sleep in tomorrow morning.
a. is b. were c. will be d. was
4. If you ____ more sleep, you _____ be so tired all of the time.
a. get/would b. got/won’t c. got/wouldn’t d. don’t get/aren’t going to
5. She _____ $20 in finance charges if she _____ her bill by the due date.
a. had saved/pays b. could save/will pay c. could have saved/will pay d. could have saved/had paid
6. They_____ such a big van ______ the price of gas would skyrocket.
a. would have bought/if they knew b. wouldn’t have bought/if had they known
c. wouldn’t have bought/had they known d. wouldn’t have bought/had they knew
7. If I _____ so much in this class, I ______ here.
a. wasn’t learning/would be b. am not learning/won’t be
c. weren’t learning/wouldn’t be d. wasn’t learning/wouldn’t be
8. I wish I _____ myself better in English, but I _____.
a. will express/won’t b. could express/can’t c. would express/won’t d. can express/can’t