• Exam: CPE
    • Course:
      SUPPORT DOCUMENTS
    • CONCEPTS - CONDITIONALS

Instructions

Complete the sentences by dragging and dropping, or typing the correct word, or its corresponding letter, into the answer box.

Once all the sentences have been completed, click on CHECK to identify mistakes.

If the word chosen is correct, it will show in green.

If the word chosen is not correct, it will show in red, and when that happens, try another word and press the CHECK button again until all the answers show in green.


CONDITIONALS


Theory:

Conditional sentences are widely used in everyday English, so, this is an important subject.

A conditional sentence has 2 parts: the part which describes the condition, and this can begin with IF or WHEN, and the part that describes the reaction to the condition.
EXAMPLE:
If you pass the exam, (the condition), you will get a certificate. (the reaction)
When you pass the exam, (the condition), you will get a certificate. ( the reaction)

The situation of the condition can either be predictable, in which case WHEN is used, or unpredictable or even hypothetical, in which case IF is used.
EXAMPLE:
When you pass the exam, (you know you are going to pass the exam), you will get a certificate.
If you pass the exam, (you don't know you are going to pass the exam), you will get a certificate. (the reaction)

Conditional sentences cover real and imaginary situations, in the past, the present and the future.
EXAMPLE:
Real
These days, If I have time, I read.(present real because it happens)
When I was younger, If I had time, I read.(past real because it happened)
Next month, If I have time, I will read. (future real because it is possible)

Imaginary
These days, If I had time, I would read. (present imaginary because I don't have time)
When I was younger, If I had had time, I would have read.(past imaginary because I didn't have time)
Next month, If I had time, I would read. (future imaginary because I will not have time)

There are 4 types of conditional sentences: zero conditional, first conditional, second conditional and third conditional.

In a zero conditional sentence, the result is always true.
EXAMPLE:
If you heat ice, it melts. (always)
(The if part (heat ice) is in the present and the reaction part (melts) is also in the present)

A first conditional sentence talks about the future and describes a situation which could happen.
EXAMPLE:
If it rains tomorrow, (which is possible), I will stay at home.
(The if part (rains) is in the present and the reaction part (will stay) is in the future)

A second conditional sentence talks about an imaginary situation in the present.
EXAMPLE:
I don't have a ticket, but, If I won the lottery, (which is impossible), I would buy a car.
(The if part (won the lottery) is in the past and the reaction part (would buy) is in the future)

A third conditional sentence talks about an imaginary situation in the past.
EXAMPLE:
I didn't buy a ticket, but, If I had won the lottery, (which was impossible), I would have bought a car.
(The if part (had won the lottery) is in the past perfect form and the reaction part (would have bought) is in the present perfect form)

Exercises:

ZERO CONDITIONAL
If you work too much, you (1) (GET) tired.
If you boil water, it (2) (BECOME) ice.
If you go to someone's birthday party, (3) (GIVE) them a present?


FIRST CONDITIONAL
If he is busy now, I (4) (COME) back tomorrow.
If it is very hot tomorrow, he (5) (WEAR) his thick overcoat.
If she is not invited, (6) (GO) to the party?.

SECOND CONDITIONAL
If I had more money, I(7) (BUY) a house.
If they didn't speak Spanish, we (8) (UNDERSTAND) them.
If you didn't have to work tomorrow, (9) (GO OUT) tonight?

THIRD CONDITIONAL
If you had asked me, I (10) (HELP) you.
If you had warned me, I (11) (BURN) my hand.
If you had had enough money, (12) (LEND) me some?

Possible answers:

  • A) would have helped
  • B) do you give
  • C) will she go
  • D) get
  • E) wouldn't have burnt
  • F) will not wear
  • G) will come
  • H) would you go out
  • I) doesn't become
  • J) would buy
  • K) wouldn't understand
  • L) would you have lent


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