Zero, First and Second Conditionals

An Intermediate Worksheet from Anna Grammar

Conditionals
Here are some rules for conditionals.
The zero conditional is a structure used for talking about general truths, or scientific facts - things which happen
under certain conditions. In statements like this, if means the same as when or every time.
- When it doesn't rain for a long time, the grasslands dry out.
- If an elephant finds a water hole, it wallows and splashes in the mud.
- When the rainy season comes, the rain fills the water holes.
- If there is little to eat, elephants look for twigs, thorns and drying grass.
- If there is too little to eat, some baby elephants become too weak to play.
- If a baby elephant's mother dies in the wild, the baby animal dies too.

The first conditional is used to talk about things that are likely to happen.
- If the weather is good, we will go to the game reserve. (I think we will go.)
- If I see some elephants, I'll take some photos. (I think this will happen.)
- If I take some good pictures, I'll email some to you.
- If the elephants see our car, they will probably trumpet.
- If they feel they are in danger from us, they will put the baby elephants in the middle of the herd.

The second conditional is used for an unreal or unlikely condition and its probable result in the present or future.
- If everyone in the world decided to help save our planet, we wouldn't need game reserves or wildlife parks. (But
everyone probably won't decide to do this so we still need game reserves.)
- If I had lots of money, I'd spend all my time traveling in Africa. (But I don't have lots of money.)
- If I were good at science, I'd study zoology at college and then become a zoologist. (But I am not good at science.)

Exercise 1:
Read this true story about a baby elephant.
A two-year-old elephant was left by his mother in the wild. A sheep then made friends
with the baby elephant at a wildlife center and the young elephant and the sheep began
to spend all their time together. The sheep is a very good mother to orphaned baby
animals. The babies stay at the center until they are old enough to look after
themselves. Then they are set free.

Complete these sentences in the zero conditional about the baby elephant and the sheep. Choose an appropriate
ending from the list below. Put it in the zero conditional.

lie down, be still friendly, try to comfort him, bring it to the center, raise it, die, sleep together, feed him

a. If someone finds an orphaned animal, they .

b. When the wildlife center finds an orphaned animal, they .
c. When it doesn't rain during the dry season, many animals .
d. If the baby elephant feels lonely, the sheep .
e. If the baby elephant lies down, the sheep too.
g. When the baby elephant is hungry, three people milk.
h. If the baby elephant pushes the sheep, she to him.
i. When it is nighttime, the sheep and the baby elephant .

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 Exercise 2:
Now complete these sentences in the first conditional about the baby elephant and the sheep.
Use the words in the brackets.

a. If an orphaned animal at the center is very stressed, the sheep... (comfort it)

b. If the baby elephant leaves the center, the sheep... (probably find another animal to look after)

c. If you go to the wildlife center, you ... (see the baby elephant)

d. If there is another motherless elephant at the center, the sheep... (probably adopt it)

e. If the elephant leaves the center, the sheep... (probably miss him for a while)

f. If people read this story about the elephant and the mother sheep, many of them...(not believe it is true)

Exercise 3:
Complete these sentences in the second conditional. Choose an appropriate ending from the list below.
Put it in the second conditional.

ban cars, not buy banned animal products, have cleaner air,
not need rangers to protect animals, take greater care of it, not fly

a. If everyone understood how important our environment was, they

b. If people in the developed countries realized how bad air travel was for our atmosphere, they
c. If the government really cared about transport problems in our city, it
d. If everyone rode bicycles, our city
e. If people really cared about animals, they
f. If poachers stopped killing wild animals illegally, we

Answer Key:
Exercise 1: a. If someone finds an orphaned animal, they bring it to the center., b. When the wildlife center finds an orphaned animal, they raise it., c. When it doesn't rain
during the dry season, many animals die., d. If the baby elephant feels lonely, the sheep tries to comfort him., e. If the baby elephant lies down, the sheep lies down too.
g. When the baby elephant is hungry, three people feed him milk., h. If the baby elephant pushes the sheep, she is still friendly to him., i. When it is nighttime, the sheep and
the baby elephant sleep together.

Exercise 2: a. If an orphaned animal at the center is very stressed, the sheep will comfort it., b. If the baby elephant leaves the center, the sheep will probably find another
animal to look after., c. If you go to the wildlife center, you will see the baby elephant., d. If there is another motherless elephant at the center, the sheep will probably adopt
it., e. If the elephant leaves the center, the sheep will probably miss him for a while., f. If people read this story about the elephant and the mother sheep, many of them
won't believe it is true.

Exercise 3: a. If everyone understood how important our environment was, they would take greater care of it., b. If people in the developed countries realized how bad air
travel was for our atmosphere, they wouldn't fly., c. If the government really cared about transport problems in our city, it would ban cars., d. If everyone rode bicycles, our
city would have cleaner air., e. If people really cared about animals, they wouldn't buy banned animal products., f. If poachers stopped killing wild animals illegally, we
wouldn't need rangers to protect animals.
AGW071220F

2007 English To Go Ltd. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced or stored in any way without the permission of English To Go Ltd. http://www.english-to-go.com English To Go and Anna
Grammar are the registered trade marks of English To Go Ltd. email: editor@english-to-go.com