Use the correct type of 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.
Conjugate the verb in parentheses in the correct tense used in the first conditional.
If Mary _____ (have) enough money, she'll come with us on vacation.
I _____ (make) some coffee if you boil some water.
If you _____ (work) hard, you'll finish the project in time.
Unless he _____ (be) late, we'll meet at six o'clock.
If I tell you a secret, ______ (you promise) not to tell anyone?
She _____ (not attend) unless he makes the presentation.
If Joe cooks dinner, I _____ (make) dessert.
Jane _____ (play) the violin if you ask her nicely.
Our children won't eat vegetables if they _____ (not have) orange juice.
If David _____ (not be) late, we will make the decision soon.
Conjugate the verb in parentheses in the correct tense used in the second conditional.
If he _____ (work) more, he would finish in time.
They would do well on the test if they _____ (study) more.
If I _____ (be) you, I would run for president!
Mary _____ (buy) a new jacket if she had enough money.
If Jason flew to New York, he _____ (visit) the Empire State Building.
We _____ (take) a break, if our boss weren't so nervous today.
If Sally _____ (go), she wouldn't return!
Alan wouldn't know if you _____ (ask) him.
Jennifer _____ (refer) you for the position if she thought you were qualified.
Alison wouldn't help them if they _____ (not ask) for help.
Unreal Conditionals
The unreal in English is used to talk about things in your imagination, but which are not
true. The unreal is often used with if and wish.
Present Unreal Conditional
The present unreal talks about the present time, life today, right now, but imagining (or
wishing) something that is untrue.
In a wish sentence, or in an if-clause, you use the past tense to show that the verb is unreal about
the present.
The main clause (often called the “result” clause) uses would:
If I had a lot of money, I would buy a house.
(The truth is that you don’t have a lot of money.)
If I knew Japanese, I would work in Tokyo.
(The truth is that you don’t know Japanese.)
I wish I had a better job. If I had a good job, I would be much happier.
(The truth is that you don’t have a good job.)
I wish I knew how to type. If I knew how to type, I would be able to get a better job.
(The truth is that you don’t know how to type.)
The verb to be is always were in the unreal, no matter who the subject is:
He wishes he were the mayor. If he were mayor, he would solve the homeless problem.
(The truth is that he is not the mayor.)
If I were taller, I would play basketball. I wish I were six feet tall.
(The truth is that you are not tall.)
1. She doesn’t speak English, so she doesn’t understand you.
If she ____________ English, she ______________________ you.
2. He can’t drive, so he won’t buy a car.
If he _________________________, he _____________________ a car.
3. He isn’t rich, so he won’t buy a beach house.
If he _____________________ rich, he ___________________ a beach house.
4. He eats too much, so he’s fat.
If he ________________________ too much, he ___________________ fat.
[Note: You need to use didn’t in this sentence.]
Past Unreal Conditional
A wished or imagined idea about a past event is called the past unreal.

The verb in the wish clause or if-clause is put in the past perfect (had + past participle) to show
the past unreal.

The main clause (the “result” clause) will use would have + past participle.

When I was a child, I hated school. (This is the truth, what really happened. You hated school.)

If I had liked school better, I would have studied and [I would have] learned more. I wish I had
been a better student as a boy. I wish I had had better teachers, too. I wish my parents had forced
me to do my homework.

(The truth is that you didn’t like school, you didn’t study, you didn’t learn, you were not a good
student, you didn’t have good teachers, and your parents didn’t force you to do your homework.)

If she had reminded me that yesterday was her birthday, I would have bought her a present. At
least, I would have sent her a card.

(The truth is that she didn’t remind you, so you didn’t buy her a present.)

I wish the Mets had won the game last night! If they had won, I would have made a lot of money.
If the Mets had beaten the Yankees, I would have won $200.

(The truth is that the Mets didn’t win, and you didn’t win any money. You lost!)

1. She didn’t give me her phone number, so I wasn’t able to call her.
If she ___________________________ her phone number, I
________________________________able to call her.

2. He didn’t have his wallet with him last night, so he didn’t buy the book.
If he ____________________________ his wallet with him, he
________________________________ the book.

3. They didn’t get to the airport in time, so they missed their flight.
If they __________________________ to the airport in time, they
________________________________ their flight.

[Note: You need to use wouldn’t in this sentence!]

4. He wasn’t able to open the wine bottle, so they didn’t drink wine.
If he ___________________________ able to open the wine bottle, they
_______________________________ wine.