Conditional sentences to talk about unreal situations
second conditional for unreal present or future situations; third conditional for unreal past situations; mixed conditionals across past and present; could and might in result clauses; clause order, commas and contractions.
1. Which sentence describes an improbable present or future situation?
Multiple Choice20sAIf I had more free time, I would learn Arabic.✓BIf I have more free time, I learn Arabic.CIf I had had more free time, I would have learnt Arabic.DIf I will have more free time, I would learn Arabic.💡 Past tense in the if-clause and would + infinitive form a second conditional.
2. A third conditional uses if + past perfect and would have + past participle.
True / False20sTrue ✓False💡 This structure imagines a different past condition and result.
3. Use would for the imagined result: If we had left ten minutes earlier, we _____ the train.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedwould have caught · 'd have caught💡 A past unreal condition takes would have + past participle for its imagined past result.
4. Which sentence has a past condition and a present result?
Multiple Choice20sAIf I had accepted the transfer, I would live in Berlin now.✓BIf I accepted the transfer, I would have lived in Berlin then.CIf I had accepted the transfer, I would have lived in Berlin then.DIf I accept the transfer, I will live in Berlin.💡 Past perfect in the if-clause combines with would + infinitive for a present result.
5. Match each form to its conditional type.
Matching30sif + past, would + infinitive→second conditionalif + past perfect, would have + past participle→third conditionalif + past perfect, would + infinitive→past condition with present resultif + past, would have + past participle→present condition with past resultif + past, might + infinitive→less certain second-conditional result💡 The verb forms show whether the unreal condition and result concern the present, future or past.
6. _____ you, I'd explain the problem honestly.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedIf I were💡 The fixed advice phrase is If I were you, not If I was you.
7. Put the chunks in order to make a third conditional.
Put in Order30s- 1.If
- 2.we had booked earlier,
- 3.we would have paid
- 4.much less
- 5.for the flights.
💡 The sentence contrasts an unreal past condition with its imagined past result.
8. Which sentence uses could to express an unreal present ability?
Multiple Choice20sAIf the lift worked, we could move the equipment upstairs.✓BIf the lift had worked, we could have moved the equipment upstairs.CIf the lift works, we can move the equipment upstairs.DIf the lift would work, we could move the equipment upstairs.💡 Past tense + could + infinitive describes an unreal present possibility or ability.
9. In a standard second conditional, would belongs in the if-clause.
True / False20sTrueFalse ✓💡 The usual pattern is If I knew, I would tell you.
10. Use would for the present result: If Mara had taken the earlier job offer, she _____ in Paris now.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedwould be · 'd be💡 Past perfect in the condition and would + infinitive in the result create a mixed conditional.
11. Which sentence describes a present situation that affected a past result?
Multiple Choice20sAIf I were more decisive, I would have accepted the offer.✓BIf I had been more decisive, I would accept the offer now.CIf I am more decisive, I will accept the offer.DIf I would be more decisive, I had accepted the offer.💡 The present unreal characteristic uses past tense, while the imagined past result uses would have + past participle.
12. Match each real situation to the sentence imagining it differently.
Matching30sWe missed the turning, so we arrived late.→If we hadn't missed the turning, we wouldn't have arrived late.I don't speak Japanese, so I can't apply.→If I spoke Japanese, I could apply.She skipped breakfast, so she is hungry now.→If she hadn't skipped breakfast, she wouldn't be hungry now.He is disorganised, so he forgot the deadline.→If he were more organised, he wouldn't have forgotten the deadline.It is raining, so we cannot walk.→We could walk if it weren't raining.💡 The conditionals accurately reverse present or past facts and match the time of each result.
13. Use miss in the negative past perfect: If I _____ the earlier bus, I wouldn't have been late.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedhadn't missed · had not missed💡 Past perfect expresses the unreal past condition in a third conditional.
14. Could and might can replace would in a result clause to express ability, possibility or a less certain result.
True / False20sTrue ✓False💡 The modal chosen changes the meaning or certainty of the imagined result.
15. Which sentence uses commas correctly?
Multiple Choice20sAIf the roads were clearer, we could drive faster.✓BIf the roads were clearer we, could drive faster.CWe could drive faster, if the roads were clearer.DWe could, drive faster if the roads were clearer.💡 An initial if-clause is followed by a comma; a final one normally is not.
16. Reorder the chunks to make a mixed conditional.
Put in Order30s- 1.I
- 2.might know
- 3.what to do
- 4.if I had been
- 5.listening.
💡 A past unreal action is linked to a possible present result.
17. Use would for the imagined past result: If I had more savings, I _____ the laptop in last week's sale.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedwould have bought · 'd have bought💡 A present lack of money is linked to an imagined past result.
18. Which statement about was and were is correct?
Multiple Choice20sABoth can often occur with I/he/she/it, but the phrase is always 'If I were you'.✓BOnly was is ever possible after if.COnly were is ever possible with he and she.D'If I was you' is the required formal phrase.💡 The reference allows was or were generally but requires were in the fixed advice phrase.
19. 'If I would know the answer, I would tell you' is the standard second conditional.
True / False20sTrueFalse ✓💡 Would is not normally used in the if-clause.
20. Use could and win for a possible past result: They _____ the final if their best player hadn't been injured.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedcould have won💡 Could have + past participle gives a possible unreal past result.