If Conditionals - Varied Questions

In this article, we will be learning about the different types of conditionals.

• Zero Conditional
  • (if + present simple, … present simple)
• First Conditional
  • (if + present simple, … will + infinitive)
• Second Conditional
  • (if + past simple, … would + infinitive)
• Third Conditional
  • (if + past perfect, … would + have + past participle)

‘If’ Conditionals

There are four types of ‘If’ conditionals:

1. The Zero Conditional
2. The First Conditional
3. The Second Conditional
4. The Third Conditional

Zero Conditional

We can make a zero conditional sentence with two present simple verbs (one in the ‘if clause’ and the other in the ‘main clause’):

• (if + present simple, … present simple)

Example:

If you exhale in limewater, it turns cloudy.

This conditional is used when the result will always happen. 

So, if someone exhales into limewater, it always turns cloudy. It is a general fact, not about one particular situation. The result of the ‘if clause’ is always the main clause.

Examples Of Zero Conditionals

• If people eat too much, they get fat.
• If you touch a fire, you get burned.
• People die if they don't eat.
   

First Conditional

The first conditional has the present simple after ‘if’, then the future simple in the other clause:

• (if + present simple, ….. will + infinitive)

Example:

If it rains tomorrow, we will go to the shopping mall.

It is used to talk about things that might happen in the future. We can’t know what will happen in the future, but this describes things that could easily come true.

Examples of ‘First’ Conditional

• If I study today, I will go to the movies tonight.
• If I have enough money, I will buy some new video games.
• She will be late if the taxi is caught in a jam.

Second Conditional

The second conditional uses the past simple after if, then ‘would’ and the infinitive:

• (if + past simple, …. would + infinitive)

Example:

If I had a lot of money, I would travel the world.

We can use ‘were’ instead of ‘was’ with ‘I’ and ‘he/she/it’. This is mostly done in formal writing. It has two uses.

• First, we can use it to talk about things in the future that are probably not going to be true. For example, imagining a dream.
• Second, we can use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible.

Examples of ‘Second’ Conditional

Rule 1

• If I won the first prize, I would buy a big house. (I probably will not win the first prize.)
• If I met the Queen of England, I would say, “Good Day, Your Majesty”.

Rule 2

• If I had her number, I would call her. (I don’t have her number now, so it is impossible for me to call her.)
• If I were you, I would not go out in that outfit.

Third Conditional

We make the third conditional by using the past perfect after ‘if’, and then ‘would have’ and the past participle in the second part of the sentence:

• (if + past perfect, … would have + past participle)

Example:

If I had gone to bed early, I would have caught the plane.

It talks about the past. It is used to describe a situation that did not happen, and to imagine the result of this situation.

Examples of ‘Third’ Conditionals

• If she had studied, she would have passed the exam. (But really we know that she did not study, so she did not pass the exam.)
• If I had not eaten so much, I would not have felt sick. (But I did eat a lot and I did feel sick.)
• If we had taken the shortcut, we would not have missed the concert.

Worked Examples

Example 1:

If Cindy __________ her nemesis, she would have slept better at night.

1. had forgiven
2. forgiven
3. would forgive
4. forgave

Solution:

(A) had forgiven

Explanation:

She had the chance to do something in the past but she did not choose to do it. As such, this is a ‘Third’ Conditional.

Example 2: 

If I knew Mr. Tan’s phone number, I __________ you.

1. could tell
2. should tell
3. would tell
4. will tell

Solution: 

(C) would tell

Explanation:

This is a ‘Second’ Conditional. If she knew the phone number, she would tell. But she did not know the phone number, so the possibility of her telling is impossible.

Example 3:

My parents will be thrilled if I __________ as school valedictorian.

1. was nominated
2. were nominated
3. are nominated
4. am nominated

Solution:

(D) am nominated

Explanation:

This is a ‘First’ Conditional. It refers to a future situation, where the likelihood of that situation happening is quite high.

Example 4:

__________ there be a thunderstorm, we will need to call off the carnival.

1. If
2. Should
3. Unless
4. Could

Solution: 

(B) Should

Explanation:

“Should’ conditional. Here, ‘should’ is used as ‘if’.

Practice Questions

Question 1:

If you __________ up golf when you were younger, you would be a professional golfer now.

1. picked
2. have picked
3. had picked
4. did not pick

Solution: 

(3) had picked

Question 2:

Kelly would be working in Dubai now if she __________ the Crown Prince’s job offer.

1. accepted
2. had accepted
3. have accepted
4. did not accept

Solution:

(2) had accepted

Question 3:

If the students __________ their homework, they would not be so anxious now.

1. completed
2. had complete
3. had completed
4. did not complete

Solution:

(3) had completed

Question 4:

If Tommy __________ himself less, he would not be so breathless now.

1. exerted
2. had exerted
3. had exert
4. did not exert

Solution:

(2) had exerted

Question 5:

You __________ be smiling if you knew the truth.

1. will not
2. would not
3. shall not
4. cannot

Solution:

(2) would not

Question 6:

If I had the time, I __________ attend the charity party.

1. shall love to
2. love to
3. would love to
4. will love to

Solution:

(3) would love to

Question 7:

If Anna __________ the sweepstake, she would donate all the money to charity.

1. wins
2. had won
3. will win
4. won

Solution:

(4) won

Question 8:

If Malcolm __________ the lottery, he would buy an exotic sports car.

1. wins
2. had won
3. will win
4. won

Solution:

(4) won

Question 9:

Alice __________ in a new hobby if she has free time.

1. would invest
2. will invest
3. won’t invest
4. shall invest

Solution:

(2) will invest

Question 10:

If you can help me solve this problematic issue, I __________ you to a feast.

1. will treat
2. may treat
3. am treating
4. could treat

Solution:

(1) will treat

Question 11:

My uncle __________ me the latest smartphone model if I score well in my examinations.

1. can buy
2. will buy
3. may buy
4. is buying

Solution:

(2) will buy

Question 12:

Madam Wong will be furious with Christian if he __________ for class again.

1. is late
2. was late
3. are late
4. were late

Solution:

(1) is late

Question 13:

__________ the students misbehave, it is your responsibility to discipline them accordingly.

1. May
2. Would
3. Could 
4. Should

Solution:

(4) Should

Question 14:

Do consult your project supervisor __________ you require any assistance with your dissertation.

1. May
2. Would
3. Could
4. Should

Solution:

(4) Should

Question 15:

If I go out tonight, I will go to the cinema.

What type of conditional is the sentence above?

1. First
2. Second
3. Third
4. Zero

Solution:

(1) First

Question 16:

If she had studied, she would have passed the exams.

What type of conditional is the sentence above?

1. First
2. Second
3. Third
4. Zero

Solution:

(3) Third

Question 17:

If he had become a musician, he would have recorded a CD.

What type of conditional is the sentence above?

1. First
2. Second
3. Third
4. Zero

Solution:

(3) Third

Question 18:

If we were not friends, I would be angry with you.

What type of conditional is the sentence above?

1. First
2. Second
3. Third
4. Zero

Solution:

(2) Second
 

Question 19:

If you mix water and electricity, you get a shock.

What type of conditional is the sentence above?

1. First
2. Second
3. Third
4. Zero

Solution:

(4) Zero

Conclusion

In this article, we learned about different types of conditionals.

• Zero
  • (if + present simple, ---- present simple)
• First
  • (if + present simple, ---- will + infinitive)
• Second
  • (if + past simple, ---- would + infinitive)
• Third
  • (if + past perfect, ---- would + have + past participle)

We have tried to understand these concepts through practice questions. I would recommend that you attempt these questions multiple times to get a better grasp of the concepts.

It is one of the most important topics for your PSLE. Conditionals can be tested in numerous components, such as Synthesis and Transformation, Grammar and Grammar Cloze. This article has been written keeping in mind the Primary 6 English and PSLE requirements.