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Year 10 English — Conditionals: zero, first and second

Choose the right verb forms for a zero, first or second conditional sentence.

Name: ________________________

  1. 1.Second conditional — imagining something that is not the case. If we ____ a garden, we would grow our own vegetables.

    • a) had
    • b) have
    • c) will have
    • d) would have

  2. 2.Sort each sentence by whether it treats the situation as a real possibility or as something imagined. The verb forms will tell you.

    Groups: A real possibility · Imagined — not the case

    • If I finish my homework early, I will watch the match.
    • If we lived on the moon, we would need a spacesuit.
    • If I had wings, I would fly to school.
    • If elephants could talk, they would tell us a great deal.
    • If she runs fast enough, she will win the race.
    • If the shop has bread, I will buy a loaf.

  3. 3.Zero conditional — something that is always true. If you drop a stone into water, it ____.

    • a) sank
    • b) sinks
    • c) would sink
    • d) will sink

  4. 4.Which sentence is a zero conditional?

    • a) If I cut my hair short, I would look quite different.
    • b) If you cut the rope, the boat will drift away.
    • c) If you cut an onion, your eyes water.
    • d) If you will cut the paper, I will fold it.

  5. 5.One of these conditionals breaks the three conditional patterns above. Which one?

    • a) If it rained, we would stay at home.
    • b) If it rains, we stay at home.
    • c) If it rains, we will stay at home.
    • d) If it will rain, we will stay at home.

  6. 6.Each card is the result half of a conditional sentence. Sort by which kind of conditional it belongs to.

    Groups: First conditional · Second conditional

    • she would tell you the truth
    • the plants would die
    • the plants will die
    • she will tell you the truth
    • we will miss the train
    • we would miss the train

  7. 7.Match each if-clause to the main clause that completes it.

    • If you leave milk in the sun,
    • If you add salt to water,
    • If you switch the fan on,
    • If the train is delayed,
    • If we lived nearer the school,
    • If I found a wallet in the street,
    • we will wait on the platform.
    • its boiling point rises.
    • the room cools down.
    • we would walk there every morning.
    • it turns sour.
    • I would hand it in at the police station.

  8. 8.Complete this first conditional using the verb "get". Write two words. If you practise every day, you ____ better quickly.

Answer key — Year 10 English — Conditionals: zero, first and second

  1. 1. a) had
  2. 2. If I finish my homework early, I will watch the match. → A real possibility; If I had wings, I would fly to school. → Imagined — not the case; If the shop has bread, I will buy a loaf. → A real possibility; If elephants could talk, they would tell us a great deal. → Imagined — not the case; If she runs fast enough, she will win the race. → A real possibility; If we lived on the moon, we would need a spacesuit. → Imagined — not the case
  3. 3. b) sinks
  4. 4. c) If you cut an onion, your eyes water.
  5. 5. d) If it will rain, we will stay at home.
  6. 6. we will miss the train → First conditional; we would miss the train → Second conditional; she will tell you the truth → First conditional; she would tell you the truth → Second conditional; the plants will die → First conditional; the plants would die → Second conditional
  7. 7. If you leave milk in the sun, → it turns sour.; If you add salt to water, → its boiling point rises.; If you switch the fan on, → the room cools down.; If the train is delayed, → we will wait on the platform.; If we lived nearer the school, → we would walk there every morning.; If I found a wallet in the street, → I would hand it in at the police station.
  8. 8. will get