English Grammar Exercises for B1 B2 – Variations on conditionals

A. Tick the sentence closest in meaning to the conditional.

1   If it’s 11 o’clock, Sandra is sleeping.

      a   Sandra will sleep at 11 o’clock.

      b   It is 11 o’clock now to Sandra is asleep. ✓

      c   Sandra wants to sleep at 11 o’clock.

2   I went to Kim if I had a question.

      a   In the past I asked Kim for advice.

      b   In the future I will ask Kim for advice.

      c   Now I ask Kim for advice.

3   See me if you’ve done page 26.

      a   Speak to me before you finish page 26.

      b   Speak to me as you do page 26.

      c   Speak to me after page 26 is finished.

4   If you should find my gloves, put them in the cupboard.

      a   There is a good chance of finding my gloves.

      b   There is a small chance of finding my gloves.

      c   There is no chance of finding my gloves.

5   If it hadn’t been for John, the party would have been a disaster.

      a   John saved the party.

      b   John made the party a disaster.

      c   John didn’t go to the party.

6   If you will tell Mike, that’ll be great.

      a   Mike will be glad to hear you.

      b   It is possible for you to tell Mike.

      c   Please tell Mike.

B. Underline the correct option.

1    If you are going / will go to the shop, please get some eggs.

2    If Boris is working / works, who is looking after the children?

3    Susan never complained if I would be / was late.

4    If you would / should have any problems, bring it back to the shop.

5    If you would / may come this way, please.

6    It wouldn’t have broken if it had been / hadn’t been for the storm.

7    Would / Should there be any more questions, write to me.

8    If that’s true, so / then Karina was right!

C. Make conditional sentences by putting the words in the correct order. The first word in underlined.

1    wanted / it / I / bought / if / something / I

      If wanted something, I bought it.

2    Dad / driving / gets / Mum / if / nervous / is

      ………………………………………………..

3    if / staying / meet / in / you / are / let’s / London

      ………………………………………………..

4    I / joke / a / if / laughed / nobody / told

      ………………………………………………..

5    too / now / we / it / be / might / go / late / don’t / if

      ………………………………………………..

6    she / if / needs / party / Clare / is / the / a / dress / going / nice / to

      ………………………………………………..

D. Complete the sentences using the verbs in brackets.

1    If I ……felt…… bad, I drank lots of hot tea. (feel)

2    If I’m travelling overnight I usually …………………… my suitcase. (take)

3    …………………… it been Sunday, there would have been fewer cars. (have)

4    Please remind Betty if you …………………… to see her tonight. (happen)

5    If the pilot …………………… this plane, then who is?! (not fly)

6    What would life be like if it …………………… for mobile phones? (not be)

7    People can learn a lot if they …………………… . (read)

8    If you’ve answered all the questions, you …………………… the test. (finish)

E. Complete the dialogue with the words in the box.

Interviewer:   I’m here at UNICEF today to interview John Edwards about the work he does. Welcome, John. If you 1……will…… sit down, please. First, what does UNICEF actually do?

John:   The most important thing is giving information. We 2………………… do anything if people don’t know what is happening. By people, I mean everyone: children, parents, teachers, politicians, you and me … . If people knew the terrible things happening to children around the world, they 3………………… be shocked.

Interviewer:   For example?

John:   Many young children have to work. If it 4………………… for the money they make, their families would be hungry. I 5………………… give you many examples, if you have time, of the difficult and dangerous jobs which some children do.

Interviewer:   If you 6………………… a child in that situation, what should you do?

John:   Contact us. In most countries such work is illegal. 7………………… there be an accident, the employer, and maybe parents, would be in a lot of trouble. 8………………… I a politician, I would make very strong laws to stop young children working. Also, if you 9………………… to hear of stories like this, contact us, and the police.

Interviewer:   Thank you, John. If you want to know about the work of UNICEF, 10………………… go to their website.

F. Complete the sentences.

1    If someone is making a child work, and you know about it, then ……phone the police…… .

2    The little boy cannot stop work unless ………………………………………………… .

3    Write to UNICEF if ………………………………………………… .

4    If a child is working all day, ………………………………………………… .

5    ………………………………………………… if it wasn’t for greedy companies.

6    If a child happens to need money badly, ………………………………………………… .

G. Write sentences using conditionals for these situations.

1    You need to get your mum a present but you don’t have any money.

      If I don’t have any money, it is going to be difficult to buy anything!

      If my mum is hoping for a nice present, she’s making a big mistake.

2    It is raining. You need to go out. You don’t have an umbrella.

      …………………………………………………………………..

      …………………………………………………………………..

3    Your parents can’t decide where to go on holiday.

      …………………………………………………………………..

      …………………………………………………………………..

4    You borrowed your friend’s bike and broke it. Your friend doesn’t know yet.

      …………………………………………………………………..

      …………………………………………………………………..

5    You have a big match tomorrow but you don’t feel very well.

      …………………………………………………………………..

      …………………………………………………………………..

6    You found some money in the classroom. You don’t know who lost it.

      …………………………………………………………………..

      …………………………………………………………………..

H. Circle the correct option.

1   If you were hungry, you ………… study properly.

      a won’t     b couldn’t     c didn’t

2    We can’t teach children if they ………… to school.

      a didn’t go     b wouldn’t go     c aren’t going

3    If Alhaji ………… a mistake, he got into big trouble.

      a made     b will make     c makes

4    If it ………… for UNICEF, many children would have very difficult lives.

      a was     b wasn’t     c isn’t

5    ………… I in Alhaji’s situation, I don’t know what I would do.

      a Am     b Be     c Were