Conditionals (Types 0, 1 & 2) – English Grammar Exercises For B1
Read the student’s story about handling study and work pressure. Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence.
1 Whenever I ______ overwhelmed with my university studies, I always take a ten-minute break.
(A) feels
(B) will feel
(C) feel
(D) felt
2 If I ______ at the computer screen for too long, my eyes naturally start to hurt.
(A) will stare
(B) stare
(C) stared
(D) stares
3 I always ______ to relaxing classical music if the library gets too noisy.
(A) listen
(B) listened
(C) will listen
(D) listens
4 If you ______ a warm cup of chamomile tea, it immediately calms your nerves.
(A) drank
(B) drinks
(C) will drink
(D) drink
5 I never perform well on my exams if I ______ at least seven hours of sleep.
(A) won’t get
(B) didn’t get
(C) don’t get
(D) doesn’t get
6 This week is incredibly crazy! If I finish my essay by 8 PM tonight, I ______ a movie to relax.
(A) watch
(B) will watch
(C) watched
(D) would watch
7 My friends want to hang out later. I will definitely join them if I ______ too exhausted.
(A) am not
(B) won’t be
(C) weren’t
(D) wasn’t
8 If the professor ______ us one more assignment today, I will probably cry!
(A) give
(B) gave
(C) will give
(D) gives
9 We ______ hiking in the mountains this weekend if the weather is nice enough.
(A) went
(B) would go
(C) will go
(D) go
10 I won’t be able to relax tonight unless I ______ this science project first.
(A) will submit
(B) submit
(C) submitted
(D) don’t submit
11 Honestly, if I ______ more free time, I would definitely take up yoga to reduce stress.
(A) have
(B) had
(C) will have
(D) would have
12 If my daily schedule ______ so packed, I wouldn’t feel this anxious all the time.
(A) weren’t
(B) isn’t
(C) wouldn’t be
(D) hasn’t been
13 What ______ to relax if you were in my stressful position right now?
(A) will you do
(B) do you do
(C) did you do
(D) would you do
14 If I ______ a millionaire, I would hire someone to do my laundry so I could just sleep!
(A) am
(B) will be
(C) were
(D) would be
15 I ______ more novels for pleasure if my university textbooks weren’t so incredibly long.
(A) read
(B) would read
(C) will read
(D) am reading
16 My advice to you is simple: If a task ______ too big, just break it down into smaller steps.
(A) feels
(B) feel
(C) will feel
(D) felt
17 If I ______ you, I would stop drinking coffee after 5 PM to sleep better.
(A) am
(B) was being
(C) have been
(D) were
18 If you keep ignoring your mental health, you ______ out completely very soon.
(A) burned
(B) will burn
(C) burn
(D) would burn
19 Whenever a friend ______ me for advice on stress, I always share these exact tips.
(A) will ask
(B) ask
(C) asks
(D) asked
20 Trust me, if you try these breathing methods today, you ______ much better tomorrow.
(A) would feel
(B) will feel
(C) feel
(D) felt
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C) feel
- Why it is correct (The Key): Zero Conditional describes a natural habit or general truth. Structure: Whenever/If + S + V(Present Simple), S + V(Present Simple).
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Structural Error (Subject “I” does not take “s”). (B) Common Mistake (Adding “will” in the if-clause). (D) Meaning Trap (Talking about a present habit, not a past event).
2 (B) stare
- Why it is correct (The Key): Zero Conditional. The result “eyes hurt” is a natural physiological reaction that is always true when the condition happens.
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Common Mistake (Using future tense in the if-clause). (C) Meaning Trap. (D) Structural Error.
3 (A) listen
- Why it is correct (The Key): Zero Conditional. The keyword “always” emphasizes a fixed habit. The main clause uses Present Simple.
- Mistake Analysis: (B) Meaning Trap. (C) Common Mistake (Using future tense even though this is a general habit, not a specific upcoming event). (D) Structural Error.
4 (D) drink
- Why it is correct (The Key): Zero Conditional. States a general fact (drinking chamomile tea helps calm you down).
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Meaning Trap. (B) Structural Error. (C) Common Mistake.
5 (C) don’t get
- Why it is correct (The Key): Zero Conditional (negative). A general truth about the speaker’s performance.
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Common Mistake (Using “won’t” in the if-clause). (B) Meaning Trap. (D) Structural Error (“I” goes with “don’t”, not “doesn’t”).
6 (B) will watch
- Why it is correct (The Key): First Conditional. Shifts from a general habit to a specific plan in the near future (“tonight”).
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Meaning Trap (Zero Conditional doesn’t fit a specific upcoming event). (C) Structural Error. (D) Common Mistake (Using “would” for a real, highly possible situation in the present/future).
7 (A) am not
- Why it is correct (The Key): First Conditional. The if-clause uses Present Simple (to be -> am).
- Mistake Analysis: (B) Common Mistake (Using future tense in the if-clause). (C) Meaning Trap (Using Type 2 for something highly possible). (D) Structural Error.
8 (D) gives
- Why it is correct (The Key): First Conditional. The subject “the professor” is singular, so the verb takes an “s”.
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Structural Error (Missing “s”). (B) Meaning Trap. (C) Common Mistake.
9 (C) will go
- Why it is correct (The Key): First Conditional expresses a likely plan for “this weekend”. The main clause uses “will + V”.
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Structural Error. (B) Common Mistake (Confusing with Type 2). (D) Meaning Trap.
10 (B) submit
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Unless” means “If… not”. The clause after “unless” uses affirmative Present Simple for First Conditional.
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Common Mistake. (C) Meaning Trap. (D) Very Common Mistake (Using a double negative “unless… don’t”).
11 (B) had
- Why it is correct (The Key): Second Conditional. Daydreaming about an unreal present situation (the reality is being too busy and lacking free time). The if-clause uses Past Simple.
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Meaning Trap (Using Type 1 contradicts the main clause “would take up”). (C) Structural Error. (D) Common Mistake (Using “would” in the if-clause).
12 (A) weren’t
- Why it is correct (The Key): Second Conditional. The verb “to be” is traditionally conjugated as “were” for all subjects in formal Second Conditional sentences.
- Mistake Analysis: (B) Meaning Trap (Mixing Type 1 and 2). (C) Common Mistake. (D) Structural Error.
13 (D) would you do
- Why it is correct (The Key): Second Conditional question. Proposing a hypothetical situation contrary to reality (“if you were in my position”).
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Common Mistake (Using “will” for a hypothetical situation). (B) Meaning Trap. (C) Structural Error.
14 (C) were
- Why it is correct (The Key): Second Conditional. Unreal assumption (I am not a millionaire). Use “were” for the subject “I”.
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Meaning Trap. (B) Structural Error. (D) Common Mistake.
15 (B) would read
- Why it is correct (The Key): Second Conditional. The main clause uses “would + V”.
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Meaning Trap. (C) Common Mistake. (D) Structural Error.
16 (A) feels
- Why it is correct (The Key): Mixed structure: Zero Conditional + Imperative. Uses Present Simple in the if-clause to give general advice.
- Mistake Analysis: (B) Structural Error (“A task” is singular, so the verb needs “s”). (C) Common Mistake. (D) Meaning Trap.
17 (D) were
- Why it is correct (The Key): Second Conditional. A classic structure used for giving advice: “If I were you…”.
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Meaning Trap. (B) Structural Error. (C) Common Mistake.
18 (B) will burn
- Why it is correct (The Key): First Conditional. A warning about a highly probable future consequence if a bad habit continues.
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Structural Error. (C) Meaning Trap (“Burn out” is not an immediate general truth here, but a future consequence). (D) Common Mistake.
19 (C) asks
- Why it is correct (The Key): Back to Zero Conditional. “Whenever” signals a repeated habit. “A friend” is singular, so the verb takes an “s”.
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Common Mistake. (B) Structural Error. (D) Meaning Trap.
20 (B) will feel
- Why it is correct (The Key): First Conditional. Making a specific promise or predicting a result in the near future (“tomorrow”) based on an action taken today.
- Mistake Analysis: (A) Common Mistake. (C) Meaning Trap. (D) Structural Error.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
To express yourself fluently, especially when talking about life problems and habits, you need to flexibly use all 3 types of conditionals:
- Conditionals Type 0 (Habits & General Truths): Great for sharing how you function or stating scientific facts. It means: Whenever A happens, B automatically happens.
- Structure: If/Whenever + Present Simple, Present Simple.
- Example: Whenever I feel stressed, I take a walk.
- Conditionals Type 1 (Plans & Warnings): Used when talking about something that is highly likely to happen in the present or future.
- Structure: If + Present Simple, Future Simple (will + V).
- Example: If I finish this tonight, I will watch a movie.
- Conditionals Type 2 (Unreal Situations & Advice): Used when daydreaming about something that is not true right now, or when putting yourself in someone else’s shoes to give advice.
- Structure: If + Past Simple (to be -> were), would + V.
- Example: If I were you, I would take a break.