Conditionals (Types 0, 1 & 2) – English Grammar Exercises For B1
Choose the best option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence in the following classroom discussion.
1 The teacher begins the lesson: “Generally speaking, if a person ______ something valuable on the street, they take it to the police.”
(A) found
(B) will find
(C) finds
(D) find
2 “Today, we are going to do a role-play. If we have enough time, we ______ a moral dilemma about a lost wallet.”
(A) discuss
(B) will discuss
(C) would discuss
(D) discussing
3 “Let’s imagine this scenario: If you ______ a wallet full of cash on an empty street right now, what would you do?”
(A) had found
(B) find
(C) finded
(D) found
4 Student A immediately says: “If I found a million dollars, I ______ the police immediately without hesitation.”
(A) will call
(B) wouldn’t call
(C) would call
(D) would calling
5 “If the wallet ______ an ID card inside, it would be much easier to return it to the owner.”
(A) had
(B) has
(C) hadn’t
(D) haves
6 Student B argues: “I’m not exactly sure. I ______ the money if I didn’t know who it belonged to.”
(A) will keep
(B) might keep
(C) wouldn’t keep
(D) might keeping
7 The teacher asks the class: “If Jack ______ in this difficult situation, do you think he would keep the cash?”
(A) is
(B) weren’t
(C) were
(D) to be
8 Student C replies firmly: “Jack is a very honest person. If he found it, he ______ it to buy anything for himself.”
(A) won’t use
(B) would use
(C) wouldn’t to use
(D) wouldn’t use
9 “To be honest, if I ______ you, I would take it to the nearest police station without even opening it.”
(A) am
(B) were
(C) had been
(D) would be
10 “You wouldn’t feel guilty later unless you ______ the money for yourself.”
(A) kept
(B) keep
(C) didn’t keep
(D) keeping
11 “But imagine this detail: if there ______ no name inside the wallet, how would you track down the owner?”
(A) weren’t
(B) is
(C) be
(D) were
12 “If the true owner ______ the police station later, the officers would definitely ask them for a detailed description of the wallet.”
(A) contacts
(B) contacted
(C) didn’t contact
(D) will contact
13 “Legally speaking, you can keep the money provided that no one ______ it after a certain period of time.”
(A) doesn’t claim
(B) claimed
(C) claims
(D) claiming
14 “What would actually happen if you ______ the wallet but then saw someone desperately looking for it?”
(A) take
(B) would take
(C) taken
(D) took
15 “______ to find such a wallet, I would probably panic first before making any logical decision.”
(A) If I am
(B) Had I
(C) Were I
(D) Am I
16 “I wouldn’t touch the wallet on the ground unless I ______ absolutely sure it was dropped by the man walking ahead of me.”
(A) am
(B) weren’t
(C) were
(D) would be
17 “Supposing you ______ the money in secret, how would you hide it from your family?”
(A) keep
(B) kept
(C) didn’t keep
(D) to keep
18 “If people ______ generally more honest, the world would be a much better place for everyone.”
(A) are
(B) being
(C) weren’t
(D) were
19 “If it ______ for my strict moral principles, I might be slightly tempted to keep the cash.”
(A) wasn’t be
(B) weren’t
(C) isn’t
(D) were
20 “Even if he ______ completely broke, he wouldn’t steal money from a lost wallet.”
(A) were
(B) wouldn’t be
(C) is
(D) has been
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C) finds
- Why it is correct (The Key): This is a Type 0 conditional (General truth), describing a natural fact or habit (indicated by the phrase “Generally speaking”). Structure: If + S + V(s/es), S + V(s/es). The subject “a person” is singular, so the verb takes an “s”.
- Error Analysis: (B) will find is a Common Mistake where learners incorrectly use the future tense in the If-clause. (D) find is a Structural Error due to incorrect subject-verb agreement. (A) found is a Strong Distractor; it looks like a Type 2 conditional but violates the “generally speaking” context.
2 (B) will discuss
- Why it is correct (The Key): Type 1 conditional expressing a real possibility in the future (“If we have enough time”). The main clause requires “will + V”.
- Error Analysis: (A) discuss (Common Mistake) forgets the future tense in the main clause. (D) discussing (Structural Error) is grammatically invalid here. (C) would discuss (Strong Distractor) traps learners who assume the whole test is Type 2, but the If-clause clearly uses the present tense (“have”).
3 (D) found
- Why it is correct (The Key): Type 2 conditional (unreal present). The keywords “imagine” and “right now” indicate a hypothetical scenario. Structure: If + S + Past Simple.
- Error Analysis: (B) find (Common Mistake) confuses this with Type 1 (C) finded (Structural Error) uses the wrong irregular verb form. (A) had found (Strong Distractor) is a trap using the Type 3 past perfect tense, but the context is firmly set in the present (“right now”).
4 (C) would call
- Why it is correct (The Key): The main clause of a Type 2 conditional requires “would + base verb”.
- Error Analysis: (A) will call (Common Mistake) incorrectly pairs a Type 2 If-clause with a Type 1 main clause. (D) would calling (Structural Error) uses V-ing after a modal verb. (B) wouldn’t call (Strong Distractor) is grammatically correct but illogical because the speaker says they would act “immediately without hesitation”.
5 (A) had
- Why it is correct (The Key): The If-clause of a Type 2 conditional requires the Past Simple tense.
- Error Analysis: (B) has (Common Mistake) incorrectly uses the present tense. (D) haves (Structural Error) is a basic vocabulary/conjugation error. (C) hadn’t (Strong Distractor) breaks the logical meaning; if the wallet didn’t have an ID, it would not be “easier to return”.
6 (B) might keep
- Why it is correct (The Key): In Type 2 conditionals, “might” can replace “would” to express uncertainty, perfectly matching the speaker’s statement “I’m not exactly sure.”
- Error Analysis: (A) will keep (Common Mistake) uses the wrong tense. (D) might keeping (Structural Error) incorrectly adds V-ing after a modal. (C) wouldn’t keep (Strong Distractor) contradicts the logic; if they definitely wouldn’t keep it, they wouldn’t start by saying “I’m not sure.”
7 (C) were
- Why it is correct (The Key): In Type 2 conditionals, it is a formal and highly recommended rule to use “were” for all subjects (including I, he, she, it).
- Error Analysis: (A) is (Common Mistake) mixes up with Type 1 (D) to be (Structural Error) is ungrammatical. (B) weren’t (Strong Distractor) is a negative trap that changes the teacher’s intended question.
8 (D) wouldn’t use
- Why it is correct (The Key): Hypothetical situation (Type 2). Since Jack is described as an “honest” person, the logical result is that he would not use the money.
- Error Analysis: (A) won’t use (Common Mistake) belongs to Type 1 (C) wouldn’t to use (Structural Error) unnecessarily adds the preposition “to”. (B) would use (Strong Distractor) is grammatically flawless but completely contradicts his “honest” character trait.
9 (B) were
- Why it is correct (The Key): “If I were you” is a fixed, classic Type 2 expression used to give advice.
- Error Analysis: (A) am (Common Mistake). (D) would be (Structural Error) incorrectly places ‘would’ inside the If-clause. (C) had been (Strong Distractor) belongs to Type 3 conditionals.
10 (A) kept
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Unless” means “If…not”. In this Type 2 hypothetical context: “Unless you kept the money” implies “If you didn’t keep the money (you wouldn’t feel guilty)”. The verb must be in the Past Simple.
- Error Analysis: (B) keep (Common Mistake) uses present tense. (D) keeping (Structural Error). (C) didn’t keep (Strong Distractor) creates a double negative trap (“unless you didn’t keep” = “if you kept”), completely ruining the sentence’s meaning.
11 (D) were
- Why it is correct (The Key): Type 2 assumption with the dummy subject “there”; “were” is the correct past form.
- Error Analysis: (B) is (Common Mistake). (C) be (Structural Error). (A) weren’t (Strong Distractor) creates a double negative (if there weren’t no name -> if there was a name), which opposes the context of struggling to track down the owner.
12 (B) contacted
- Why it is correct (The Key): The verb in a Type 2 If-clause must shift back to the Past Simple.
- Error Analysis: (A) contacts (Common Mistake) is Present Simple. (D) will contact (Structural Error) puts a future tense inside the If-clause. (C) didn’t contact (Strong Distractor) is illogical; if the owner didn’t contact the police, the officers couldn’t ask them anything.
13 (C) claims
- Why it is correct (The Key): This is a real conditional (Type 1) disguised by the phrase “provided that” (meaning “as long as”). The conditional clause uses the Present Simple.
- Error Analysis: (B) claimed (Common Mistake) tricks learners who are in the mindset of answering Type 2 questions. (D) claiming (Structural Error). (A) doesn’t claim (Strong Distractor) is a double negative trap since “no one” is already a negative pronoun.
14 (D) took
- Why it is correct (The Key): The If-clause of a Type 2 conditional describes an imaginary action in the present/future using Past Simple.
- Error Analysis: (A) take (Common Mistake). (C) taken (Structural Error) uses V3 without an auxiliary verb. (B) would take (Strong Distractor) incorrectly puts ‘would’ into the If-clause.
15 (C) Were I
- Why it is correct (The Key): This is an inversion of a Type 2 conditional. “If I were to find…” becomes “Were I to find…”.
- Error Analysis: (A) If I am (Common Mistake). (D) Am I (Structural Error). (B) Had I (Strong Distractor) is the inversion structure for Type 3 conditionals, which doesn’t fit here.
16 (C) were
- Why it is correct (The Key): A hypothetical scenario with “Unless” (Type 2). “Were” is preferred for the pronoun “I”.
- Error Analysis: (A) am (Common Mistake). (D) would be (Structural Error). (B) weren’t (Strong Distractor) creates a confusing double negative with “Unless”.
17 (B) kept
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Supposing” acts as a substitute for “If” in Type 2 conditionals. The verb must still be shifted to the Past Simple.
- Error Analysis: (A) keep (Common Mistake). (D) to keep (Structural Error). (C) didn’t keep (Strong Distractor) contradicts the premise (if you didn’t keep it, you wouldn’t need to hide it).
18 (D) were
- Why it is correct (The Key): A hypothetical situation contrary to present reality (Type 2).
- Error Analysis: (A) are (Common Mistake). (B) being (Structural Error). (C) weren’t (Strong Distractor) results in an illogical statement (if people were less honest, the world would be better? -> Absurd).
19 (B) weren’t
- Why it is correct (The Key): A fixed Type 2 structure: “If it weren’t for + Noun” (meaning “Without…”).
- Error Analysis: (C) isn’t (Common Mistake). (A) wasn’t be (Structural Error). (D) were (Strong Distractor) flips the meaning completely (if it was because of my moral principles, I’d be tempted to steal? -> Illogical).
20 (A) were
- Why it is correct (The Key): “Even if” acts like a standard conditional. In a Type 2 scenario, it uses the Past Simple (“were”).
- Error Analysis: (C) is (Common Mistake). (D) has been (Structural Error). (B) wouldn’t be (Strong Distractor) places ‘would’ inside the conditional clause.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Type 0 Conditional: Used for general truths, habits, and scientific facts. Structure: If + Present Simple, Present Simple. (See Q1)
- Type 1 Conditional: Used for real, highly probable possibilities in the present or future. Structure: If + Present Simple, will + V. (See Q2)
- Type 2 Conditional: Used for unreal, imaginary, or highly unlikely situations in the present or future. Structure: If + Past Simple, would/might/could + V. (See Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6)
- “To be” in Type 2: It is strongly recommended to use were for all subjects (I, he, she, it) in formal and standardized English (e.g., If I were you). (See Q7, Q9)
- Alternative words for “If”: * Unless = If not. (See Q10, Q16)
- Provided that = As long as. (Always followed by a present simple verb for real conditions). (See Q13)
- Supposing = Imagine if. (See Q17)
- Inversion in Type 2: You can omit “If” by bringing “Were” to the beginning of the sentence. Structure: Were + S + (to V) / (Noun/Adj), S + would + V. (See Q15)
- Fixed Phrase: If it weren’t for + Noun/Pronoun means “without this person/thing”. (See Q19)