Conditionals – exercises


1. Put each verb in brackets into an appropriate verb form.


a) Now we're lost! If you …………………………………..(write down) the directions, this (not/happen).

b) Why don't we emigrate? If we ……………………………. (live) in Australia, at least the weather ………………………………
(be) better!

c) Thanks to Dr Jones, I'm still alive! If it ………………………………. (not/be) for her, I ……………………………….. (be)
dead for certain.

d) What a terrible thing to happen! Just think, if we ………………………….. (not/miss) the plane, we

………………………………. (kill) in the crash.

e) If you'd told me it was a surprise party, I ……………………………. (say) anything to Uncle Dave!

f) If I ………………………………. (had) your tools, I wouldn't have been able to fix the car.


2. Rewrite each sentence three times so that it contains the word in capitals.


a) We won't go away if the weather is bad.

………………………………………………………………….                        UNLESS

…………………………………………………………………..                       ONLY

…………………………………………………………………..                       STAY

b) If they offered you the job, would you accept?

………………………………………………………….                      WERE TO

………………………………………………………….                      SHOULD

………………………………………………………….                      HAPPENED

c) Without your help, I would have given up years ago.

………………………………………………………….                      HADN'T BEEN

………………………………………………………….                      BUT

………………………………………………………….                      HADN'T HELPED

d) I'll lend you the money on condition that you pay it back next week.

………………………………………………………….                      PROVIDED

………………………………………………………….                      LONG

            ………………………………………………………….                      ONLY


3. Complete the text by writing one word in each space.


Mr Jeffries, I have decided against a prison sentence in your case. You may walk free from this
court on (1) ………………………… that you report to Chesham police station every Friday for the next six
months. Should you fail to (2) …………………… so, you will be given one warning; and if you persist (3)
………………failing to meet this obligation, you will return to this court for a harsher sentence. (4)
……………………………….  you can present good reason why you were unable to report to the station, you will
(5) ………………………………… yourself in severe trouble. If you are (6) ………………………………….. to attend because of
illness, please note that a medical certificate must be produced, signed by your doctor, proving
your state of health. You should realise that (7) ……………………….. for your previous good conduct, I
would (8) …………………………………. had no hesitation in imposing a prison sentence. And I shall not forget
that if your friend had (9) …………………. intervened in the fight, you might (10) ……………………………….
seriously injured the defendant.


4. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the
word given. Do not change the word given.


a) If you are in London by any chance, come and see me. happen

If you ……………………………………………..come and see me.

b) The fire was brought under control thanks to the night-watchman. for

If it hadn't ……………………………………………got out of control.

c) Dick is in prison because a detective recognised him. if

Dick …………………………………………………..hand’t recognised him.

d) I am not tall enough to reach the shelf. taller

If I ………………………………………………….reach the shelf.