Conditional sentences (if)

Rules

1. Type 1 (real future): If + present, will + verb. If it rains, we will stay home.
2. Type 2 (unreal present): If + past, would + verb. If I were rich, I would travel.
3. Type 3 (unreal past): If + had + past participle, would have + past participle.
4. Use 'were' for all persons in type 2: If I were you…
5. Do not use 'will' in the if-clause.

Examples

• If you study, you will pass.
• If I were a bird, I would fly.
• If he had run, he would have caught the bus.

Practice MCQs

1. If it rains, we ___ indoors.

   1. stay
   2. will stay
   3. would stay
   4. would have stayed
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) will stay. Type 1: if + present, will + verb.

2. If I ___ you, I would accept the offer.

   1. am
   2. was being
   3. were
   4. had been
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) were. Type 2 uses 'were' for all persons.

3. If he had worked hard, he ___ passed.

   1. will have
   2. would
   3. would have
   4. had
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) would have. Type 3: would have + past participle.

4. Choose the correct sentence.

   1. If you will call me, I will come.
   2. If you call me, I will come.
   3. If you called me, I will come.
   4. If you call me, I would have come.
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) If you call me, I will come.. No 'will' in the if-clause of type 1.

5. Unless you hurry, you ___ the train.

   1. miss
   2. will miss
   3. would miss
   4. missed
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) will miss. 'Unless' = 'if not'; it works like type 1.

6. Had I known, I ___ you.

   1. would help
   2. will help
   3. would have helped
   4. had helped
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) would have helped. 'Had I known' is type 3 without 'if'.