Conditional sentences (условные предложения)

 

условие	Придаточное предложение	Главное предложение	Перевод
реальное	If it looks like rain, If I have more time, If he is working on Friday, Present simple/ Cont.	we will stay at home. I’ll come to you. he won’t be able to go with us Will+V1
нереальное	будущее/настоящее	If I were you,   If I had more time, If it were not raining, Past Simple/Cont.	I would go there myself. I would do this work. I would go out. would could +V1 might	бы
прошедшее	If you had gone there,   If it hadn’t been so hot last summer, Past Perfect	you would have seen him. we could have gone to the south. would could +have V3/Ved might

 

Exercise 1. Choose the correct form of the verb.

1. It doesn’t /won’t work unless you put/ will put batteries in. 2. If the weather is/will be fine, we go/will go to the beach in the afternoon. 3. If you drive/will drive carefully, you don’t have/won’t have any accidents. 4. I miss/will miss the bus if I get up/will get up late tomorrow. 5. If I have /will have a headache tomorrow, I stay/will stay at home. 6. Unless he leaves/will leave immediately, he is/ will be late. 7. The secretary takes/will take a message if John rings/will ring up. 8. If it snows/will snow a lot this winter, we go/will go skiing. 9. If you have/will have some problems, he helps/will help you. 10. It is/will be hard to find a hotel if we arrive/will arrive late.

Exercise 2. Use the correct tense of the verb.

1. I can’t work when you (interrupt) me. 2. If they (not hurry), they (be) late. 3. If he (not find) her at home, he (leave) her a note. 4. They (complete) the work in time if you (give) all the materials. 5. It (be) nice if she (come) to the party. 6. If he (run) round the park every morning, he (keep) very fit. 7. We (have) dinner if we (find) a good restaurant. 8. If I (have) enough money, I (go) shopping. 9. If students (not know) words, they (look) them up in the dictionary. 10. If you (not tell) me the truth, I never (speak) to you again. 11. She (get) wet to the skin if she (not put) on her raincoat. 12. If you (not close) the window, you (catch) a severe cold.

Exercise 3. Answer the questions. Use the words in brackets for your answers.

1. What will you do if you are late? (take a taxi). 2. What will we do if we don’t know where to get off? (ask the driver about it). 3. What will you do if you feel hungry? (go to the café). 4. What will you do if you have a high temperature? (send for the doctor). 5. What will you do if you lose your gloves? (buy another pair). 6. What will they do if the weather is fine? (go to the country). 7. What will he do if he doesn’t have the book at home? (borrow the book from the library). 8. What will the baby do if you take its toys? (cry). 9. What will we see if we go to the cinema? (see a comedy). 10. What will we do if it rains? (stay at home).

 

Exercise 4. Join the beginnings and ends, putting if.

Beginnings	Ends
How can you make decisions I can’t fix the radio I will go with you You are ready before eight You have to practice I buy three kilos	I’ll take it back to the shop. you want to play the piano you don’t know what’s going on. we can catch the early train. you like. that’ll do for a few weeks.

 

Exercise 5. Complete the following sentences with your own ideas.

1. I’ll be surprised if ___. 2. I’ll be very happy if ___. 3. I’ll be very sorry if ___. 4. I’ll be so pleased if ___. 5. I’ll be depressed if ___. 6. I’ll be excited if ___. 7. I’ll be unhappy if ___. 8. I’ll be worried if ___.

II тип

Exercise 1. Use the correct form of the verb.

1. He (not pass) the exam if he (not work) harder. 2. If I (know) his address, I (tell) you. 3. If she (not like) children, she (not be) a teacher. 4. If they (have) the map of the place, they (go) there themselves. 5. If I (know) the way, I (show) you how to get there. 6. If the wind (not be) so strong, they (try sailing) 7. If the weather (be) fine, we (have) tea on the terrace. 8. You (get) there sooner if you (go) by train. 9. If she (work) more slowly, she (not make) so many mistakes. 10. We (not come) if we (know) you were away. 11. If he (go) to bed earlier, he (not feel) so tired.

Exercise 2. Answer the questions. Use the words in brackets for your answers.

Example: What would you do if you fell ill? (go to see a doctor)

If I fell ill, I would go to see a doctor.

1. Where would you go if you were in London? (the Madame Tussaud’s Museum). 2. What language would you study if you were to choose? (English). 3. What would you do if your friend were late? (wait for him). 4. What would you do if you took the wrong bus? (get off at the next stop). 5. What would you do if you had a headache? (take some medicine). 6. What would you do if you had some time to spare? (go sightseeing). 7. What would you do if you won the first prize? (be very glad). 8. What would you do if you lost your telephone book? (phone the inquiry office). 9. What would you do if you liked the cake? (ask for a second helping). 10. What would you do if you went to the south? (swim and sunbathe).

 

Exercise 3. Change the sentences according to the model.

Example: If I had enough money next summer, I would go abroad.

- Had I enough money next summer, I would go abroad.

1. If I had enough money next summer, I would go abroad. 2. If I were you, I’d go to bed. 3. If we had a different manager, he would find the solution to our economic situation. 4. If there were more policemen at football matches, there wouldn’t be so many fights. 5. If she were to go to the party, she would wear a new dress. 6. If he could thank them for it, he would tell them many warm words. 7. If we had a party, we would invite you. 8. If she were in your place, she would act differently. 9. If I had a car, I would give you a lift. 10. If the students could do this experiment again, they would get better results. 11. If Fred were more attentive, he would not make so many mistakes. 12. If my friend could speak English fluently, she would get a well-paid job. 13. Should the scientist use a radio telescope, he would obtain much more information.

 

Exercise 4. Answer the questions.

1. What would you say to your friend if you came to his birthday party? 2. What would you say if you stepped on somebody’s foot in a crowded bus? 3. What would you say in reply if you were greeted with “A Happy New Year!”? 4. What would you say if you came late for the lesson? 5. What would you say if you had an extra ticket and wanted to invite your friend to the movies? 6. If you enjoyed an evening with your friend, what would you say at parting? 7. What would be your first words if you were introduced to somebody? 8. What would you say in reply to “How do you do?”?

 

Exercise 5. Join the two sentences according to the model.

Example: They are not here. I won’t have a talk with them.

If they were here, I would have a talk with them.

1. The milk is not fresh. I won’t buy any. 2. He is not a doctor. He won’t help you. 3. The weather isn’t warm today. We won’t go boating. 4. They are not acquainted. She will not invite them. 5. It isn’t windy today. The boys won’t play with their kites. 6. I have no money with me. I can’t lend you any. 7. We have no vegetables at home. We can’t prepare any salad. 8. He doesn’t like football. He doesn’t go to matches. 9. John doesn’t earn much. He will not go abroad for his holidays. 10. You don’t get up early. You won’t see the sunrise.

 

Exercise 6. Complete the following sentences.

1. If I could speak a lot of languages, I ___. 2. If I lived in Moscow, I ___. 3. If she were twenty, she ___. 4. If he tried his chance, he ___. 5. If we could travel every holiday, we ___. 6. If they were invited to our party, they ___.

III тип

Exercise 1. Use the correct form of the verb.

1. If it didn’t rain, we should go for a walk (yesterday night). 2. If I knew English, I’d get a better job (then). 3. If it were sunny, we could go to the beach (two hours ago). 4. If they had a map, they’d see the shortest way (then). 5. If I had time, I’d go shopping with you (yesterday). 6. If I didn’t wear my raincoat, I’d be wet to the skin (last Monday). 7. If she worked harder, she would get a good mark (from the very beginning). 8. If he were ready, he would take his exam (the day before). 9. If we saw it in the papers, we’d read (then). 10. If I were not ill, I would go to your party (last week).

 

Exercise 2. Use the correct tense of the verb.

1. We (not miss) the train if we had hurried. 2. We wouldn’t have seen the performance if they (not have) spare tickets. 3. If I had known that the bus would leave so late, I (not get up) so early. 4. If he (realize) who it was, he would have spoken to her. 5. If Jane had seen the new film last week she (join) our discussion. 6. If he (not smoke) so much, he (not have) such a bad heart. 7. Mr. Brown would have taken the job if the salary (not be) very low. 8. If you (not remind) me about the meeting, I (forget) about it. 9. If they hadn’t run out of food, they (not go out) to the shop. 10. Helen (not get) wet if she (not forget) her umbrella. 11. Sally (be) very upset if you (not come) to see her. 12. If Fred (know) about the local football club he would have joined it.

Exercise 3. Change the sentences using inversion.

Example: If I had known about it, I’d never have done it.

Had I known about it, I’d never have done it.

1. If I had seen him yesterday, I would have asked him about it. 2. If the equipment had been provided in time, they could have used it in their experiment. 3. If she had had this information before, she would have acted differently. 4. If we had carried out our experiment a week before, the results would have been the same. 5. If you had bought everything beforehand, we wouldn’t have wasted so much time. 6. If he hadn’t stopped to talk to them, he would have caught the bus. 7. If she had taken the first turning, she would have found the hotel easily. 8. If they had studied much at school, they would have entered the university. 9. If Bill hadn’t missed the flight, he would have gone to the meeting. 10. If I hadn’t enjoyed the film, I wouldn’t have advised you to see it. 11. If he hadn’t eaten all the ice cream he would have felt better. 12. If we had known where the exit was, we would have been able to escape.

Revision

Exercise 1. Use the correct tense of the verb to make the first, second, and third conditionals.

1. If we (call) an ambulance, they (take) her to hospital. 2. If you (send) it express, it (arrive) sooner. 3. She (phone) him if she (know) his number. 4. We (buy) the house if it (not be) so small. 5. If they (give) you another passport, there (not be) any trouble. 6. If we (have) enough money, we (redecorate) the flat. 7. The dog (not escape) from the garden if he (not leave) the gate open. 8. If she (wear) warmer clothes, she (not catch) so many colds. 9. If I (see) any of your friends, I (give) them your best wishes. 10. Jack (get) a promotion if he (work) harder. 11. If he (have) a secretary, he (not type) himself. 12. I (look) for another job if I (lose) this one.

Exercise 2. Translate the expressions in brackets.

1. If more people (бросили бы курить), our health services would save a lot of money. 2. Parents (поймут) teenagers better if they try to remember themselves at that age. 3. If I had known that you were ill (я бы навестил тебя). 4. If everyone (стал бы) a vegetarian, then the whole population of the world would have enough to eat. 5. We (доберемся) in time if we catch a 5 o’clock train. 6. If she had listened to my directions (она бы не повернула) down the wrong street. 7. If (у меня был бы) a dictionary, I would finish the translation today. 8. (Собака не вошла бы) into the house if you had shut the door. 9. If (он придет) late again, he will get fired. 10. Were that book not so expensive, (я бы купил ее). 11. If we don’t protect whales, (они все погибнут). 12. If he had known that the river was dangerous, (он не пытался бы) to swim across it.

Exercise 3. Use the correct tense of the verb.

1. If I had enough money I (buy) the car immediately. 2. Had I known how dangerous the journey is, I never (take) my son with me. 3. We will go swimming this afternoon if it (be) warmer. 4. If he remained in the train I (meet) him. 5. Mary will be sorry if Ann (not come). 6. It would be quicker if he (use) a computer. 7. If the electricity hadn’t been cut off, we (finish) our work. 8. What you (do) if you lost your wallet? 9. We (be) surprised if he manages to sell his car. 10. If she (not spend) so much on her clothes, she would have had enough money to pay the rent.

 

Exercise 4. Write sentence chains with if, using the first, second and third conditionals.

Example: If he doesn’t work hard, he won’t pass the exams. If he doesn’t pass his exams, he won’t enter the University…

1. He works hard → passes exams → enters the University → learns Chinese → goes to China → goes climbing to Tibet → tries to climb Everest.

2. He bought a bicycle → went for a ride in the country → fell off → woke up in the hospital → met a beautiful nurse → wrote the bestselling novel about her → got rich → married the beautiful nurse → lives happily ever after.

3. Mary’s mother had gone out that evening → Mary had cooked for herself → had got interested in cooking → had opened a very successful café → had had the Prime Minister as a customer → had got a large order.

 

Exercise 5. Complete the sentences.

1. If I won a lot of money, ___. 2. If I decided to go out this weekend, I’ll probably ___. 3. Most people would be a lot happier, if ___. 4. If I could have any job in the world, ___. 5. If I go abroad in summer, I ___. 6. If I could meet someone famous, ___. 7. If you want to make a good impression at an interview, you should ___. 8. If someone pays me a compliment, I usually ___. 9. If I could be another nationality, ___. 10. If a friend of mine got into trouble, ___. 11. Children would work harder at school, if ___. 12. If my car were stolen, ___. 13. English would be an easier language to learn, if ___. 14. If I could change one thing in my life at present, ___. 15. Most parents would be very unhappy/pleased/worried/excited, if their children ___. 16. If I could have my life again, I definitely wouldn’t ___. 17. If I ever emigrated ___.

 

Exercise 6. Translate the following sentences.

1. If a computer is not programmed, it will not function. 2. If you had modified the conditions at the very beginning, you would have obtained better results. 3. He won’t be able to solve the problem unless he calculates this equation at the lesson. 4. Were the resistance to flow increased, the volume of gas would be decreased. 5. If any liquid is in a vessel, it will take the shape of the vessel containing it. 6. Provided the operator’s cabin had been equipped with electronic control, he would have been able to work faster and with greater precision. 7. Had the information been received in time, we would have used it in our calculations. 8. If a solid body or a liquid is heated, it will expand. 9. Unless the temperature rises, the speed of the motion of the molecules will not increase. 10. If there were no computers, space flights would be impossible. 11. If it were possible we would begin this work at once. 12. Had he used new materials the device would have been more reliable. 13. Were the design of cars improved the fuel consumption would be greatly reduced. 14. We would have no radio, telephone, television or computers unless there were electricity. 15. It would have been impossible to send satellites into orbit unless Newton’s laws of motion had been studied. 16. Unless the temperature rises the speed of the molecules will not increase. 17. The results of the experiment would have been much better if he had used the new equipment. 18. The quality of goods would be improved if the old methods of production were changed. 19. Had we pointed out all the drawbacks, we should have found ways to solve the problem.

Exercise 7. Find the Russian equivalents to the following proverbs and quotations.

1. If you run after two hares, you’ll catch none. 2. If you wish another to keep your secret, first keep it yourself. (L Seneca) 3. If the sky falls, we shall catch larks. 4. If there were no bad people, there would be no good lawyers. (Ch. Dickens)

 

Exercise 8. Read and translate the joke.

Too many ‘had s ’

A language teacher asked: “What’s wrong in the sentence: “Mary didn’t go to school yesterday as she had had a birthday party”?” A student replied:”If the sentence which had “had had” had had “had” it would have been correct.”