Conditionals and Past Modal Verbs

The Zero Conditional:
- things that are generally true, especially for laws and rules
(if/when + present simple, ... present simple)
If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.

When the sun goes down, it gets dark.
The First Conditional:
- future situations we believe are real or possible
(if/when + present simple, ... will + infinitive)

It is also common to use this structure with unless, as long as, as soon as or in case instead of
if.
If it rains tomorrow, we'll go to the cinema.

I'll leave as soon as the babysitter arrives.
I don't want to stay in London unless I get a well-paid job.
I'll give you a key in case I'm not at home.
You can go to the party, as long as you're back by midnight.
The Second Conditional:
- is used to imagine present or future situations that are impossible or unlikely in reality
(if + past simple, ... would + infinitive)
If I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world.

If we had a garden, we could have a cat.
When if is followed by the verb be, it is grammatically correct to say if I were, if he were, if
she were and if it were. However, it is also common to hear these structures with was,
especially in the he/she form.
I wouldn't worry if I were you.

He would travel more if he was younger.
The Third Conditional
- used to describe a situation that didn't happen, and to imagine the result of this
situation
(if + past perfect, ... would + have + past participle)
If I had gone to bed early, I would have caught the train.

If she had studied, she would have passed the exam (but, really we know she didn't study and
so she didn't pass)
If I hadn't eaten so much, I wouldn't have felt sick (but I did eat a lot, and so I did feel sick).
Ex. 1 Use the correct form.

If they left now, they ……………. (be) in London by lunchtime.
You …………………………..(not fail) the exam if you'd studied a bit harder.
If we'd brought a map with us, we …………………….(not be) lost now.
I ………………………. (not speak) to him again unless he apologises.
You can go to the party as long as you ……………………… (come) home before midnight.
Had I known you were bringing your friends, I …………………………(prepare) more food.
Suppose your car broke down in the middle of nowhere, what …………………. (do)?
I'd go out tonight if I ……………………..(not have to) work tomorrow.
Ex. 2 Use mixed conditionals.
1. If I didn’t know you well, I …………………… a word you said yesterday. (not
believe)
2. If I were more responsible, I ……………………….that project before the deadline.
(complete)
3. If Dave …………………………. from university, he would receive this job now.
(graduate)
4. If I ……………………………… that concert last Sunday, we wouldn’t be enjoying it
now. (not record)
5. I …………………………………to France next week if I had booked tickets two
weeks before. (go)
6. Dan …………………………………..in this concert if he had practiced playing the
violin more. (participate)
7. Stella would have visited you yesterday if she …………………………… in the
hospital. (not be)
8. We would go out tonight if we ………………………………… it in advance. (plan)
9. Angela ………………………………. that beautiful dress last week if she had some
money. (buy)
10. Troy would have told you the truth if he ……………………………….. you better.
(know)
11. If my children had done all their household chores, I …………………………. them
to go for a walk tonight. (allow)
12. If Brian had joined us last night, he ……………………. so unhappy now. (not feel)
13. If the children ……………………………………so much ice cream, they wouldn’t
have sore throats now. (not eat)
14. Tommy ………………………………………. there by train last week if he knew
how to drive a car. (not go)
15. If we hadn’t lost so much money last year, we ……………………………. a new
house these days. (buy)
PAST MODALS OF DEDUCTION

Ex. 1 Use past modal verbs of deduction.
1. Nobody knows exactly why he died. But we think it …………………. been an

accident.
2. I ……………….. revised more for the exam. I was lazy, and now I'll fail!
3. Sarah looked very happy. She …………………………………. passed her driving

test.
4. I didn't know you were going to Phil's party yesterday. You ……………………….
told me!
5. I can't believe Jim hasn't arrived yet. He …………………….. taken the wrong train.
6. I can't believe Jim hasn't arrived yet. He …………………………….. taken the

correct train.
7. You ……………………………….. been ill yesterday. Jessie saw you at the bowling
alley.
8. I don't know where they went but they ……………………… gone to Paris or
Marseille.
9. You …………………………. paid more attention. Now we are lost.

10. The window was broken, so the thieves …………………………… got in through
that window.

Conditionals and Past Modal Verbs

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Conditionals and Past Modal Verbs

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Conditionals and Past Modal Verbs

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Zero Conditional:

(if/when + present simple, ... present simple)

If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.

The First Conditional:

- future situations we believe are real or possible

(if/when + present simple, ... will + infinitive)

If it rains tomorrow, we'll go to the cinema.

The Second Conditional:

(if + past simple, ... would + infinitive)

If I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world.

I wouldn't worry if I were you.

The Third Conditional

(if + past perfect, ... would + have + past participle)

If I had gone to bed early, I would have caught the train.

Ex. 1 Use the correct form.

Ex. 2 Use mixed conditionals.

PAST MODALS OF DEDUCTION

1. Nobody knows exactly why he died. But we think it …………………. been an

3. Sarah looked very happy. She …………………………………. passed her driving

6. I can't believe Jim hasn't arrived yet. He …………………………….. taken the

9. You …………………………. paid more attention. Now we are lost.

You might also like