Conditional clauses are very common in English. They are usually introduced by the subordinating conjunction if.
Conditional clauses can refer to the present, past or the future. The zero conditional usually refers to the present. The first conditional can refer to the present or the future. Second and third conditional clauses are mainly used to talk about unreal or hypothetical past situations.
The second conditional can also be used to refer to unreal present or future situations.
Test your understanding of conditional clauses with this grammar exercise. Read the sentences given below and try to identify the type of conditional clauses present in them.
1. If I see my enemy on the road, I turn my head away.
a) zero conditional
b) first conditional
c) second conditional
2. If it is a holiday tomorrow, I will go to the cinema.
a) first conditional
b) second conditional
c) third conditional
3. If I had a lot of money, I would start a business.
a) first conditional
b) second conditional
c) third conditional
4. If I want to go to Mumbai, I will book a ticket on the Mangala Express.
a) first conditional
b) second conditional
c) third conditional
5. If you had worked harder, you would have passed the test.
a) first conditional
b) second conditional
c) third conditional
6. If you got a job in Delhi, you could learn Hindi.
a) first conditional
b) second conditional
c) third conditional
Answers
1. Zero conditional
2. First conditional
3. Second conditional
4. First conditional
5. Third conditional
6. Second conditional
