If conditionals & mixed conditionals

1. If Conditionals (Basic Types)

These are used to express conditions and their possible results.
Zero Conditional – General truths or facts
Form: If + present simple, present simple
Meaning: Always true – scientific facts or rules.
Example:
If you mix red and blue, you get purple.
If people eat too much, they gain weight.

First Conditional – Real future possibility

Form: If + present simple, will + base verb
Meaning: Something possible or likely in the future.
Example:
If it rains tomorrow, we will cancel the trip.
If I study hard, I will pass the exam.

Second Conditional – Unreal or imaginary in the present/future

Form: If + past simple, would + base verb
Meaning: Hypothetical; not real or unlikely.
Example:
If I were rich, I would buy a mansion. (But I’m not rich.)
If she had more time, she would travel more. (But she doesn’t.)

Third Conditional – Unreal past (regrets or missed chances)

Form: If + past perfect, would have + past participle
Meaning: Refers to the past, but didn’t happen.
Example:
If I had studied harder, I would have passed the test. (But I
didn’t.)
If they had left earlier, they would have caught the train.

2. Mixed Conditionals
These are used when the condition and the result are in
different time frames (past vs. present or vice versa).
A. Past Condition → Present Result
Form: If + past perfect, would + base verb
Meaning: A past situation is causing a present result.
Example:
If I had taken that job, I would be living in London now.
(But I didn’t take the job, so I’m not in London.)

B. Present Condition → Past Result

Form: If + past simple, would have + past participle
Meaning: A current or ongoing situation is the reason
something didn’t happen in the past.
Example:
If I were more confident, I would have spoken at the meeting.
(But I’m not confident, so I didn’t speak.)

There are some notable exceptions, variations, and special

cases you should be aware of:
 1. “If I were” vs. “If I was”
Standard Rule: In second conditionals, we use “were” for all
subjects:
If I were you, I would apologize.
If he were taller, he would play basketball.
Exception: In informal speech, people sometimes use “was”
(e.g., If I was you), but it’s considered less formal or
grammatically incorrect in standard English.

2. “If” vs. “Whether”

“If” introduces a condition.
If it rains, we’ll cancel the picnic.
“Whether” introduces alternatives or choices.
I don’t know whether he will come or not.
Exception:
Don’t use “if” when there are two possible alternatives or in
preposition-based phrases:
Incorrect: I’m not sure if to go or stay.
Correct: I’m not sure whether to go or stay.

3. Inverted Conditionals (Without ‘if’)

Instead of: If I had known, I would have helped.
You can say: Had I known, I would have helped.
(This is formal or literary.)
Other examples:
Were I rich, I would travel the world. (Instead of: If I were rich...)
Should you need help, let me know. (Instead of: If you should
need help...)

4. “If” with modal verbs

You can sometimes use modal verbs (could, might, may,
should) in place of “will/would”:
If you study, you may pass the test.
If I were taller, I could reach the shelf.
If he had seen her, he might have said hello.

5. Omission of “if”
In informal speech or certain clauses, “if” may be understood or
implied, especially in expressions:
Had I known... = If I had known...
Were I you... = If I were you...

6. Using “unless” instead of “if not”

“Unless” is a substitute for “if not”:
If you don’t study, you will fail.
= Unless you study, you will fail.
Be careful: “Unless” means “except if”, not “if”.
Choose the correct answer
1. If you boil water, it (turns – turned – will turn) into vapour.
2. If I (studied – study – had studied) well, I will succeed.
3. If he (gets up – got up – had got up) earlier, he would
catch the bus.
4. If they had left on time, they (catch – caught – would have
caught) the train.
5. If she (is – had been – were) more careful, she wouldn’t
have broken the vase.
6. If I (were – am – had been) a bird, I would fly.
7. If we (had – have had – had had) a map, we wouldn’t be
lost now.
8. If you touch fire, it (burns – burned – will burn) you.
9. If I (had – have – had had) enough money, I would buy that
car.
10. If she (studies – studied – had studied) harder, she
would be a top student now.
11. If you (heat – heated – will heat) ice, it melts.
12. If I (am – were – had been) taller, I could play
basketball.
13. If we (don’t hurry – didn’t hurry – hadn’t hurried),
we’ll miss the train.
14. If he (had studied – studied – studies) more, he would
be better at math now.
15. If you (drop – dropped – had dropped) the glass, it will
break.
16. If they (win – won – had won) the game, they would
celebrate tonight.
17. If she (hadn’t forgotten – didn’t forget – doesn’t
forget) her keys, she wouldn’t be locked out.
18. If I (see – saw – had seen) him tomorrow, I’ll tell him.
19. If he (practices – practiced – had practiced) more, he
would play better.
20. If you (don’t water – didn’t water – hadn’t watered)
the plant, it will die.
21. If I (had known – knew – know) about the meeting, I
would have attended.
22. If she (calls – called – had called) earlier, we would be
ready now.
23. If you (press – pressed – had pressed) this button, the
machine starts.
24. If they (arrive – arrived – had arrived) on time, they
will get good seats.
25. If I (hadn’t eaten – didn’t eat – don’t eat) that cake, I
wouldn’t feel sick now.
26. If we (see – saw – had seen) a snake, we will run.
27. If she (were – is – was) more patient, people would
like her more.
28. If he (drinks – drank – had drunk) too much coffee, he
won’t sleep well.
29. If you (had told – told – tell) me, I would help.
30. If they (invite – invited – had invited) me, I will come.
31. If I (go – went – had gone) out in the rain, I would get
wet.
32. If we (start – started – had started) earlier, we would
have finished by now.
33. If he (hadn’t been – wasn’t – isn’t) so busy, he would
join us.
34. If I (forget – forgot – had forgotten) your birthday, I
apologize.
35. If she (takes – took – had taken) the medicine, she
will feel better.
36. If we (don’t leave – didn’t leave – hadn’t left) now, we
will be late.
37. If he (had listened – listened – listens) to me, he
wouldn’t be in trouble.
38. If the sun (shines – shone – had shone) tomorrow, we
will go hiking.
39. If I (hadn’t lost – didn’t lose – don’t lose) my wallet, I
would have paid.
40. If they (help – helped – had helped) us, we could
finish faster.
41. If you (look – looked – had looked) at the sky, you will
see stars.
42. If she (had worked – worked – works) harder, she
could have succeeded.
43. If I (knew – know – had known) the answer, I would
tell you.
44. If we (don’t study – didn’t study – hadn’t studied), we
won’t pass.
45. If he (was – were – had been) here now, he would
help.
46. If you (ask – asked – had asked) politely, they would
say yes.
47. If I (meet – met – had met) him yesterday, I would
have said hello.
48. If she (leaves – left – had left) earlier, she will catch
the train.
49. If they (hadn’t broken – didn’t break – don’t break)
the rules, they wouldn’t be punished.
50. If I (cook – cooked – had cooked) dinner, we wouldn’t
be hungry now.