Mastering English Grammar: Conditionals and Verb Tenses

Posted on Mar 26, 2025 in Other vocational courses

Here are some exercises to help you practice using different conditional forms and verb tenses in English:

Using Infinitives and Gerunds

Complete the following sentences using the correct form of the verb (infinitive or gerund):

  • I’ve decided to keep my old computer.
  • I haven’t got any money, so I can’t afford to buy a new computer.
  • I don’t need to send emails. I can always use my mobile instead.
  • I enjoy getting text messages from my friends.
  • I can’t imagine not having a mobile phone.
  • I can’t stand listening to other people talking on their mobiles.
  • I’d like to make it illegal to use a mobile on the train.
  • I don’t mind not owning a mobile phone. They are too expensive.

Expressing Preferences

Choose the correct verb form to express preferences:

Do you fancy going… to dance (dance) / to see (see) / not to go (not/go) / to connect (connect) / to go (go) / to call (call) / to buy (buy) / to keep (keep)

First Conditional Sentences

Complete the following first conditional sentences:

  1. A friend wants to play basketball in the classroom… If you play basketball in the classroom, we will break a window.
  2. You want to leave the party now… If I don’t leave the party now, I will miss the bus.
  3. Your dog bites people. A friend wants… If you touch the dog, it will bite you.
  4. They say walking under a ladder… If you walk under a ladder, you’ll have bad luck.
  5. If I don’t stand under a tree, I’ll get wet.
  6. If we don’t take the bus, we’ll get tired.
  7. If we don’t hurry up, we will be late for the lesson.

Second Conditional Sentences

Complete the following second conditional sentences:

  1. If I had (have) the time, I would go (go).
  2. If there weren’t (not be) any traffic, our city would be (be) better.
  3. If I found (find) some money, I would take (take) it to the police.
  4. If the world ran out (run out) of water, we would be (be) in serious trouble.
  5. If I owned (own) a dog, I would take (take) it for walks every day.
  6. If I met (meet) an alien, I may try (try) to communicate.
  7. If everyone spoke (speak) Spanish, nobody would learn (learn) other languages.
  8. If computers ruled (rule), I think the world would be (be) very different.
  9. If I saw (see) a snake, I would run (run).
  10. If I were (be) rich, I would give out (give out) money to charity.

More Second Conditional Practice

Complete the following second conditional sentences:

  1. Sue doesn’t ride… If Sue had a bike, she would ride to school.
  2. I’m not in the basketball team… If I were tall enough, I would be in the basketball team.
  3. I feel cold, unfortunately… If I had my coat with me, I would put it on.
  4. John isn’t fat… If he ate more, he would get fat.
  5. Ali wants… If Ali practices more, he will improve his English.
  6. Albert doesn’t… If he had a motorbike, he wouldn’t walk to school.
  7. Pat won’t be late but she has to hurry. If Pat hurries up, she won’t be late.
  8. If Paul takes his medicine, he will get well.
  9. If David lived further away, he would get up earlier.
  10. If Joe wasn’t so nasty, everybody would love him.

Third Conditional Sentences

Complete the following third conditional sentences:

  1. If I hadn’t been (not be) busy, I would have visited (visit) you.
  2. She would have spoken (speak) to you if she had seen (see) you.
  3. He would have gone (go) to the party if he had had (have) time.
  4. If you had seen (see) the movie, you would have enjoyed (enjoy) it.
  5. If he had been (be) careful, he wouldn’t have had (not have) the accident.

Mixed Conditional Sentences

Complete the following mixed conditional sentences:

  1. If I were (be) you, I wouldn’t stay (not stay) there.
  2. If they had arrived (arrive) earlier, they wouldn’t have missed (not miss) the train.
  3. If I had (have) enough money, I would come (come) with you.
  4. If everybody thought (think) like that, no one would volunteer (volunteer).
  5. If George had (have) a bigger hard drive, he would store (store) more files.
  6. Life would be (be) better if there weren’t (not/be) so much pollution.
  7. If you had washed (wash) your hands, you wouldn’t have sullied (not sully) the painting.
  8. If I don’t call (not call) you, go (go) without me.
  9. If you hadn’t left (not leave) the door open, this wouldn’t have happened (happen).
  10. If they knew (know) the answer, they wouldn’t ask (not ask) us.
  11. If you help me, I will be grateful.