Second and third conditionals: grammar lesson 20

Level: Intermediate / B1
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Yet more grammar! This time conditionals (if you want more conditionals, see grammar lesson 15 and lesson 8).

Second and third conditionals

A. Read this example of the third conditional and answer the questions:

If the US air force hadn't set up Project Blue Book, there wouldn't have been so much suspicion about their involvement in a cover-up.

1.       Did the US air force set up Project Blue Book?

2.       Was there any suspicion about a cover-up?

B. Complete the following conditional sentences using the verbs in brackets:

1.       If Kenneth Arnold                                                          (fly) his private aircraft near Mount Rainier in June 1947, we might never                                                     (hear) of Flying Saucers.

2.       American space technology would have been different if they                                                      (have access) to alien technology.

3.       Unless you take if for regular walks, you                                                             (buy) a dog.

4.       If you                                        (plant) more trees, we                                        (be) satisfied.

5.       If the students                                                    (tell) us they weren't coming we                                                 (warn) you.

C. Complete the following to form sentences containing the second and third conditionals:

1. If work on the dam                                                         (begin) on time, it                                                         (finish) by now.
2. If the project                                                      (improve) the environment significantly, people                                                             (object) to paying for it.
3. If you                                                    (have) an early night, you                                                         (feel) so tired now!
4. If the marine toad                                                          (introduce) native species of wildlife                                                      (survive) in greater numbers.
5. If the politicians                                                             (allowed) wind turbines to be built, most of them                                                              (build) in Scotland.

D. Use one of the conditional link words below to complete sentences 1-6. Use each link ward once only.

as long as          provided          supposing         even if              unless               if

1.                                      you had missed the train, what would you have done then?
2. Don’t dye your hair blue                                    you really want to upset your parents.
3. We'll never get there by lunch-time                                 we leave at ten o'clock.
4.                                      you let me know what you would like to eat, I'll do the cooking.
5. You can go to the party                          you don 't walk home alone.
6. I wouldn't wear that dress to an interview                                    I were you.

Adapted from New English File Advanced OUP

Answers below!

A.

1. Did the US air force set up Project Blue Book? YES

2.       Was there any suspicion about a cover-up? YES

B. Complete the following conditional sentences using the verbs in brackets:

1. If Kenneth Arnold HADN’T FLOWN (fly) his private aircraft near Mount Rainier in June 1947, we might never HAVE HEARD   (3rd) (hear) of Flying Saucers. (MIXED)

2.       American space technology would have been different if they HAD HAD ACCESS (3rd) (have access) to alien technology. (MIXED)

3.       Unless you take if for regular walks, you SHOULDN’T BUY (buy) a dog

4.       If you PLANT (plant) more trees, we WILL BE (be) satisfied.

5.       If the students HAD TOLD (tell) us they weren't coming we WOULD HAVE WARNED (warn) you. (MIXED)

C. Complete the following to form sentences containing the second and third conditionals:

1. If work on the dam HAD BEGUN (begin) on time, it WOULD HAVE BEEN FINISHED (finish) by now.
2. If the project HAD IMPROVED (improve) the environment significantly, people WOULD NOT HAVE (object) to paying for it.
3. If you HAD HAD (have) an early night, you WOULD NOT BE FEELING (feel) so tired now!
4. If the marine toad HAD NOT BEEN INTRODUCED (introduce) native species of wildlife WOULD HAVE SURVIVED (survive) in greater numbers
5. If the politicians HAD ALLOWED (allowed) wind turbines to be built, most of them WOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT (build) in Scotland

D. Use one of the conditional link words below to complete sentences 1-6. Use each link ward once only.

as long as          provided          supposing         even if              unless               if

1. SUPPOSING you had missed the train, what would you have done then?
2. Don’t dye your hair blue UNLESS you really want to upset your parents
3. We'll never get there by lunch-time EVEN IF we leave at ten o'clock.
4. PROVIDED / AS LONG AS you let me know what you would like to eat, I'll do the cooking.
5. You can go to the party PROVIDED / AS LONG AS you don 't walk home alone
6. I wouldn't wear that dress to an interview IF I were you.