Exercise 1
What do you say in these situations?
1) Of course you don't expect to win the lottery. Which do you say?
a If I win the lottery, I'll buy a big house.
b If I won the lottery, I'd buy a big house.
2) You're not going to sell your car because it's old and not worth much. Which do you say?
a If I sell car, I won't get much money for it.
b If I sold car, I wouldn't get much money for it.
3) You often see Sarah. A friend of yours wants to contact her. Which do you say?
a If I see Sarah, I'll tell her to call you.
b If I saw Sarah, I'd tell her to call you.
4) You don't expect that there will be a fire in the building. Which do you say?
a What will you do if there is a fire in the building?
b What would you do if there was a fire in the building?
5) You've never lost your passport. You can only imagine it.
a I don't know what I'll do if I lose passport.
b I don't know what I'd do if I lost passport.
6) Somebody stops you and asks the way to a bank. Which do you say?
a If you go right at the end of this street, you'll see a bank on your left.
b If you went right at the end of this street, you'd see a bank on your left.
7) You're in a lift. There is an emergency button. Nobody is going to press it. Which do you say?
a What will happen if somebody presses that button?
b What would happen if somebody pressed that button?
Show answers
1)
1 b
2 b
3 a
4 b
5 b
6 a
7 b
Exercise 2
Put the verb into correct form.
1) I'd be very scared if somebody ________ (point) a gun at me.
2) I can't afford to buy a car. If I ________ (buy) a car, I'd have to borrow the money.
3) Don't lend A your car. If she ________ (ask) me, I wouldn't lend her mine.
4) If the computer factory closed down, many people ________ (lose) their jobs.
5) I don't think Gary and Emma will get married. I ________ (be) amazed if they did.
6) What would you do if you ________ (be) in a lift and it ________ (stop) between floors?
7) If somebody ________ (give) me £10,000, I ________ (have) a very long holiday.
Show answers
2)
1 pointed
2 bought
3 asked
4 would lose
5 'd be / would be
6 were … stopped
7 gave … 'd have / would have
Exercise 3
Write sentences beginning If ….
1) We've decided not to catch the 10.30 train. (arrive too early)
If we ________
2) Kevin is not going to do his driving test now. (fail)
If he ________
3) We've decided not to stay at a hotel. (cost too much)
If ________
4) Sally isn't going to leave her job. (not / get another one)
________
5) We've decided not to invite Ben to the party. (have to invite his friends too)
________
6) I'm not going to tell him what happened. (not / believe me)
________
Show answers
3)
1 If we caught the 10.30 train, we’d arrive too early.
2 If he did his driving test now, he'd fail (it) / … he would fail (it).
3 If we stayed at a hotel, it would cost too much.
4 If she left her job, she wouldn't get another one.
5 If we invited Ben (to the party), we'd have to invite his friends too. / … we would have to …
6 If I told him what happened, he wouldn't believe me.
Exercise 4
Use your own ideas to complete these sentences.
1) If I won a lot of money, ________
2) I'd be very angry if ________
3) If you bought a car, ________
4) I'd be surprised if ________
5) Would you mind if ________
Show answers
4)
1 If I won a lot of money, I’d buy a house.
2 I'd be very angry if somebody broke into house.
3 If you bought a car, it would cost you a lot to maintain it.
4 I'd be surprised if the economic situation improved.
5 Would you mind if I didn't go out with you tonight?