Which Conditional Should I Use?
Each question describes a situation. Based on the situation, decide which conditional sentence is the most appropriate; you can choose from the zero, first, second or third conditional forms.
I want to buy a Porsche, but I don't have enough money.
? If I have enough money, I buy a Porsche.
? If I have enough money, I will buy a Porsche.
? If I had enough money, I would buy a Porsche.
? If I had had enough money, I would have bought a Porsche.
He stepped on the mine, and it exploded.
? If he doesn't step on the mine, it doesn't explode.
? If he doesn't step on the mine, it won't explode.
? If he didn't step on the mine, it wouldn't explode.
? If he hadn't stepped on the mine, it wouldn't have exploded.
In my experiments, the liquid is cooled to 32 degrees. It always freezes.
? If you cool the liquid to 32 degrees, it freezes.
? If you cool the liquid to 32 degrees, it will freeze.
? If you cooled the liquid to 32 degrees, it would freeze.
? If you had cooled the liquid to 32 degrees, it would have frozen.
It may rain this afternoon. I hope it doesn't because I don't want the match to be cancelled.
? If it rains, the match is cancelled.
? If it rains, the match will be cancelled.
? If it rained, the match would be cancelled.
? If it had rained, the match would have been cancelled.
Unfortunately, I don't know Philosophy, so I can't answer your question.
? If I know Philosophy, I can answer your question.
? If I know Philosophy, I will be able to answer your question.
? If I knew Philosophy, I would be able to answer your question.
? If I had known Philosophy, I would have been able to answer your question.
You ignored my advice, so you got into trouble!
? If you don't ignore my advice, you don't get into trouble.
? If you don't ignore my advice, you won't get into trouble.
? If you didn't ignore my advice, you wouldn't get into trouble.
? If you hadn't ignored my advice, you wouldn't have got into trouble.
Return to the topics