MIXED CONDITIONAL TENSES EXERCISE 1 (ESL)
level: Intermediate (B1/B2)
✓ Useful for IELTS
✓ Useful for Cambridge B2/C1
English has four conditional patterns, each expressing a different relationship between condition and result — real or unreal, present or past. This exercise mixes all four types together, so you need to identify the pattern before choosing the correct form.
Grammar review
Mixed conditional tenses — which conditional when?
This exercise tests all main conditional forms in English. The table below is a quick guide to choosing the right one.
Zero conditional — general truths and facts
If + simple present → simple present
“If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.”
First conditional — real, likely future situation
If + simple present → will + base verb
“If it rains, I will stay home.”
Second conditional — hypothetical or unlikely present/future situation
If + simple past → would + base verb
“If I won the lottery, I would buy a house.”
Third conditional — imaginary past situation (didn’t happen)
If + past perfect → would have + past participle
“If she had studied, she would have passed.”
Key question to ask: Is the situation real/possible (1st)? Hypothetical/unlikely (2nd)? Based on a past that didn’t happen (3rd)?
This exercise tests all main conditional forms in English. The table below is a quick guide to choosing the right one.
Zero conditional — general truths and facts
If + simple present → simple present
“If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.”
First conditional — real, likely future situation
If + simple present → will + base verb
“If it rains, I will stay home.”
Second conditional — hypothetical or unlikely present/future situation
If + simple past → would + base verb
“If I won the lottery, I would buy a house.”
Third conditional — imaginary past situation (didn’t happen)
If + past perfect → would have + past participle
“If she had studied, she would have passed.”
Key question to ask: Is the situation real/possible (1st)? Hypothetical/unlikely (2nd)? Based on a past that didn’t happen (3rd)?
Choose the correct verb form to complete each conditional sentence.
1. If I ________ you, I would apologize to her right away. (to be)
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
2. If I run into her, I ________ her that you're looking for her. (to tell)
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
3. If you ________ that again, I will call the police. (to do)
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
4. He would never have asked her out on a date if she ________ him first. (to kiss)
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5. If you were her, what ________? (to do)
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6. If she hadn't gone to England, she ________ Tom Hardy. (to meet)
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7. If it doesn't start snowing, we ________ skiing this evening. (to go)
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
8. If you had saved some money earlier, you ________ broke right now. (to be)
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
9. If I ________ at the airport so late, I would not have missed my flight. (to arrive)
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
10. If you buy one t-shirt, you ________ the second one free. (to get)
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
11. If I lose my job, I ________ for a new one. (to look)
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
12. If she hadn't told me to stay, I ________. (to go)
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
13. She ________ to come to the party if she had known that her ex-boyfriend would be there. (to agree)
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
14. If you come tonight, I ________ enchiladas. (to make)
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
15. If I were him, I ________ that job. (to take)
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
16. He will never speak to me again if he ________ what happened. (to find out)
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
17. Our cat ________ you if you rub her belly. (to bite)
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
18. I ________ you if I hadn't thought it was important. (to tell)
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
19. If I ________ you were coming, I would have prepared lunch. (to know)
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
20. If I were you, I ________ to the beach instead of going to work. (to go)
That's right! Well done!Sorry, that is incorrect. Please try again.
KEEP PRACTICING — MORE EXERCISES FOR YOU:
Mixed conditional exercises are a great final test — but if anything tripped you up, jump back to the individual tense exercises below.
First conditional:
The first conditional 1 (B1)
The first conditional 2 (B1)
The first conditional 3 (B1)
Second conditional:
The second conditional 1 (B1/B2)
The second conditional 2 (B1/B2)
First or second conditional? 1 (B1/B2)
First or second conditional? 2 (B1/B2)
Third conditional:
The third conditional 1 (B2)
The third conditional 2 (B2)
Mixed conditionals 2 (B2)
Browse all grammar exercises →
Mixed conditional exercises are a great final test — but if anything tripped you up, jump back to the individual tense exercises below.
First conditional:
The first conditional 1 (B1)
The first conditional 2 (B1)
The first conditional 3 (B1)
Second conditional:
The second conditional 1 (B1/B2)
The second conditional 2 (B1/B2)
First or second conditional? 1 (B1/B2)
First or second conditional? 2 (B1/B2)
Third conditional:
The third conditional 1 (B2)
The third conditional 2 (B2)
Mixed conditionals 2 (B2)
Browse all grammar exercises →
