First Conditional Exercise 1: 20 Practice Questions
A1–A2 · BeginnerPractice the first conditional with 20 multiple-choice questions about possible future situations. Use if + simple present for the condition and will + base verb for the result. Check your answers and read an explanation for each question. This is exercise 1 of 3 in this series.
Need a refresher? Review the grammar ↓
Choose the correct response to complete the first conditional form for each of the sentences.
Example: If you need a ride to work, my sister will drive you.
1. If you _________ a podcast, I will listen to it.
Correct answer: do — first conditional if-clause — present simple, not will do.
2. If your sister goes to Paris, she _________ a good time.
Correct answer: will have — first conditional result — will + base form.
3. If he _________ that, he will be sorry.
Correct answer: does — first conditional if-clause — present simple, not will do.
4. If I leave now, I ________ in New York by 8:00 PM.
Correct answer: will arrive — first conditional result — will + base form.
5. You ________ on your test if you don't study.
Correct answer: won't do well — first conditional negative result — won't + base form.
6. They won't know the truth if you ________ them.
Correct answer: don't tell — first conditional if-clause — present simple negative, not won't tell.
7. If I bake a cake, ________ have some?
Correct answer: will you — first conditional question — will you in the result clause.
8. If he ________ you, will you answer the phone?
Correct answer: calls — first conditional if-clause — present simple, not will call.
9. If you don't go to the party, I ________ very upset.
Correct answer: will be — first conditional result — will + base form.
10. If you get a haircut, you ________ much better.
Correct answer: will look — first conditional result — will + base form.
11. If you ________ me the video link, I will watch it tonight.
Correct answer: send — Use the simple present in the if-clause — if you send.
12. If my phone battery dies, I ________ you from my laptop.
Correct answer: will message — Use will + base verb for the future result — will message.
13. We will play the new game together if you ________ it this weekend.
Correct answer: buy — Use the simple present after if, even when the condition comes after the result.
14. If this AI tool gives me a strange answer, I ________ my teacher for help.
Correct answer: will ask — Use will + base verb for the future result — will ask.
15. If she ________ her electric bike tonight, she won't be able to ride it tomorrow.
Correct answer: doesn't charge — Use doesn't + base verb for a negative condition with she.
16. If the concert tickets go on sale tomorrow, ________ buy one?
Correct answer: will you — Use will you + base verb to ask about the future result.
17. I will try your recipe if you ________ it on your cooking blog.
Correct answer: post — Use the simple present in the if-clause — if you post.
18. If we miss the last bus tonight, we ________ a ride through an app.
Correct answer: will book — Use will + base verb for the future result — will book.
19. If I find a good used phone online, I ________ a new one.
Correct answer: won't buy — Use won't + base verb for a negative future result.
20. If Ben ________ the video call, will you join too?
Correct answer: joins — Use the simple present with Ben in the condition — if Ben joins.
Next exercise: First Conditional – Exercise 2 →
GRAMMAR REVIEW: The First Conditional — Formation & Use
The first conditional describes a real, possible future situation and its likely result. It's used when we believe the condition could actually happen.
Structure: If + present simple, will + base verb
If it rains, we will cancel the picnic.
If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
Key rules:
- The if clause always uses the present simple — never will. This is the most common mistake learners make.
❌ If it will rain... ✅ If it rains...
- The result clause uses will + base verb for positive statements, and won't + base verb for negatives.
If you don't hurry, you won't catch the bus.
- The if clause can come first or second — the meaning is the same. When it comes first, use a comma.
If I see him, I'll tell him. = I'll tell him if I see him.
DID YOU KNOW? The first conditional across languages
The first conditional structure — if + present simple, will + base verb — feels unnatural to many ESL learners because their native language handles future conditions differently. In Spanish and Italian, for example, both clauses can take a future form: Si vendrás, te veré (literally "If you will come, I will see you") — which is why Spanish and Italian speakers often incorrectly say "If you will come..." in English.
In French, the pattern is closer to English — the si (if) clause also takes the present — but the result clause uses a different future form, so the underlying logic still differs enough to cause confusion.
The first conditional is one of the earliest B1-level structures tested in Cambridge B2 First and appears in IELTS Writing Task 2 essays whenever candidates discuss future consequences: "If governments invest in renewable energy, carbon emissions will fall significantly." Mastering it at this level sets you up well for the second and third conditionals later.
The first conditional describes a real, possible future situation and its likely result. It's used when we believe the condition could actually happen.
Structure: If + present simple, will + base verb
If it rains, we will cancel the picnic.
If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
Key rules:
- The if clause always uses the present simple — never will. This is the most common mistake learners make.
❌ If it will rain... ✅ If it rains...
- The result clause uses will + base verb for positive statements, and won't + base verb for negatives.
If you don't hurry, you won't catch the bus.
- The if clause can come first or second — the meaning is the same. When it comes first, use a comma.
If I see him, I'll tell him. = I'll tell him if I see him.
DID YOU KNOW? The first conditional across languages
The first conditional structure — if + present simple, will + base verb — feels unnatural to many ESL learners because their native language handles future conditions differently. In Spanish and Italian, for example, both clauses can take a future form: Si vendrás, te veré (literally "If you will come, I will see you") — which is why Spanish and Italian speakers often incorrectly say "If you will come..." in English.
In French, the pattern is closer to English — the si (if) clause also takes the present — but the result clause uses a different future form, so the underlying logic still differs enough to cause confusion.
The first conditional is one of the earliest B1-level structures tested in Cambridge B2 First and appears in IELTS Writing Task 2 essays whenever candidates discuss future consequences: "If governments invest in renewable energy, carbon emissions will fall significantly." Mastering it at this level sets you up well for the second and third conditionals later.
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