English exercises / B1 / Sentence structureZero, first, second and third: match the halves of each if-sentence.
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English conditionals
Four patterns, chosen by how likely the situation is. Zero: if + present, present, for things always true. First: if + present, will, a real future possibility. Second: if + past, would: unlikely or imaginary. Third: if + past perfect, would have, a past that did not happen.
Read the full explanationConditionals: worked examples
Five from the set, with the answer filled in and the rule that decides it.
- 01
If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.
Zero conditional: if + present simple, present simple: always true.
- 02
If you mix blue and yellow, you get green.
Zero conditional: a result that is always the same stays in the present.
- 03
My dog barks if someone rings the doorbell.
'someone' is third person singular, and 'if' takes the present, not 'will'.
- 04
If you don't water plants, they die .
A general truth keeps the present simple in both halves of the sentence.
- 05
If the temperature falls below zero, water turns to ice.
No 'will' after 'if', and a scientific fact stays in the present.