Conditionals and Time Clauses

Study the questions and tasks

Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.

Practice level

B1. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.

Question formats

Single choice

How to approach this practice

Read the complete sentence and notice the subject, verb form, time reference and word order before answering.

1. Question 1 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   If the meeting ___ early, I will send the report today.

   1. finishes
   2. finished
   3. will finish
   4. is finishing
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   finishes

   In a first conditional, use the present simple in the if-clause.

   finishes: Correct: If the meeting finishes early, I will send...

   finished: The past form would suggest a hypothetical or less likely condition.

   will finish: Do not normally use will in the if-clause of a first conditional.

   is finishing: The present continuous is not needed for this general condition.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   If I ___ more time, I would take the evening course.

   1. had
   2. have
   3. will have
   4. am having
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   had

   The second conditional uses the past simple in the if-clause for an unreal or unlikely present situation.

   had: Correct: If I had more time, I would take...

   have: Have would describe a real possible condition rather than this hypothetical one.

   will have: Will does not belong in the if-clause here.

   am having: The continuous form is not the standard choice for possession in this conditional.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Unless we ___ the deadline, the client will be disappointed.

   1. meet
   2. met
   3. will meet
   4. would meet
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   meet

   Unless means if not, and it takes the present simple in this first conditional.

   meet: Correct: Unless we meet the deadline...

   met: The past form does not fit this real future condition.

   will meet: Do not normally use will after unless in this structure.

   would meet: Would belongs in the result of a hypothetical conditional, not here.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   If you had checked the file, you ___ the error.

   1. would have found
   2. will find
   3. find
   4. would find
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   would have found

   The third conditional uses would have plus the past participle for an unreal past result.

   would have found: Correct: you would have found the error.

   will find: Will describes a future result, not an unreal past result.

   find: The present simple does not match the past condition.

   would find: The result needs the perfect form would have found.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   I will call you when the manager ___ free.

   1. is
   2. will be
   3. was
   4. would be
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   is

   Use the present simple after when to refer to a future time clause.

   is: Correct: when the manager is free.

   will be: Do not normally use will in this future time clause.

   was: The past form does not fit the future plan.

   would be: Would does not fit this straightforward future time clause.

What to review next

After checking an answer, explain the rule in your own words and write a new sentence using the same pattern. Revisit any rules you could not explain.

A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.

Before you practise: a worked example

Describe a condition and its possible result.

If it rains, we will stay indoors.

This first conditional example uses the present simple in the if-clause and will in the result clause for a real future possibility.

This teaching example is separate from the scored questions. After your test, compare any mistakes with the explanation and revisit the topic before trying again.