141 Conditional sentences: type 2
PEG 222
Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form.
1 Of course I'm not going to give her a diamond ring. If I (give) her a diamond ring she
(sell) it.
2 Tom: I woke up to find the room full of smoke; but I knew exactly what to do.
Ann: If I (wake) up to find the room full of smoke I (have) no idea what to do.
3 Ann: I couldn't live without Tom. If he (go) off with another girl I (pine) away and die.
But I have complete confidence in Tom.
4 Husband: But I'm not going on a diet. Why should I go on a diet?
Wife: If you (go) on a diet you (lose) weight.
5 If someone (say), I'll give you Ј500 to go into court and swear that this statement is true, what
you (do)?
6 If we (work) all night we (finish) in time; but we have no intention of working all night.
7 You must never blow out a gas light. Do you know what (happen) if you (blow) out
a gas light?
8 If I (see) a tiger walking across Hyde Park I (climb) a tree. ~
That (not be) any use. The tiger (climb) after you.
9 If I (come) across two men fighting with knives I (call) the police. ~
But this is a very peaceful area.
10 Ann: All your clothes are years out of date. Why don't you throw them away?
Mary: Don't be ridiculous! If I (throw) my clothes away I (have) to ask my husband for
Ј1,000 to buy new ones.
11 Ann: If you (ask) him for Ј1,000 what he (say)?
12 Mary: He (be) too horrified to speak at first. But when he'd recovered from the shock,
he probably (start) talking about a divorce.
13 If someone (ring) my doorbell at 3 a.m. I (be) very unwilling to open the door.
14 If I (see) a python in Piccadilly I (assume) it had escaped from a circus.
15 Tom: The plane was on fire so we baled out.
Ann: I don't think I (have) the nerve to do that even if the plane (be) on fire.
16 We train the children to file out of the classroom quietly, because if a whole class (rush) at the
door someone (get) hurt.
17 Why don't you buy a season ticket?-
Because I lose everything. If I (buy) a season ticket I (lose) it.
18 Why don't you bring your car to work? If I (have) a car I (bring) it to work.
19 Jack: They get Ј150 a week.
Tom: They can't get Ј150 a week. If they (do) they (not be) striking for Ј120.
20 Ann: George is fourteen.
Tom: He must be older than that. He's in a full-time job. If he (be) only fourteen he still
(be) at school.
21 He is staying at the Savoy in London. ~
Is he very rich? ~
I suppose he is. If he (be) a poor man he (not stay) at the Savoy.
22 If I (have) heaps of money I (drink) champagne with every meal.
23 If you (drink) champagne with every meal you soon (get) tired of it.
24 Prime Minister on golf course: I'm not at all worried about the situation. If I (be) worried I not(play) golf at this moment.
25 But I don't want to buy an elephant! ~
I know that. But where you (go) if you (do) want to buy one?
26 Why don't you get a cat? If you (keep) a cat the mice (not run) about everywhere.
27 What time of year do you think it is in this picture? Summer? ~
No, it must be winter. If it (be) summer the people (not sit) round that big fire.
28 Tom: Oh yes, I heard the phone ringing.
Peter: Well, if you (hear) the phone ringing why you (not answer) it?
(Be careful; this is not a true conditional sentence.)
29 Your notes are almost illegible. Why don't you type them? If you (type) them they (be) a lot
easier to read.
30 If only we (have) a light! It's depressing waiting in darkness!
31 A university degree is a useful thing. If I (have) a university degree I now (sit) in a comfortable
office instead of standing at a street corner selling newspapers.
32 I (be) very grateful if you kindly (sign) this document and let me have it back as soon as
possible.
33 If the earth suddenly (stop) spinning we all (fly) off it.
34 Why are you so late? ~
We got stuck in a snowdrift! Luckily a lorry-driver saw us and towed us out. But for him we still
(be) there!
35 We didn't exactly break down. We had a puncture. ~
But if it (be) only a puncture why you (not change) the wheel and come on?
(See 28 above.)
36 I have no particular desire to win the Football Pools. If I (win) an enormous sum everybody
(write) to me asking for money.