Pariksha SaathiConditional Sentences Questions with Solutions
There are four standard "if" patterns, each tied to a different degree of reality — a general fact, a real future possibility, a present hypothetical, or a past that didn’t happen. Here’s the approach, four fully worked examples covering each type, and a few to try yourself.
The approach, quickly
- Zero conditional (general truths): If + present simple, present simple — "If you heat ice, it melts." True every time, not just hypothetically.
- First conditional (real future possibility): If + present simple, will + base verb — "If it rains, I will stay home." A genuinely possible future situation.
- Second conditional (present/future hypothetical, unlikely or untrue): If + past simple, would + base verb — "If I won the lottery, I would travel." Note: formal English uses "were" for every subject in this pattern ("If I were," not "If I was").
- Third conditional (past hypothetical, didn’t actually happen): If + past perfect, would have + past participle — "If I had studied harder, I would have passed." Describes an unreal past.
Worked examples
1. Choose the correct form: If water freezes, it ___ into ice. (A) turns (B) will turn (C) would turn (D) would have turned
Solution
- This describes a general, always-true fact — the zero conditional, which takes present simple in both clauses.
Answer: turns
2. Choose the correct form: If it rains tomorrow, we ___ the match. (A) postpone (B) will postpone (C) would postpone (D) would have postponed
Solution
- This describes a real, possible future situation — the first conditional, which takes "will" in the main clause.
Answer: will postpone
3. Choose the correct form: If I ___ a bird, I would fly around the world. (A) am (B) was (C) were (D) will be
Solution
- This is a present hypothetical that isn’t true (second conditional) — formal English uses "were" for every subject in this pattern, not "was."
Answer: were
4. Choose the correct form: If she had left earlier, she ___ the train. (A) would catch (B) would have caught (C) caught (D) catches
Solution
- This describes an unreal past situation that didn’t happen — the third conditional, which takes "would have + past participle."
Answer: would have caught
Try these yourself
Identify how real or hypothetical the situation is, then check against the answer.
1. Choose the correct form: If you mix red and blue, you ___ purple. (A) get (B) will get (C) would get (D) would have gotten
Answer: get
2. Choose the correct form: If he studies hard, he ___ the exam. (A) passes (B) will pass (C) would pass (D) would have passed
Answer: will pass
3. Choose the correct form: If they had invited me, I ___ the party. (A) would attend (B) would have attended (C) attended (D) attend
Answer: would have attended
Where this comes up
Conditional Sentences is tested directly in the English Language section of every exam Pariksha Saathi covers — SSC CGL, SSC MTS, SSC CHSL, IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, SBI PO and SBI Clerk.
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