the conditionals (2nd & 3rd)

The 2nd and 3rd Conditionals

Look at the following situations and transform them into 2nd or 3rd Conditional clauses. Remember, when the verbs in the example are in the Present Simple you then write a 2nd Conditional and when the verbs are in the Past Tense you write a 3rd Conditional.


Sam didn’t post the letter because he didn’t have money to buy stamps.


Some writers publish their work under a pseudonym because they don’t want to be recognised.


My neighbours are always throwing parties on Saturday night because they don’t get up early the following day.


Peter and Patricia didn’t carry a spare tyre in the car so they hitch-hiked home.


A lot of students speak while the teacher is explaining the lesson and they don’t follow it later on .


The youth of today don’t read regularly so they can’t extract the main ideas out of texts afterwards.


Monica fell in love with Darwin because he showed understanding and compassion towards her personal situation.


Dorothy and Jeremy opened a restaurant because Jeremy finished his studies in the school of catering with flying colours.


A lot of women use make up because they feel prettier.


Marge washes her hair with Pantene because it nourishes her damaged hair.


Mario didn’t shave yesterday because he ran out of shaving foam.


I didn’t buy the battery for the alarm clock and it didn’t go off and I was late for school.


The Valencian firemen are selling this years’ calendar because they are raising money for a good cause.


The lioness jumped over the hunter because she was trying to protect her cubs.


She didn’t lend you the money because you are always asking her for some.


A lot of old buildings collapse because they don’t comply with the safe building general guidelines.


Madonna generally lip-synchs at her concerts because she can’t dance and sing at the same time.


Fiona Apple had to re-record her last album because it leaked in the Internet.


Kimberly hired a private detective because she suspected her husband was unfaithful to her.


Simon always swims naked in the sea because it gives him the sensation of freedom.


Your mother never does the washing-up because she owns a great dishwasher.


Martha and Gwyneth didn’t hurry up and missed the train.


The Spanish teacher explains things over and over again because he needs to make sure the students understand him.


Mark didn’t wear the seatbelt fastened and he flew through the car’s windscreen.


The police arrested him because he downloaded thousands of music files, burned them and sold them in the street.


Her nephew didn’t adopt the Chinese child in the end because they were looking for too much money.


Barbara listens to classical music in her iPod on her way into work because it relaxes her.

There is a lot of unemployment today because the government’s policies are not effective.