Part of the ELS Conditionals Learning Path. Start with the complete conditionals guide, or study the exact area you need below.
How to use this diagnostic
Answer without looking at the guides. Record which category each error belongs to: zero, first, second, third, mixed or linker.
Diagnostic questions
1. If I ___ you, I’d apologise.
2. If she had left earlier, she ___ the train.
3. Unless you ___ now, you’ll be late.
4. If I had accepted the offer, I ___ in Paris now.
2. If she had left earlier, she ___ the train.
3. Unless you ___ now, you’ll be late.
4. If I had accepted the offer, I ___ in Paris now.
Answers
1 were; 2 would have caught; 3 leave; 4 would be living / would live.
Your learning path
Errors in 1 → Second Conditional. 2 → Third Conditional. 3 → Unless & alternatives. 4 → Mixed Conditionals. Use the links below to repair the exact weakness.
Continue the Conditionals learning path
Zero ConditionalLearn when and how to use the zero conditional for facts, routines and general truths.First ConditionalMaster the first conditional for real and possible future situations.Second ConditionalUse the second conditional accurately for hypothetical, unlikely and imaginary present or future situations.Third ConditionalLearn the third conditional for unreal past situations, regrets and alternative past results.Mixed ConditionalsUnderstand mixed conditionals when the condition and result refer to different times.Unless, Provided That, As Long As & Other Alternatives to IfGo beyond if: learn unless, provided that, as long as, even if, in case and other conditional linkers.If vs WhenLearn when English uses if and when in conditional and future clauses.If I Were YouUnderstand why English often says “If I were you” and when “was” is possible.Conditional SentencesFix the conditional errors English learners make most often.Conditionals ExercisesPractise all English conditional forms with targeted questions, corrections and answers.
Test before you move on
Use the diagnostic test to find out whether your problem is form, meaning, time reference or conditional linkers.
Take the Conditionals diagnostic →