First Conditional — Exercises on Real Future Possibility
Practice the first conditional: if + present simple with will in the result clause, for future events that may or may not happen.
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If it rains tomorrow, we ___ the barbecue.
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will cancel
'Rains' stays present after 'if', and the future marker 'will' goes in the other half. English marks the future once, not twice.
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If Sara ___ late again, her boss won't be happy.
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is
Present simple after 'if' even though we're talking about the future. The future is already marked in 'won't be happy'.
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If the train ___ delayed, I'll let you know straight away.
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is
'Will be' feels right because the delay hasn't happened yet, but the future belongs in the other half — 'I'll let you know'.
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If the shop ___ out of your size, I'll order it online.
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is
Present simple after 'if' even for a future situation. 'I'll order' already carries the future.
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She'll be annoyed if we ___ her about the change of plan.
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don't tell
Present simple after 'if', negative included — 'don't tell', never 'won't tell'. The 'if' half comes second here, so no comma.
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Let me know if you ___ any trouble finding the office.
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have
Present simple after 'if', even though the trouble would happen later. The 'if' half comes second, so there's no comma before it.
The First Conditional: A Real Future Possibility
The first conditional describes one future event that may or may not happen, and what will follow if it does: If the train is delayed, I'll let you know straight away. The if-clause takes the present simple; the result clause takes will.
The difficulty is entirely in the if-clause. Learners reach for will there because the event is in the future, and the sentence feels as though it should say so twice. English marks the future once. If the train will be delayed is wrong for the same reason when I will get home is wrong: the future is already carried by I'll let you know.
The if-clause can come first or second. When it comes first, a comma separates the two halves: If it rains, we'll stay in. When it comes second, there is no comma: We'll stay in if it rains. The tense rule is unaffected by the order, but the second pattern catches learners out more often, because the sentence has already started in the future by the time they reach if.
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