Mixed Conditionals ESL Games, Activities and Worksheets
In this creative mixed conditionals activity, students review the zero, first, second and third conditionals by writing chain sentences. In groups of four, students write a result clause for the first zero, first, second or third conditional sentence on their card and on the next line write the result clause as an If clause. Next, students pass their card to the person on their right. The next student then repeats the process. This continues until the card is complete with eight conditional sentences in a chain. Afterwards, students read out their conditional chain sentences to the class.
This mixed conditionals discussion activity is perfect for reviewing zero, first, second and third conditionals. Working alone, students complete mixed conditional sentences on the worksheet with their own ideas. In groups, students then compare and discuss their answers. Afterwards, review the students' sentences and have the students tell the class what they found out about their classmates.
This useful first vs. second conditional worksheet helps students practice the first conditional, in contrast with the second conditional. To begin, students read statements made by different people and circle '1st' if the sentence is in the first conditional or '2nd' if it is in the second. Students then mark a statement about each person as most likely true or false. Next, students complete first and second conditional sentences with verbs in brackets. After that, students rewrite sentences, changing the first conditional into the second conditional. Lastly, students complete second conditional sentences with their own ideas.
In this enjoyable mixed conditionals game, students review the zero, first, second and third conditionals by completing sentences and playing games of dominoes. In groups, students read and complete each conditional sentence with an If clause or main clause as indicated on the dominoes. Next, students cut the dominoes out and swap them with another group. Students then play dominoes with the first player trying to make a conditional sentence by placing a domino down either before or after the domino on the table. If the player can make a sentence, they read it to the group to show the match is correct. The next player then tries to put down one of their dominoes at either end of the domino chain, and so on. The first player to get rid of all their dominoes wins the game.
Here is a free mixed conditionals worksheet to help students practice or review first, second and third conditionals. Students begin by correcting mistakes in first conditional sentences and rewriting them. Next, students complete second and third conditional sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Students then words in the correct order to make mixed conditional sentences. After that, students match sentence halves together to form mixed conditional sentences and then indicate which conditional is being used in each sentence. Finally, students complete mixed conditional sentences with their own ideas.
In this fast-paced mixed conditionals game, students race each other to complete conditional sentences. In groups, students take turns turning over a card and reading the beginning of a conditional sentence aloud. The other students in the group then race to complete the ending of the conditional sentence. This can be done in written form with each student racing to write down an answer on a piece of paper, or you can have students shout out an ending to the sentence. The first student to produce a grammatically correct and appropriate conditional sentence wins and keeps the card. The student with the most cards at the end of the game is the winner.
In this engaging mixed conditionals game, students play dominoes by matching halves of zero, first, second and third conditional sentences together. The first player tries to make a conditional sentence by placing one of their dominoes at either end of the first domino. The players' task is to make a conditional sentence by matching if and result clauses together. When a player makes a sentence, they read it to the group. The next player then tries to put down one of their dominoes at either end of the domino chain, and so on. The first player to get rid of all their dominoes wins the game. Finally, students discuss the mixed conditional sentences and say whether they are true for them or not, and if they agree or disagree with what each sentence says.
In this useful zero vs. first conditional board game, students use specific verbs to make zero and first conditional sentences. Players take turns rolling the dice and moving their counter along the board. When a player lands on a square, they pick up a verb card, e.g. exercise / stay. The player then makes a zero or first conditional sentence as indicated on the square using the two verbs, e.g. 'If people exercise regularly, they stay fit and healthy.' If the sentence is in the correct conditional tense and makes sense, the player stays on the square. If not, the player goes back to their previous square. The first player to reach the finish wins the game.
In this rewarding as if and as though game, students practice forming sentences using as if and as though with the present simple and present continuous. The first student turns over the top situation card, reads it to the group, and then lays it face-up on the table. Next, all the students look at their cards and try to find the matching sentence prompt. The student with the matching card then uses the prompt to make an as if or as though sentence that refers to the situation, e.g. for the situation 'You're ready to leave for work, but your car won't start', the matching prompt would be 'It seems as if the battery is dead.' If everyone in the group agrees that the sentence corresponds to the situation and is grammatically correct, the two cards are removed from the game. If the sentence isn't grammatically correct, the situation card is placed at the bottom of the pile. If the sentence doesn't correspond to the situation, another student can try to answer. The second student then turns over the next situation card, and so on. The first student to get rid of all their sentence prompt cards wins the game. Afterwards, check the answers by eliciting the matching card for each situation and the corresponding as if or as though sentence.
In this productive mixed conditionals game, students practice using first, second and third conditionals with a range of subordinate conjunctions to form complex sentences. In groups, students take turns turning over one subordinate conjunction card and one sentence card. If the subordinate conjunction matches the sentence, the student forms a complex sentence, putting the simple sentence (independent clause) in the first, second, or third conditional form. Students have the option of placing the subordinate clause either at the beginning or the end of the complex sentence. If the group members agree the complex sentence is grammatically correct, the student keeps the two cards and has another turn. If not, the student turns the cards back over, keeping them in the same place. The student with the most pairs of cards at the end of the game wins.
In this imaginative mixed conditionals speaking activity, students practice asking and answering questions using different conditional structures. First, students answer mixed conditional questions by writing short answers in a random order in boxes. Next, students swap worksheets with a partner and look at the short answers they have written. Students then take turns guessing why their partner has written the answers in the boxes by asking mixed conditional questions. When students have guessed correctly, they ask at least one follow-up question to their partner to develop a short conversation. Finally, students report back to the class on the most interesting things they found out about their partner.
This free mixed conditionals board game is perfect for reviewing the zero, first, second and third conditionals. In the game, students race to complete or make mixed conditional sentences and questions in a ten-second time frame. In groups, students take turns rolling the dice and moving their counter along the board. When a student lands on a square, they have ten seconds to make a conditional sentence using the clause in the square or ask or answer a conditional question. If a student can't think of anything to say, makes a grammar mistake, or doesn't complete the task within ten seconds, they move back two squares. The first student to reach the finish wins the game.
In this handy as if and as though game, students guess as if and as though sentences from clues given by a partner. Students take turns giving clues to their partner to help them guess the as if or as though sentences written on their worksheet. For example, if the sentence read 'The baby looks as if she's hungry', the student might say 'The baby is crying. She's pointing at her bottle.' After hearing a few clues, the other student tries to guess the conditional sentence. If the other student guesses the sentence correctly, they write it down in the space provided, and their partner puts a tick next to the sentence. Students can use either as though or as if, so long as the sentence is grammatically correct. If the other student is unable to guess the sentence after a few clues, their partner puts a cross. The two students then swap roles. The student with the most correct guesses at the end of the game is the winner.
In this entertaining mixed conditionals game, students play battleships by making real and unreal past, present and future conditional sentences. First, students mark four ships on their grid. Students then take turns choosing a square on their partner's grid. However, instead of giving a grid reference to find a ship, the student makes a sentence according to the prompt and conditional form shown on each axis. The other student listens to the conditional sentence, looks at their ships grid and says whether it is a hit or miss. The first student to sink all their partner's ships wins the game.
This comprehensive second vs. third conditional worksheet helps students to distinguish between and practice using these two tenses. Students begin by reading second and third conditional sentence examples and underlining information about the two tenses. Next, students match second and third conditional sentence halves together and underline the correct tenses. Students then find and correct mistakes in second and third conditional sentences. After that, students complete each sentence with a verb from a box in its second or third conditional form. Lastly, students complete second and third conditional sentence pairs with their own answers and guesses about a partner. Students then ask their partner What would you do/have done if...? questions to find out if their guesses were correct.
This is an in-depth mixed conditionals worksheet based on an Aesop's Fables story to help students practice the first, second and third conditionals. First, students match sentence halves together about a story. Students then write whether each sentence is in the first, second or third conditional. Next, students write the order in which they think the events happened. After that, in pairs, students discuss what they know about the story from the sentences. Students then read the story to find out if their ideas were correct. Following that, students look at their sentence order and correct it if necessary. With their partner, students then write a possible moral for the story. Finally, working alone, students imagine that it's ten years later in the story and write a first, second, and third conditional sentence about the two people in the story.
In this fun real conditionals activity, students guess the circumstances in which a partner did, does or will do certain things using past, present and future real conditionals. First, students write ten sentences about their past, present or expected future habits using phrases from a box and the appropriate verb tense, choosing habits that they sometimes did, do or will do under certain conditions. Next, in pairs, students swap worksheets and write conditional sentences explaining the circumstances in which they think their partner did, does or will do what they wrote. Finally, students read the complete conditional sentences to their partner to see if their guesses are correct and then discuss the actual circumstances.
In this lively conditional words and phrases game, students race to complete first, second, and third conditional sentences with various conditional words and phrases such as unless and as long as. A member from each team runs to your desk, picks up the first sentence strip, and takes it back to their team. Teams then race to complete the sentence, making sure it is logical and grammatically correct, e.g. 'The teacher wouldn't have cancelled class unless it had been an emergency.' As soon as a team has completed the sentence, a student from the team comes to you with their strip. If the sentence is correct, give the student the second strip, and so on. If a sentence is incorrect, the team has to rewrite it. Teams can only get the next strip by producing a logical and grammatically correct sentence. The first team to complete all 20 sentences correctly wins the game.
