Dialogue: The Christmas Tree

Task 1: Listening for the main ideas.

What are they doing?

_________________________________________
_________________________________________

Task 2: Listening for details. Answer the questions below.

1. What did the dad bring home?
___________________________________________________

2. How would you describe the daughter? Why?

___________________________________________________

3. When are they going to decorate the tree?

___________________________________________________

4. What is the daughter going to do next?

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© 2018 Lanternfish ESL

 The Christmas Tree

Erin: Dad, you’re ____________!

Dad: And look what I ____________.
Erin: The tree! It’s ____________. When are we going to
____________ it?
Dad: I ____________ we could decorate it right now? Do you have some
____________?
Erin: Sure. I’ll go get the ____________.
Dad: ____________ on a sec. We have to ____________ it up first.
Erin: Okay, you ____________ up the tree and I’ll ____________ the
decorations.
Dad: Erin, I can’t set it up by ____________. I’ll need your
____________.
Erin: What do you ____________ me to do?
Dad: I need you to hold the tree ____________ while I put it in the stand
and ____________ the screws.
Erin: Okay. I’ll ____________ get the stand. Where is it?
Dad: It’s in the ____________ on the top shelf. Be ____________! It’s
pretty ____________.

© 2018 Lanternfish ESL

 The Christmas Tree

Erin: Dad, you’re home!

Dad: And look what I brought.
Erin: The tree! It’s beautiful. When are we going to decorate it?
Dad: I thought we could decorate it right now? Do you have some time?
Erin: Sure. I’ll go get the decorations.
Dad: Hang on a sec. We have to set it up first.
Erin: Okay, you set up the tree and I’ll get the decorations.
Dad: Erin, I can’t set it up by myself. I’ll need your help.
Erin: What do you want me to do?
Dad: I need you to hold the tree steady while I put it in the stand and
tighten the screws.
Erin: Okay. I’ll go get the stand then. Where is it?
Dad: It’s in the garage on the top shelf. Be careful! It’s pretty heavy.

© 2018 Lanternfish ESL

 The Zero Conditional Exercise

Use the conditions and results in the box to complete the phrases below.

Conditions Results

you've got a headache you get pink

you don't wear a crash helmet A dog bites
you heat it to 100 ºc the dvd player comes on

she comes home very late Butter melts

you leave gates open in the country it scratches you
you add sugar You have more chance of being killed

1 Water boils if ..................................................................................... .

2 If you mix red and white ......................................................................................

3 ..................................................................................... if you leave it in the sun.

4 If ....................................................................................., take an aspirin.

5 If ....................................................................................., it tastes sweet.

6 ..................................................................................... if you go near its food when it's

eating.

7 If you pull a cat's tail, ......................................................................................

8 ..................................................................................... if you don't wear a seat belt.

9 You can end up brain damaged if ......................................................................................

10 If you press this switch, ......................................................................................

11 If ....................................................................................., her folks get very angry.

12 Farmers get very angry if ......................................................................................

www.autoenglish.org Written by Bob Wilson ©Robert Clifford McNair Wilson 2007

Answers

1 Water boils if you heat it to 100 ºc .

2 If you mix red and white you get orange .
3 Butter melts if you leave it in the sun.
4 If you've got a headache , take an aspirin.
5 If you add sugar , it tastes sweet.
6 A dog bites if you go near its food when it's eating.
7 If you pull a cat's tail, it scratches you .
8 You have more chance of being killed if you don't wear a seat belt.
9 You can end up brain damaged if you don't wear a crash helmet .
10 If you press this switch, the dvd player comes on .
11 If she comes home very late , her folks get very angry.
12 Farmers get very angry if you leave gates open in the country .

www.autoenglish.org Written by Bob Wilson ©Robert Clifford McNair Wilson 2007

 First Conditional Exercise

condition result

IF + PRESENT SIMPLE , WILL + INFINITIVE

If you are late, your boss will be angry

Your boss will be angry if you are late

WILL + INFINITIVE + IF + PRESENT SIMPLE

result condition

USES: Advice (A); Making plans and thinking about the future (P)

Decide on the use for each sentence, A or P and then fill the gap using the verb in brackets. Three sentences
need a NEGATIVE verb and watch out for the third person S!

USE
1 If Clare ................................ late again, the hockey trainer will be furious. (to arrive)
2 You'll be sorry if you ................................ for your exams. (to revise)
3 We ................................ if the weather's good. (to go)
4 You'll be really tired tomorrow if you ................................ to bed soon. (to go)
5 If the bus ................................ on time, I won't miss the football. (to be)
6 If you ................................ your homework now, you'll be free all tomorrow. (to do)
7 We................................ out if there's no food at home. (to eat)
8 You'll find life much easier if you ................................ more often. (to smile)
9 If it's hot, we................................ for a swim. (to go)
10 You'll do it better if you ................................ more time over it. (to take)
11 If she ................................ practising, she'll get better. (to keep)
12 Mum will be very sad if you ................................ Mother's Day again. (to forget)
13 I................................ so happy if I pass the exam. (to be)
14 I know what you can do. If you ................................ a wig and dark glasses, they won’t recognise you. (to wear)
15 The government ................................ the next election if they continue to ignore public opinion. (to lose)
16 If Valencia FC win the Spanish football league, I................................ my hair orange. (to dye)
17 If someone ................................ you a bike, you’ll be able to come with us. (to lend)
18 ............... your Mum ............... angry if you don’t phone her this weekend? (to be)
19 What will your boss say if you ................................ late for work tomorrow? (to arrive)

Now make up some examples of your own.

1 ...........................................................................................................................
2 ...........................................................................................................................
3 ...........................................................................................................................
4 ...........................................................................................................................

www.autoenglish.org Written by Bob Wilson ©Robert Clifford McNair Wilson 2019

Answers

1 P If Clare arrives late again, the hockey trainer will be furious.

2 A You'll be sorry if you don't revise for your exams.
3 P We'll go if the weather's good.
4 A You'll be really tired tomorrow if you don't go to bed soon.
5 P If the bus is on time, I won't miss the football.
6 A or P If you do your homework now, you'll be free all tomorrow.
7 P We'll eat out if there's no food at home.
8 A You'll find life much easier if you smile more often.
9 P If it's hot, we'll go for a swim.
10 A You'll do it better if you take more time over it.
11 A If she keeps practising, she'll get better. (to get)
12 A Mum will be very sad if you forget Mother's Day again.
13 P I'll be so happy if I pass the exam. (to be)
14 A I know what you can do. If you wear a wig and dark glasses, they won’t recognize you.
15 A The government will lose the next election if they continue to ignore public opinion.
16 P If Valencia FC win the Spanish football league, I'll dye my hair orange.
17 A If someone lends you a bike, you’ll be able to come with us.
18 A Will your Mum be angry if you don’t phone her this weekend?
19 A What will your boss say if you arrive late for work tomorrow?

www.autoenglish.org Written by Bob Wilson ©Robert Clifford McNair Wilson 2019

 Second Conditional Exercise

condition
ñ
IF + PAST SIMPLE, WOULD + INFINITIVE
If I gave up smoking, I would feel much better
WOULD + INFINITIVE + IF + PAST SIMPLE
I would feel much better if I gave up smoking
ò
condition

A Fill the gap using the verb in brackets. 5 gaps need a NEGATIVE verb!

1 I ....................................... that umbrella inside the house if I were you. It's bad luck. (to open)

2 They'd* be a better team if they ....................................... fitter. (to be)

3 If I had some spare money, I ....................................... a plasma TV. (to buy)
4 Those children ....................................... so horrible if their parents were stricter. (to be)
5 I wouldn't go out with him even if you ....................................... me. (to pay)
6 If we ....................................... so hard, we wouldn't be so tired all the time. (to work)
7 If she didn't take so long in the shower, she ....................................... more time for breakfast. (to have)
8 If you ....................................... so much beer, you wouldn't be so fat. (to drink)
9 The world ....................................... a better place if politicians were less vain. (to be)
10 I ....................................... to visit Thailand if I had the chance. (to love)
11 If I had more free time, I ....................................... a play. (to write)
12 If you ....................................... a digital camera, you could send photos by email. (to have)
13 He would definitely lose weight if he ....................................... eating carbohydrates and sugar. (to stop)
14 We could go travelling across France if we ....................................... a tent. (to buy)
15 Valencia would have the perfect climate if it ....................................... so hot in July and August. (to be)
16 If I understood more about computers, I............................................ help you out. (to be able to)
17 I wouldn't do that if I ....................................... you. (to be)
18 If I ....................................... to Madrid, I’d visit the Prado Gallery. (to go)

* ‘d = would

B Now make up some examples of your own.

1 .................................................................................................................................

2 .................................................................................................................................

3 .................................................................................................................................

www.autoenglish.org Written by Bob Wilson ©Robert Clifford McNair Wilson 2008

Answers

1 I wouldn't open that umbrella inside the house if I were you.

2 They'd be a better team if they were fitter.
3 If I had some spare money, I'd buy a plasma TV.
4 Those children wouldn't be so horrible if their parents were stricter.
5 I wouldn't go out with him even if you paid me.
6 If we didn't work so hard, we wouldn't be so tired all the time.
7 If she didn't take so long in the shower, she'd have more time for breakfast.
8 If you didn't drink so much beer, you wouldn't be so fat.
9 The world would be a better place if politicians were less vain.
10 I'd love to visit Thailand if I had the chance.
11 If I had more free time, I'd write a play.
12 If you had a digital camera, you could send photos by email.
13 He would definitely lose weight if he stopped eating carbohydrates and sugar.
14 We could go travelling across France if we bought a tent.
15 Valencia would have the perfect climate if it wasn't OR weren't so hot in July and August.
16 If I understood more about computers, I / 'd be able to/could / help you out.
17 I wouldn't do that if I were you.
18 If I went to Madrid, I’d visit the Prado Gallery.

www.autoenglish.org Written by Bob Wilson ©Robert Clifford McNair Wilson 2008

 The Third Conditional Exercise

THE CONSEQUENCES OF STATES, ACTION OR INACTION

— IF + PAST PERFECT , WOULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

If I hadn’t had a cold, I would have gone out on Friday
— WOULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE + IF + PAST PERFECT
I would have gone out on Friday if I hadn’t had a cold

A Fill the gap using the verb in brackets. Think very carefully about the meaning of the phrase
before deciding whether to use a negative or positive verb form.

1 I wouldn't have been angry if you ............................................... my chocolate mousse. (to eat)

2 If he had known you were in hospital, he ............................................... you. (to visit)

3 We wouldn't have come by taxi if we ............................................... the right bus. (to find)
4 We would have visited the Prado gallery if we ............................................... time. (to have)

5 If you hadn't been asking me questions all the time, I ............................................... the film. (to enjoy)
6 If I ............................................... your number, I would have phoned. (to know)
7 If just one person had remembered my birthday, I ............................................... sad. (to be)

8 I would have understood the film if it ............................................... in German. (to be*)

9 They ............................................... to see you if they hadn't been away. (to come)
10 If she ............................................... on a double yellow line, she wouldn't have got a fine. (to park)

11 If I'd known you were coming, I ............................................... a cake. (to bake)

12 If she ............................................... the shed unlocked, they wouldn't have stolen her bike. (to leave)
13 If you had told me about the concert, I ............................................... (to go)
14 The storm ............................................... a lot of damage if it had come this way. (to do)
15 The holidays would have been great if the weather ............................................... better. (to be)
16 I ............................................... the party if you hadn’t behaved so badly. (enjoy)
17 If I ............................................... a smaller car, I would have spent less money on petrol. (to rent)

* If you are a German speaker, then the answer is different

B Now make up some examples of your own.

1 ...................................................................................................................................
2 ...................................................................................................................................
3 ...................................................................................................................................

www.autoenglish.org Written by Bob Wilson ©Robert Clifford McNair Wilson 2007

Answers

1 I wouldn't be angry if you hadn't eaten my chocolate mousse.

2 If he had known you were in hospital, he would have visited you.
3 We wouldn't have come by taxi if we had found the right bus.
4 We would have visited the Prado gallery if we had had time.
5 If you hadn't been asking me questions all the time, I would have enjoyed the film.
6 If I had known your number, I would have phoned.
7 If just one person had remembered my birthday, I wouldn't be sad.
8 I would have understood the film if it hadn't been in German
9 They would have come to see you if they hadn't been away.
10 If she hadn't parked on a double yellow line, she wouldn't have got a fine.
11 If I'd known you were coming, I'd have baked a cake.
12 If she hadn't left the shed unlocked, they wouldn't have stolen her bike.
13 If you had told me about the concert, I would've gone.
14 The storm would've done a lot of damage if it had come this way.
15 The holiday would've been great if the weather had been better.
16 I would have enjoyed the party if you hadn’t behaved so badly.
17 If I had rented a smaller car, I would have spent less money on petrol.

Please remember that the abbreviations are optional.

www.autoenglish.org Written by Bob Wilson ©Robert Clifford McNair Wilson 2007