This simple, hands-on activity helps students practise the first conditional in a communicative and memorable way. Students work in pairs to connect sentence halves and form realistic conditional sentences about future possibilities. It’s ideal for elementary or pre-intermediate learners and works well as a restricted practice activity.
Activity Overview
- Level: Elementary / Pre-intermediate
- Target language: First conditional (If + present + will + base form)
- Time: 10–15 minutes
- Group size: Pairs
What you need
- One copy of the sentence halves per pair (download here)
How to use the activity
- Before class, print and cut up the first conditional sentences so each half is on a separate strip of paper.
- Put students into pairs and give each pair a full set of mixed-up sentence halves.
- Students work together to match each pair of halves and form complete first conditional sentences.
- Check answers together as a class and encourage students to read a few sentences aloud.
- For extra challenge: Ask students to personalise some of the sentences or create new ones of their own.
Example sentences:
- If I go out tonight – I’ll go to the cinema.
- If it rains this weekend – I’ll stay at home.
- If it’s sunny this weekend – I’ll go to the beach.
- If I have a party – will you come?
- If we invite her – will she come?
- If I’m sick – will you look after me?
- If we eat out tonight – where will we go?
- If you cook tonight – what will you make?
- If you have a party – we’ll come.
- If they do that again – I’ll be really angry!
Why use this activity?
This is a low-prep, high-engagement way to help learners internalise the first conditional form. By physically matching sentence halves and hearing natural questions and answers, students absorb the form and meaning through context – not just rules. It also creates opportunities for discussion, prediction, and light humour.
Related grammar links
- First conditional guide – Learn how to form and use first conditional.
