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TOEIC Part 5:
First Conditional — Rules and 20 Explained Questions

Practise realistic future conditions, if-clause forms, modal results and instructions in 20 original workplace questions with all options explained.

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TOEIC Part 5: First Conditional — Rules and 20 Explained Questions

What this guide covers

Step-by-step guide

  1. Read the pattern

    Compare the explanations and original examples.

  2. Choose and explain

    Keep the sentence unchanged and justify one option.

  3. Transfer the skill

    Use the distinction in a new workplace sentence.

First conditionals are useful for practical plans whose outcome is still open: if a shipment arrives, someone will unload it; if a fault appears, someone should report it. First identify the condition and the response, then decide which verb phrase belongs in each clause.

The familiar if + present, will + base pattern is a starting point rather than the whole system. A result can also be an instruction, permission or possibility. The exercises keep the intended time frame visible and practise complete verb phrases instead of treating every will after if as an automatic error.

These original exercises were prepared by English AIdol with AI assistance. A separate AI content review checked every question, answer explanation and teaching section. No human expert or examiner review, ETS endorsement, or calibrated difficulty is claimed. This page does not save answers or estimate an official score.

What this lesson practises

Part 5 asks you to complete sentences by choosing from four options. The full TOEIC Reading section has 100 questions and a 75-minute limit. This untimed topic lesson is not a complete or equated test. See ETS: About the TOEIC Listening and Reading Test and the ETS: TOEIC Listening & Reading Score User Guide.

Read the pattern in context

Use a present form for an open future condition

In an ordinary future plan, the if-clause commonly uses a present form even when the event is tomorrow. Keep normal agreement and auxiliaries within that clause.

  • If the delivery arrives tomorrow morning, we will unload it at once.
  • We will call a technician if the screen does not respond.

Build the result phrase separately

Will takes a base verb. A passive result uses will be + past participle. Do not add a third-person ending after the modal.

  • If the order is ready, the driver will collect it.
  • If the label is damaged, the parcel will be relabelled.

A conditional response can be an instruction

An imperative can state what to do if the condition occurs. It uses a base verb, and a negative instruction uses do not + base verb.

  • If the alarm sounds, leave by the nearest safe exit.
  • If the attachment looks suspicious, do not open it.

Choose the intended kind of result

Can can express permission or availability, and may can express possibility. First-conditional meaning is not limited to predictions with will.

  • If a seat is available, you can join the later session.
  • If the storm worsens, deliveries may be delayed.

A present perfect can mark completion before the result

An if-clause can use has or have + past participle when completion is important. The present form still works with a future result.

  • If the supplier has confirmed by noon, we will finalise the schedule.
  • If you have saved your work, you can close the program.

Worked example

If the replacement part ___ tomorrow, the engineer will install it immediately.

arrives

The arrival is an open future condition. The singular part takes arrives in the present-tense if-clause, while will install expresses the planned result.

20 original workplace questions

Choose the option that completes the printed sentence in standard written English. Keep every other word unchanged. Write your choice and a reason before opening the explanation.

Question 1

If the shipment ___ before noon tomorrow, the warehouse will process it the same day.

(A) arrive

(B) arrives

(C) arriving

(D) arrival

Show answer and explanation for question 1

Answer: (B) arrives

Completed sentence: If the shipment arrives before noon tomorrow, the warehouse will process it the same day.

  • (A) arrive: Arrive lacks the singular present-tense ending required by the shipment.
  • (B) arrives: The singular shipment takes arrives in this open future if-clause.
  • (C) arriving: Arriving needs an auxiliary; the if-clause has none before the gap.
  • (D) arrival: Arrival is a noun and cannot serve as the verb of the shipment.

Review the relevant pattern.

Question 2

If the client approves the artwork, we will ___ the posters this afternoon.

(A) prints

(B) printed

(C) printing

(D) print

Show answer and explanation for question 2

Answer: (D) print

Completed sentence: If the client approves the artwork, we will print the posters this afternoon.

  • (A) prints: Prints adds a third-person ending after will, which requires the base form.
  • (B) printed: Printed cannot directly follow will in this active future phrase.
  • (C) printing: Printing would require be after will to form a progressive.
  • (D) print: Will takes the base form print to express the planned result.

Review the relevant pattern.

Question 3

If the terminal ___ not respond after the restart, we will contact technical support.

(A) does

(B) do

(C) doing

(D) done

Show answer and explanation for question 3

Answer: (A) does

Completed sentence: If the terminal does not respond after the restart, we will contact technical support.

  • (A) does: Does not respond is the present negative for the singular terminal.
  • (B) do: Do does not agree with the singular terminal in this present condition.
  • (C) doing: Doing cannot form the finite negative does not respond required here.
  • (D) done: Done is a participle and cannot precede not respond as the needed auxiliary.

Review the relevant pattern.

Question 4

If you notice a damaged cable, ___ it to the facilities team immediately.

(A) reports

(B) reported

(C) report

(D) to report

Show answer and explanation for question 4

Answer: (C) report

Completed sentence: If you notice a damaged cable, report it to the facilities team immediately.

  • (A) reports: Reports is a third-person statement form, not an imperative directed at you.
  • (B) reported: Reported is past or participial and cannot form this direct instruction.
  • (C) report: Report is the base verb used for the instruction that follows the condition.
  • (D) to report: To report alone is not a complete imperative clause after the condition.

Review the relevant pattern.

Question 5

If a spare headset is available, you can ___ it for the online interview.

(A) borrows

(B) borrow

(C) borrowed

(D) borrowing

Show answer and explanation for question 5

Answer: (B) borrow

Completed sentence: If a spare headset is available, you can borrow it for the online interview.

  • (A) borrows: Borrows cannot follow the modal can with a third-person ending.
  • (B) borrow: Can takes the base borrow to express permission or availability.
  • (C) borrowed: Borrowed is not the base verb required directly after can.
  • (D) borrowing: Borrowing would need be in a different progressive construction.

Review the relevant pattern.

Question 6

If the meeting room ___ free at three, we will use it for the demonstration.

(A) are

(B) be

(C) being

(D) is

Show answer and explanation for question 6

Answer: (D) is

Completed sentence: If the meeting room is free at three, we will use it for the demonstration.

  • (A) are: Are does not agree with the singular room.
  • (B) be: Be is not a finite present form in this ordinary if-clause.
  • (C) being: Being leaves the condition without a finite verb.
  • (D) is: The singular room takes is in the present condition about the future booking.

Review the relevant pattern.

Question 7

If the label is unreadable, the parcel will ___ relabelled before dispatch.

(A) be

(B) being

(C) been

(D) is

Show answer and explanation for question 7

Answer: (A) be

Completed sentence: If the label is unreadable, the parcel will be relabelled before dispatch.

  • (A) be: Will be relabelled is the passive future result; the parcel receives the action.
  • (B) being: Will being relabelled lacks the base auxiliary be required after will.
  • (C) been: Been would need have before it; will been is not a verb phrase.
  • (D) is: Is is a finite form and cannot directly follow will.

Review the relevant pattern.

Question 8

We will add another training session if enough employees ___ for a place.

(A) registers

(B) registering

(C) register

(D) registration

Show answer and explanation for question 8

Answer: (C) register

Completed sentence: We will add another training session if enough employees register for a place.

  • (A) registers: Registers is singular and does not agree with employees.
  • (B) registering: Registering would need an auxiliary such as are; none appears here.
  • (C) register: The plural employees takes the present base register in the if-clause.
  • (D) registration: Registration names the process but cannot be the predicate of employees.

Review the relevant pattern.

Question 9

If the email asks for your password, do not ___ the requested details.

(A) sends

(B) send

(C) sent

(D) sending

Show answer and explanation for question 9

Answer: (B) send

Completed sentence: If the email asks for your password, do not send the requested details.

  • (A) sends: Sends cannot follow the auxiliary do in a negative imperative.
  • (B) send: Do not takes the base send in this negative instruction.
  • (C) sent: Sent is not the base verb required after do not.
  • (D) sending: Sending does not complete do not as an imperative verb phrase.

Review the relevant pattern.

Question 10

Will the courier ___ the boxes today if the access code arrives in time?

(A) collects

(B) collected

(C) collecting

(D) collect

Show answer and explanation for question 10

Answer: (D) collect

Completed sentence: Will the courier collect the boxes today if the access code arrives in time?

  • (A) collects: Collects adds a finite ending even though will already carries the modal function.
  • (B) collected: Collected is not the base form in this active future question.
  • (C) collecting: Collecting would require be after the subject to form a progressive question.
  • (D) collect: The future question uses will + subject + base collect.

Review the relevant pattern.

Question 11

If the supplier has ___ the revised quote by noon, we will place the order today.

(A) sent

(B) send

(C) sending

(D) sends

Show answer and explanation for question 11

Answer: (A) sent

Completed sentence: If the supplier has sent the revised quote by noon, we will place the order today.

  • (A) sent: Has sent is the present perfect, marking completion before the planned order.
  • (B) send: Send is a base form, but has requires the participle sent.
  • (C) sending: Sending would require been after has in a continuous construction.
  • (D) sends: Sends is finite present tense, not the participle following has.

Review the relevant pattern.

Question 12

If the weather deteriorates, the outdoor reception may ___ moved indoors.

(A) being

(B) been

(C) be

(D) is

Show answer and explanation for question 12

Answer: (C) be

Completed sentence: If the weather deteriorates, the outdoor reception may be moved indoors.

  • (A) being: Being cannot directly follow may without the base be.
  • (B) been: Been would require have in may have been, which is not printed.
  • (C) be: May be moved is a passive possibility; the reception receives the change of location.
  • (D) is: Is is a finite form and cannot follow the modal may.

Review the relevant pattern.

Question 13

If both directors ___ the proposal, work will begin next week.

(A) approves

(B) approve

(C) approving

(D) approval

Show answer and explanation for question 13

Answer: (B) approve

Completed sentence: If both directors approve the proposal, work will begin next week.

  • (A) approves: Approves is the singular form and does not agree with both directors.
  • (B) approve: The plural subject both directors takes approve in the present condition.
  • (C) approving: Approving alone cannot provide the finite verb of this if-clause.
  • (D) approval: Approval is a noun, not the action verb required after the directors.

Review the relevant pattern.

Question 14

If the fire door is obstructed, ___ the boxes away from it before opening the venue.

(A) moves

(B) moved

(C) to move

(D) move

Show answer and explanation for question 14

Answer: (D) move

Completed sentence: If the fire door is obstructed, move the boxes away from it before opening the venue.

  • (A) moves: Moves is not the command form addressed to the reader.
  • (B) moved: Moved is a past form or participle, not an instruction by itself.
  • (C) to move: To move is an infinitive phrase and cannot supply the main imperative clause.
  • (D) move: Move is the imperative giving the response to the obstruction.

Review the relevant pattern.

Question 15

If you have ___ your changes, you can close the file safely.

(A) saved

(B) save

(C) saving

(D) saves

Show answer and explanation for question 15

Answer: (A) saved

Completed sentence: If you have saved your changes, you can close the file safely.

  • (A) saved: Have saved marks completed saving as the condition for closing the file.
  • (B) save: Save is not the participle required after have in this perfect phrase.
  • (C) saving: Saving would need been after have to form a progressive perfect.
  • (D) saves: Saves is a finite singular form, not the required participle.

Review the relevant pattern.

Question 16

If the address is incomplete, the company will not ___ the order until it is corrected.

(A) dispatches

(B) dispatched

(C) dispatch

(D) dispatching

Show answer and explanation for question 16

Answer: (C) dispatch

Completed sentence: If the address is incomplete, the company will not dispatch the order until it is corrected.

  • (A) dispatches: Dispatches cannot follow will not with a third-person ending.
  • (B) dispatched: Dispatched would need be for a passive, and the company is dispatching the order actively here.
  • (C) dispatch: Will not takes base dispatch in the negative future result.
  • (D) dispatching: Dispatching requires be after will not to form a progressive.

Review the relevant pattern.

Question 17

If the warning light ___ red during tomorrow’s test, the operator will stop the machine.

(A) turn

(B) turns

(C) turning

(D) to turn

Show answer and explanation for question 17

Answer: (B) turns

Completed sentence: If the warning light turns red during tomorrow’s test, the operator will stop the machine.

  • (A) turn: Turn lacks the singular present ending needed with the warning light.
  • (B) turns: The singular warning light takes turns in the present condition about tomorrow.
  • (C) turning: Turning alone cannot act as the finite verb after the warning light.
  • (D) to turn: To turn is an infinitive and cannot complete this ordinary if-clause.

Review the relevant pattern.

Question 18

If you finish the assessment early, you may ___ the remaining time to review your notes.

(A) uses

(B) used

(C) using

(D) use

Show answer and explanation for question 18

Answer: (D) use

Completed sentence: If you finish the assessment early, you may use the remaining time to review your notes.

  • (A) uses: Uses cannot follow the modal may with a present-tense ending.
  • (B) used: Used is not the base form required directly after may in this active phrase.
  • (C) using: Using would need be to form a progressive, which is not the printed permission pattern.
  • (D) use: May takes the base use to express permission.

Review the relevant pattern.

Question 19

If the booking details ___ correct, we will issue the confirmation this evening.

(A) are

(B) is

(C) be

(D) being

Show answer and explanation for question 19

Answer: (A) are

Completed sentence: If the booking details are correct, we will issue the confirmation this evening.

  • (A) are: The plural details takes are in the present condition.
  • (B) is: Is does not agree with the plural booking details.
  • (C) be: Be is a base form and cannot serve as the finite present verb here.
  • (D) being: Being leaves the if-clause without a finite verb.

Review the relevant pattern.

Question 20

If the sample passes inspection, production will ___ on Monday.

(A) began

(B) begun

(C) begin

(D) begins

Show answer and explanation for question 20

Answer: (C) begin

Completed sentence: If the sample passes inspection, production will begin on Monday.

  • (A) began: Began is past tense and cannot directly follow will.
  • (B) begun: Begun is a participle; will begun lacks the required auxiliary have.
  • (C) begin: Will begin is the future result with a base verb.
  • (D) begins: Begins incorrectly adds a finite ending after the modal will.

Review the relevant pattern.

Use the pattern in a new situation

Explain the distinction in your own words, then try these tasks without copying a practice sentence. The answers illustrate possible responses; alternatives may work where the task allows them.

Transfer 1

Write a realistic plan using “the parcel arrives tomorrow” and “we inspect it immediately”.

Check transfer 1

If the parcel arrives tomorrow, we will inspect it immediately.

The present arrives expresses the open future condition; will inspect states the planned response.

Transfer 2

Change the result into an instruction: “If the alarm sounds, you will leave the room.”

Check transfer 2

If the alarm sounds, leave the room.

The imperative gives an instruction rather than predicting what the listener will do.

Transfer 3

Express permission after completion using “save your work” and “close the program”.

Check transfer 3

If you have saved your work, you can close the program.

The perfect marks completion; can describes what is permitted or possible afterward.

Sources, authorship and next practice

Sources checked on . The examples, questions and explanations are original teaching material, not official or recalled test items. This correction replaces the earlier lesson’s inappropriate IELTS-style scoring. An answer count on these exercises does not convert to an official TOEIC score.

Continue with the TOEIC study page. For a factual correction, see our editorial policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Must every first conditional use will?

No. The result can use another modal or an instruction. The meaning of the planned response determines the form.

Is will after if always wrong?

No. Polite requests and willingness have special constructions. For an ordinary open future condition about an event, a present form is the usual starting point.

Does the if-clause have to come first?

No. We will call if the parcel is late and If the parcel is late, we will call express the same condition and result.

Can these questions predict my TOEIC score?

No. These original, untimed teaching questions have not been equated to an ETS form. Use them to explain and practise a language pattern, not to calculate an official score.

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