Should these two sentences be first or second conditional?

Question

Hi, I would like to know of a good way to differentiate when to use first or second conditional in this sort of fill-in-the-blanks activity as both conditionals seem to be viable.

1. We______(have) a picnic of the day______(be) fine.

2. If they______(catch) a bus now, they________(arrive) at half past nine.

 

We will have a picnic if the day is fine or We would have a picnic if the day was fine.

 

If they catch a bus now, they will arrive at half past nine or If they caught a bus now, they would arrive at half past nine.

 

Thanks for reading.

 

Answer 1

Okay, you already know neither is in the zero conditional because they aren't statements of commonly understood facts. So how do we know whether each is in the first or second conditional? The first indicates a likely event, whereas the second is used for unlikely events. Given that rule, sentence #1 should be first conditional because there is no ambiguity or risk of inaccuracy in this. #2 is hardly pie-in-the-sky, such as, "If I traveled to Mars, I would play golf all the time", but it still leaves room for failure. They could miss the bus and not arrive that soon. I would use second conditional for that one.