Transcript The conditional

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
Conditional sentences consist of two clauses – a
main (‘conditional’) clause containing a verb in a
form with will or would, and a subordinate clause
that is introduced by if.
Examples:
Joan will help you if you ask her.
If I were you, I’d buy a cheaper car.
order of clauses can be changed.
Whenever we begin with the subordinate clause, we
normally use a comma (as in 2nd example)
Cond. Cont’d.
• I’ll turn on the heating if it gets dark.
• If it gets dark, I’ll turn on the heating.
• If is barely pronounced in casual
conversation. The vowel /i/ disappears
entirely, and even /f/ is whispered. A phrase
like If I were you is pronounced /faiwәju:/.
• There are 4 types of conditionals:
1. Zero conditional sentences
• Form:
If clause
If + present tense
If I eat late at night,
Conditional clause
Present tense
Most cats purr
Conditional clause
Present tense
I normally have trouble
sleeping.
If clause
If + present tense
If you tickle them under the
chin
Use of zero conditional
• To express general truths.
e.g. If you boil water, it evaporates.
• Habits
e.g. If I drink coffee, I get headaches.
2. Type 1 (first or future conditional)
If clause
Conditional clause
If + present tense
Future tense
If you help me with my essay, I’ll tidy up your room.
Conditional clause
If clause
Future tense
If + present tense
He’ll get here early
If he catches the fast
train.
first type – basic usage
• Persuasion:
I’ll take the children to the party if you
collect them from school.
e.g.
• Warning:
e.g. If you try to take a short cut, you’ll get
lost.
• Threat:
e.g. If you poke your sister again, I’ll thrash
you.
First type other forms
•
If + present, imperative (to give advice and
instructions)
e.g. If you go to Hagkaup, bring back a carton of
cream please.
•
•
•
•
Present continuous: We’re staying at home on
Tuesday if the transport strike goes ahead.
Going to: We’re going to build a house if the bank
gives us a loan.
Present perfect: If it hasn’t rained by the weekend,
we’ll have to water the garden
Present continuous: If they’re watching TV, they
won’t hear you.
3. Type 2 (2nd, ‘hypothetical or unreal
conditional)
• Used to refer to or speculate about sth. that is
impossible or ‘contrary to fact’ (unreal present
condition)
• Type 2 conditional sentences can refer to the
present or the future.
Type 2 – basic form
Time
If clause
reference
Present:
Future:
If he didn’t annoy
me so much,
If I got an
invitation,
Conditional clause
I’d spend more
time in his office.
I’d go there right
away.
Type 1 vs type 2
• Both type 1 and 2 conditionals can refer
to the future. Compare:
type 1: If it gets colder tonight, I’ll turn
on the heating. (a real possibility)
type 2: If it got colder tonight, I’d turn on
the heating. (not a real possibility)
Type 2 – notes
• In the if clause use were in place of
was. (N.B. was can be heard in spoken
English)
e.g. I’d be able to find the information if I
were at home.
• Use the idiom if I were you to express
advice.
e.g. If I were you, I’d see a doctor.
Type 2 – other forms
• Should is often used after I and we.
e.g. I shouldn’t get to sleep at all if I lived next
to that noise.
• Should in official/commercial
correspondence.
e.g. I should be grateful for an early response
to my letter.
Type 2 – other forms cont’d.
• Were + infinitive (makes the even more
hypothetical or the statement more tentative,
therefore, more polite)
e.g. If the river were to rise above the height of
the flood barrier, there would be absolutely
nothing we could do to save the city.
Were + subject : Were you to accept my offer,
I’d personally oversee arrangements
Type 2 – other forms cont’d.
• If + would (In US English, would is often used
in the if clause.)
e.g. I’d eat something if I wouldn’t have
indigestion.
4. Type 3 (third or past conditional)
If clause
If + past perfect
If we had hurried,
Conditional clause
would + have + past
participle
we wouldn’t have
missed the train.
Type 3 cont´d.
Conditional clause
If clause
Would + have + past
participle
If + past perfect
I would have
(would’ve) been more
sympathetic,
if she hadn’t accused
me of lying.
Type 3 - usage
• Used to speculate about past events, and
about how things that happened or didn’t
happen might have affected other things
• Often used to express reproach and regret.
e.g. If you hadn’t driven so fast, you would
never have had the accident.
I wouldn’t have left my job if I’d known how
difficult it is to find another one.
Type 3 – usage cont’d.
• Type 3 conditional is also used to make
excuses.
e.g. If I hadn’t been held up by the traffic jam,
I would’ve been here on time for the meeting.
Type 3 – other forms
• Many native speakers use a non-standard variant of
the Type 3 conditional.
If clause
Conditional clause
If + had have + past
participle
Would + have + past
participle
If they’d have arrived
on time.
I’d have let them into
the cinema.
conjunctions
• Other conjunctions are used instead of if.
These include: supposing, as long as (Type
1&2); provided, on condition (that), unless (all
types)
e.g. Where will you go supposing you have a
holiday?
I would help him as long as he asked me
nicely.
I wouldn’t have come round unless you’d
phoned and asked me to.
Modal verbs in conditional sentences
• Zero conditionals
We can use a modal verb in either or both
clauses of a zero conditional
e.g.
If you have a ticket , you can go through now.
You should wear glasses if you can’t see.
Modal verbs cont’d.
• Type 1. We can use may, might and could to
show that something is a possible
consequence (rather than a certain one)
e.g.
I can bring something to eat if you want.
If you listen to me carefully, you may learn
something useful.
Modal verbs cont’d.
• Type 2 and 3
might and could in place of would in Type 2&3.
e.g.
If you explained more clearly, I might understand.
If we hadn’t worked so hard, we could’ve missed
our deadline.
Will and would in if clauses
• would (like) may appear in the if clause where
the meaning is similar to want.
e.g.
If you would like to sit down, please help
yourself to a seat.
• Will can be used in the if clause where the
meaning is similar to be perpared to/be willing
to
e.g.
If you’ll wait a minute, the doctor will be here to
see you.
Will and would in if clauses cont’d.
• Will and would can suggest perverse
(siðspilltur) and deliberate behaviour
(normally stressed)
e.g.
If you will argue with everyone, you can’t
expect to be popular.
If you wouldn’t take so much time off, you
might earn more.
Mixed conditionals
• Things we did in the past may have present
consequences, and equally these past events
may be the result of present facts. Look at this
situation:
Past action:
You wasted money last week.
Present consequence:
We can’t afford a good holiday.
Mixed conditionals cont’d.
If clause (Type 3)
Main clause (Type 2)
If you hadn’t wasted so
much money last week,
We’d be able to afford a
better holiday.
Mixed conditionals cont’d.
Present (general) fact:
I am very busy.
Past consequence:
I wasn’t able to take off any time last week.
If clause (Type 2)
Main Clause (Type 3)
If I weren’t busy.
I could’ve taken off a
few days last week.