Transcript Conditional clauses

Conditional clauses
Summary
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If is often used to express condition
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Conditional sentences state the dependence of one
circumstance or set of circumstances on another.
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They are chiefly introduced by the conjunctions if
(positive condition) and unless (negative condition),
but also by other compound conjunctions, such as: if
only, provided that, as long as, on condition that.
ZERO CONDITION
Natural laws and their consequences
(one thing follows automatically from
another)
 If... + present... + present
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If it snows, people wear warm coats.
1. PROBABLE CONDITION
(open condition)
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If-clause in present tense, the main clause in
the future simple (or present tense)
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If you come, I shall bring the book.
If it rains, we shall stay at home.
Don't say that unless you will do it.
Variations: the main clause with a modal verb
(may/might, must, should):
If you want to pass, you must study harder.
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2. IMPROBABLE CONDITION
(hypothetical or unreal condition)
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If-clause in the past tense, the main clause in the
conditional tense (would+infinitive)
If I had money, I would give it to you.
 If someone tried to do that, he would find himself in
trouble.
 If I were you, I wouldn't do that.
Variations
The main clause with might or could
instead of would:
 If you tried again, you might succeed.
(possible result)
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3. UNFULFILLED CONDITION IN
THE PAST
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If-clause in the past perfect tense, the
main clause in the perfect conditional
(would+have+verb in past participle)
If I had known that, I would not have
come.
 If he had tried to understand, he would
not have left that angry.
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Variations
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Variations: the main clause with could or
might instead of would:
 If we had found him earlier, we could have
saved his life. (ability)
 If we had found him earlier, we might have
saved his life. (possibility)
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Had can be placed first and the if ommitted:
 Had I known that, I would not have come.
Exercise
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If I had a lot of money, I _________ (travel) the world.
If you accept this job, you ____________ (regret,
neg.) it.
He would have died if the ambulance __________
(arrive) so quickly.
If we don’t hurry, we ____________ (miss) the train.
If I could have warned you in time, I ____________
(do) that.
Answer key
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If I had a lot of money, I would travel round the world.
If you accept this job, you will not regret it.
He would have died if the ambulance hadn’t arrived
so quickly.
If we don’t hurry, we will miss the train.
If I could have warned you in time, I would have done
that.
Translate the following:
Ako sada odeš, nećeš me više nikad
vidjeti.
 Da sam to znala, ne bih kupila stan.
 Ne bih se kladila u to da sam na tvojem
mjestu.
 Ako me netko bude tražio, reci im da
spavam.
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If you leave now, you will never see me
again.
 If I had known that, I wouldn’t have
bought the apartment.
 I wouldn’t bet on it if I were you.
 Should anyone come looking for me, tell
them I am sleeping.
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Translate the following:
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Before 1961, if you had tried to kill
yourself and had failed, you could have
been charged with a criminal offence.
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Discuss the usage of could as opposed
to would!
Write in the corect form of the verbs in brackets:
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If, after all the documents have been served, the defendant
________________ (appear, neg.) at the action on the date
named, judgment _________________ (will enter) for the
plaintiff who will submit his or her case by
__________________ (outline) shortly the essence of his or
her claim to the judge. Judgment _________________ (will
give) to him or her, usually with costs. If, however, the
plaintiff ___________________(appear, neg.) at the court
and _______________ (give) no explanation for his or her
absence, the action _____________ (will strike out) for want
of prosecution. The action __________________ (may
reinstate) for sufficient cause on the plaintiff's application.
Answer key
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If, after all the documents have been served, the defendant
DOES NOT APPEAR at the action on the date named,
judgment WILL BE ENTERED for the plaintiff who will submit his
or her case by OUTLINING shortly the essence of his or her
claim to the judge. Judgment WILL BE GIVEN to him or her,
usually with costs. If, however, the plaintiff DOES NOT APPEAR
at the court and GIVES no explanation for his or her absence,
the action WILL BE STRUCK OUT for want of prosecution. The
action MAY BE REINSTATED for sufficient cause on the
plaintiff's application.
The end