Prof.

Wallace Santos Intermediate Students

Conditional Sentences

Conditional Sentences
Structure : A conditional sentence is composed of 2 parts :

If-clause
Example :

Main Clause

If it rains tomorrow, we will not come. If-clause Main Clause

Conditional Sentences
Types : There are 4 types of conditional sentences. They are classified according to their specific implications. Each type of conditional sentences uses different tenses to show the difference in their implications.

Conditional Sentences
Type 0 : Use Talk about universal truth. : Tense : Present tense in both clauses Example : Present Tense

Present Tense

If you heat water to 100C, it boils.

If you pour oil into water, it floats.

You can construct a sentence by either putting the if clause first and the main clause second, or you can reverse them Examples: If you exert enough pressure on a piece of wood, it breaks. A piece of wood breaks if you exert enough pressure on it.

Challenge
Rewrite the sentence without changing its meaning:

Unless you need more space, a small car is big enough for one person.

Conditional Sentences
Type 1

Use : Talk about a present or future probable case.

Tense : If-clause ~ Present Tense Main Clause ~ Future Tense Example : Present Tense Future Tense

If I feel sick, I will not go to school. If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.

1. If + Present Tense

will + inf / present tense / imperative

If I have enough money, I will go to Japan. conditional clause main clause I will go to Japan, if I have enough money main clause conditional clause

If you help me with the dishes (if + pres), I will help you with your homework. (will + inf)

If the sum of the digits of a number is divisible by three, the number is divisible by three (Pres. tense)
If you see Mr Fox tonight, tell him I am ill. (imperative).

Exercise One
1. If you ___________________ (not come), You ________________ (miss ) the show. 1. John __________________ (buy)a car if he _____________ (get)a job. 1. Mary ________________(get) a toothache if she_________________ (eat) too many sweets.

Conditional Sentences
Type 2 (Present Subjunctive) Use : Talk about a present or future improbable case. (A case that is unlikely to happen) Tense : If-clause ~ Past Tense Main Clause ~ would + an infinitive Example : Would + infinitive Past Tense

If he were a bird, he would fly across the harbour.

If I had $200,000 now, I would buy a car.

Second conditional
Nature: unreal (impossible) or improbable situations. Time: present; the TENSE is past, but we are talking about the present, now. e.g. If I knew her name, I would tell you. If I were you, I would tell my father.

Compare: If I become president, I will change the social security

system. (Said by a presidential candidate) If I became president, I would change the social security system. (Said by a schoolboy: improbable)

If we win this match, we are qualified for the semifinals. If I won a million pounds, I would stop teaching. (improbable)

Conditional Sentences
Type 3 (Past Subjunctive) Talk about a past, impossible case Use : Tense : If-clause ~ Past Perfect Tense Main Clause ~ Would + Present Perfect Form Example : Past Perfect Tense Would + Present Perfect Form

If I had had enough money, I would have bought the camera yesterday. If I had come home earlier, I would not have missed the programme.

Third conditional

Nature: unreal Time: Past (so we are talking about a situation that was not so in the past.) e.g. If you had warned me, I would not have told your father about that party.(But you didn't, and I have).

Exercise Two
1. If I ________________ (be) four years old, I ________________ (learn) to play the piano. 1. If I ________________ (not fail) in the examination, my mother_______________ (buy) me a new computer. 3. We ________________________ (finish) if we

________________ (have) better preparation.

Conditional Sentences
Variations: Type 1 :If you see John, ask him to come and see me. Should you see John, ask him to come and see me. COULD or MIGHT may Type 2 : replace WOULD If I were an aeroplane, I could fly in the sky. Were I an aeroplane, I could fly in the sky. WERE may replace IF in an inversion SHOULD may replace IF in type 1

Conditional Sentences
Type 3 : If I had come home earlier, I would not have missed the programme. Had I come home earlier, I would not have missed the programme.

HAD may replace IF in an inversion

Conditional Sentences
Type 2 & Type 3 :

But for+ a noun may replace `If it were not for

If it were not for the rain, we would go to Shatin. (Type 2) But for the rain, we would go to Shatin.

If it had not been for the traffic jam, we would have arrived on time. (Type 3) But for the traffic jam, we would have arrived on time. But for + a noun may replace `If it had not been for

The Subjunctive Mood

Other sentences than the conditional may bear the subjunctive mood. Type 3 Type 2 a. Wish (v) I wish I were a king. (But I am not!) (But she didnt!) I wish she had left last night.

* Non-subjunctive use of wish I wish to travel to Europe next year We wish you a happy birthday.

The Subjunctive Mood

b. If only Type 2 Type 2

If only I were you!

If only he were born in the USA! (He was not born in USA) If only she had left last night! (She did not leave last night) Type 3

The Subjunctive Mood

b. Would rather Type 2

I would rather you came earlier. (But you come late.) Type 3 I would rather he had told me the secret. (But he didnt.) * Non-subjunctive use of would rather A : Do you want to go fishing today?

B : I would rather stay at home and take some rest. (B prefers staying at home to going fishing)

The Subjunctive Mood

d. Lest (Conjunction) He put the money in the safe lest someone should / might steal it. e. It is (high) time Past Tense

It is (high) time you studied hard. (You have not studied hard. Now the examination is near, so you have to study very hard.) It is time for you to leave (non-subjunctive)

Conditionals summary
Conditional Example Time Any time Zero conditional If you heat ice, it melts. If I have enough money, I will go to Japan.

First conditional If it rains, I will stay at home If I had enough money, I would go to Japan.
Second conditional Third conditional If I won the lottery, I would buy a new house If I had won the lottery, I would have bought a new house. If I had had enough money, I would have gone to Japan.

Future
Future past

Remember!
The conditional construction does not normally use will or would in if-clauses.

EXCEPTION: If will or would express willingness, as in requests, they can

be used in if-clauses. e.g. If you will come this way, the manager will see you now.
I would be grateful if you would give me a little help. (= please, come this way; please, give me...) 2. For the second conditional, were replaces was: If I were a rich man...

3. After if, we can either use "some(-one, -where...)" or "any(-one, -where...).If I have some spare time next weekend....or : If I have any spare time... 4. Instead of if not, we can use unless.e.g. I'll be back tomorrow unless there is a plane strike. He'll accept the job unless the salary is too low. 5.There is a "mixed type" as well, for the present results of an unreal condition in the past: If + Past Perfect - would + inf. If you had warned me [then], I would not be in prison [now].

We are affected!!
Economic recession affects all local employees. My father (1-be)_________fired if his company does not have sufficient orders next year. Luckily, my mother is a junior civil servant who is working in the Regional Council. She might be dismissed only if she (2- commit)______________ a crime or made serious mistakes. Yet with the combination of the Urban Council and Regional Council, many posts are redundant. She (3lose)__________her job if her department shrinks. She is rather anxious about losing her job. If I (4- get)__________a university degree, I would not have been a janitor, my mother said. Dont worry! The SAR government is a good boss. If I were you, I (5- work) _____________as hard as I could,

my father tried to comfort her.

Frankly, if my parents lost their jobs, I (6- give up)_____________ my studies, too. If I (7 - be)____________part of the HKSAR government, I would create more job opportunities for all local workers. Measures like diversification of trade and markets may compensate the unemployment rate. Hong Kong is highly competitive. You will be dismissed by your boss if you (8- work)________hard. Uncle Tom is a typical example. If he had worked hard, he (9 -fire )____________ by his manager. Even students must try their utmost or they (10be)_______________ expelled from school.