LEARNING ACTIVITY -8

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

Conditional sentence contains two clauses: a dependent clause beginning with if (or another
conjunction performing the same general function ) and a main clause. The main clause gives
the result of the if clause. (Wishon and Burks. 1980)

8.1. Types of Conditional Sentences

There are three different types of conditional sentences. Each part is composed of different
combination of tenses.

8.1.1 Future Possible Condition

A sentence that express a future possible condition refers to an action that may or may not take
place in the future. The present tense of the verb is used in the if clause, and the future tense is
used in the main clause. The if clause may precede or follow the main clause.

 If Bert comes, I will give him the message.

 He will not go to the movie if it rains .

When, As soon as, until, before, unless, and so on, may take place of if.

 I will tell him when he comes.

 I will tell him as soon as he comes.
 I will tell him unless he knows it already.
 I will tell him before he leaves.
 I will wait here until he comes.

As with the if clause, the order of clauses may be reversed.

When he comes, I will tell him.

Although, it is most common to use the modal auxiliaries, shall and will in the main clause, it is
also possible to use the modals may, can, must, or the auxiliary be going to

 .If we arrive late, they may not wait for us.

 If we arrive late, they can not wait for us.
 If we arrive late, they must not wait for us.
 If we arrive late, they are not going to wait for us.

Both clauses, the if clause and the main clause, contain the present tense in certain
circumstances:
Generalizations: If (when) problems arise, we cope.

Imperative mood: If (when) the phone rings, answer it.

8.1.2 Present Unreal Condition

This kind of conditional sentence describes situation which doesn’t exist or is unreal. We do not
expect the condition in the if clause to become a fact.

The past tense of the verb is used in the if clause in these sentences, and the modals would,
could, and might are used in main clause. This if clause is what is traditionally called a
subjunctive.

1. You do not study.

If you studied, you would learn English quickly.
2. I am not rich.
If I were rich, I would give my money to the poor.
3. I have a headache.
If I took an aspirin, my headache might go away.

The order of the clauses can be reversed.

1. If he smoked less, he wouldn’t cough so much.

2. He wouldn’t cough so much if he smoked less.

The subjunctive were in the if clause is used for all persons: if I were ( instead of if I was) , if he
were, if we were, if you were, etc.

If can be omitted when it is followed by were, had, should, would, and other auxiliaries. The
auxiliary then precede the subject. This result is somewhat more formal language.

1. If he were here, he would take care of our problems.

Were he here, he would take care of our problems.
2. If he should telephone, leave me a message.
Should he telephone, leave me a message.

8.1.3 Past Unreal Condition

This conditional sentence indicates past time and indicates an unreal and unfulfilled situation.
Perfect tense is used in the if clause, and the past future perfect are used in the main clause.
1. I didn’t know her telephone number.
If I had known her number, I would have called her.
Or:
I would have called her if I had known her telephone number.
 2. She dint have enough time.
If she had had more time, she could have finished the exam.

Pay attention for the table below

Meaning of the Verb form in the Verb form in the Examples of sentences
if clause if clause result clause
True in the Simple Present Simple Present If I have time, I write to my
present/Future Simple Present Simple Future parents.
If have time, I will write to
my parents.
If you believe me
everything will go ok.
Untrue in the Simple Past Past Future If I had time I would write
Present/ Future Would + V1 to my parents
Untrue in the Past Past perfect Past Future Perfect If I had had time I would
Would + have + V3 have written to my parents

If can be replaced by but for, provided (that), supposing (that), and so on, in both present- unreal
and past-unreal sentences.

1. If it had not been for your kindness, I might have become discouraged.
But for your kindness, I might have become discouraged.
2. If you do all required work, you can take the exam early.
Provided you do all the required work, you can take the exam early.
3. If there were no water, what would the world be like?
4. Supposing there were no water, what would the world be like?

8.2 The Verb Wish in Conditional Sentence

Since the verb wish suggests a situation that is unreal, it is always followed by subjunctive – a
past time to show the present time, and a past perfect tense to show past time.
1. I wish she were here now. ( she is not here.)
2. I wish she had been here yesterday. (She was not here yesterday.)

8.3 Progressive Verb in Conditional Sentence

In conditional sentence, progressive verbs are used in progressive situation.

Examples:

1. True : It is raining right now, so I will not go for a walk.

 Conditional : if it were not raining right now, I would go for a walk.
2. True : I am not living in Chile, I am not working at a bank.
Conditional : If I were living in Chile, I would be working at a bank.
3. True : It was raining yesterday afternoon, so I didn’t go for a walk.
Conditional : If it had not been raining, I would have gone for a walk.

8.4 Using ”Mixed Time” in Conditional Sentence

Frequently the time in the “if clause” and the time in the “result clause” are different: One clause
may be in the present and the other in the past. Notice that past and present times are mixed in
the following sentences.

1. True: I didn’t eat breakfast several hours ago, so I am hungry now.

Conditional: If I had eaten breakfast several hours ago, I would not be hungry now.
2. True: he is not a good student. He didn’t study for the test yesterday.
Conditional: If he were a good student, he would have studied for the test.

8.5 Using Could, Might, and Should

Could, might, and should are always be used in conditional sentence.

Examples:

1. If I were a bird, I could fly home.

Could fly = would be able to fly
2. If I could sing as well as you, I would join the opera.
Could sing = were able to sing
3. If I had had enough money, I could have gone to Bali for vacation.
Could have gone = would have been able to go
4. If I don’t get a scholarship, I might get a job.
I might get = may be I will get
5. If you were a better student, you might get a better grades.
You might get = may be you would get.
6. If you had told me about your problem, I might have been able to help you.
I might have been = maybe I would have been
7. If John should call, tell him I’ll be back around five.
If John should call = indicates a little more uncertainty or doubt than if John calls, but
the meaning of the two is basically the same.
8. If there should be another world war, the continued existence of the human race
would be in jeopardy.
If there should be indicates more uncertainty or doubt than if there were.
8.6 Implied Condition

The if clause is often implied, not stated. Conditional verbs are still used in the “result clause.”

Examples:

1. I would have gone with you, but I had to study.

( Implied condition: ……….if I hadn’t had to study )
2. I never would have succeeded without your help.
(Implied condition:……….if you hadn’t helped me)
3. She ran; otherwise, she would have missed her bus.
(Implied condition: ………..if she had not run)

Exercise 1

Put the correct verb in each blank by using the verb in the brackets

1. I will fix your bicycle if I (have )…………….. a screwdriver of the proper size.

2. I ( make ) ………………..the tomato salad for the picnic tomorrow if the tomatoes in my
garden were ripe.

3. Sally would answer the phone if she ( be ) …………….in her office right now.

4. I ( be, not ) ………………a student in this class if English ( be ) ……………..my native

language.

5. If he ( wait )……………………, he could have seen her.

6. If I have time, I ( call )……………… you.

7. Budi wasn’t at home yesterday. If he ( be ) …………………at home yesterday, I ( visit )

him.

8. Please wait here until I ( get ) ………………..back.

9. I got wet because I didn’t take my umbrella. However, I ( get, not ) ……………….wet if
I ( remember ) to take my umbrella with me yesterday.

10. I’m almost ready to plant my garden. I have a lot of seeds. Maybe I have more than I
need. If I ( have )……………….. more seeds than I need, I give some to Nelly.
Exercise 2

Make conditional sentence based on the fact given. Start your sentence with “ But if I had
known………………”

Example: There was a test yesterday. You didn’t know that, so you didn’t study.

Response: but if I had known ( that there was a test yesterday ), I would have studied.

1. Your friend was in the hospital. You didn’t know that, so you didn’t visit her.
2. I‘ve never met your friend. You didn’t know that, so you didn’t introduce me.
3. There was a party last night. You didn’t know that, so you didn’t go.
4. Your friend’s parents are in town. You didn’t know that, so you didn’t invite them to
dinner.
5. I wanted to go to the soccer game. You didn’t know that, so you didn’t buy another
ticket.
6. I was at home last night. You didn’t know that, so you didn’t visit me.
7. Your sister wanted a gold necklace for her birthday. You didn’t know that, so you didn’t
buy her one.
8. I had a problem. You didn’t know that, so you didn’t offer to help.

Exercise 3

Supply the correct form of the verb in the following sentences.

1. I wish I (know)…………………..how to swim.

2. He wishes he (can) ……………...speak French.
3. I wish I (be)….…………………..in Paris now.
4. I wish I (go) ……………………..with you last night.
5. I wish I (have)…………………...a car.
6. I wish I (study)…………………..before my examination last week.
7. I wish today (be) ………………...Sunday.
8. Ema wishes she (have) …………..a new dress.
9. John wishes he (have)………………………..a new suit for the party last week.
10.I wish I (start) ………………………….to study English long time ago.

Exercise 4

Change the following sentences into conditional sentence. Number 1 is done for you.

1. It is snowing, so I won’t go with you. But if it weren’t snowing, I would go with you.
2. The child is crying because his mother isn’t here. But………………………
3. You weren’t listening, so you didn’t understand the directions. But ……
 4. Joe got a ticket because he was driving to fast. But………………………………
5. I was listening to the radio, so I heard the news bulletin. But ……………………
6. Grandpa is not wearing his hearing aid because it is broken. But ………………..
7. You were sleeping, so I didn’t tell you the news as soon as I heard it. But ………
8 . I’m enjoying myself, so I won’t leave. But ……………
9. I’m hungry now because I didn’t eat dinner. But ……………………….
10. The room is full of flies because you left the door open. But ……..........
11. you are tired this morning because you didn’t go to bed at a reasonable hour last night.
But………………………………………………………………………….
12. I didn’t finish my report yesterday, so I can’t begin a new project today. But

13. Helen is sick because she didn’t follow the doctor’s orders. But …………….
14. I’m not you, so I didn’t tell him the truth. But…………………………………..
15. I don’t know anything about plumbing, so I didn’t fix the leak in the sink myself.
But…………………………………………………………………………………
16. I received a good job over from the oil company, so I won’t seriously consider taking the
job with the electronic film. But ……………………………………….

Exercise 5

Complete the following sentences.

1. I could go ………………………………………………………………

2. I could buy ………………………………………………………………

3. I would buy………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………...

4. I could have bought………………………………………………………

5. I would have bought ……………………………………………………

6. If I could speak …………………………………………………………
7. You might have passed the test………………………………………….

8. If you should need to get in touch with me later……………………………

9. If it should rain tomorrow…………………………………………………
10. I could have finished my work on time…………………………………………
Exercise 6

Make sentences with the same meaning by omitting the word “if” from the conditional
sentences.

1. The other team committed a foul, but the referee didn’t see it. If the referee had seen it,
our team would have won the game.
2. Your boss sound like a real tyrant. If I were you I look for another job.
3. You really should learn how to use computer. If you had used a computer, you could
have finished the work in half the time.
4. I’ll be out of my office until 2:00. If you should need to reach me, I’ll be in the
conference room.
5. The factory was on the verge of bankruptcy. If it had gone out of business, hundreds of
people would have lost their livelihood.
6. We would have won the game if Thompson had caught the ball.
7. If Thompson had not dropped the ball, we would have won the game
8. The artist and creative thinkers throughout the history of the world have change all of our
lives. If they had not dared to be different, the history of civilization would have to be
written.