Catholic University of Mozambique

Institute of Distance Education

CONDITIONALS

Paulino Fernando Guece: 708236779

Degree in Portuguese Language Teaching

English
1st Year
1st work
Tutor: Paulo Sinate

Chimoio, September de 2023

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ÍNDEX
1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 1

2. Objectives ............................................................................................................................ 2

2.1. General Objective ........................................................................................................ 2

2.2. 1.2. Specific Objectives ............................................................................................... 2

3. METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................................. 2

4. Conditionals ........................................................................................................................ 3

4.1. Definition of Conditionals ........................................................................................... 3

4.2. Real Conditional in the Present or Future .................................................................... 3

4.3. Types of Conditional Clauses ...................................................................................... 4

4.3.1. Conditionals according to Raymond Murphy ...................................................... 4

4.3.2. Conditionals according to Elaine Walker and Steve Elsworth ............................. 4

4.3.3. Conditionals according to Michael Swan and Catherine Walter .......................... 5

5. CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................... 9

6. BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................. 10
1. INTRODUCTION
The present work addresses conditionals, with greater focus on the use of “if” to express
various life conditions. Conditionals are used to report real-life situations and imaginary
events that, for their effectiveness, depend on other phenomena or external agents that can
help lead such an event to be fulfilled in reality.

In this way, aspects of conditionality are described through a topic that is subdivided into
subtitles such as: Concept of conditionals; real condition in the present and future; Types of
conditionals and a description of each giving real-life and imaginary examples. Now, the
rules of how sentences can be formed in the conditional mode of to refer to situations that
happened in the past and that still have impacts on current life and that can also lead to
changes in the future are also illustrated.

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2. OBJECTIVES
2.1. General Objective
 Know the general rules for using conditional in the formation of simple or complex
sentences.

2.2. 1.2. Specific Objectives

 Conceptualize Conditionals;
 Identify the types of conditionals
 Demonstrate examples that illustrate the use of conditional in practical life.

3. METHODOLOGY
According to MARCONI & LAKATOS (2003) the method is the set of systematic and rational
activities that, with greater security and economy, allows achieving the objective – valid and
true knowledge –, tracing the path to be followed, detecting errors and helping scientist's
decisions.
2.1.1. Bibliographic Method
The preparation of this work used the bibliographic method, which essentially focuses on
collecting information or thoughts on the subject under research through manuals, internet
research and other written sources.

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4. CONDITIONALS
4.1. Definition of Conditionals
According to MADONA UNIVERSITY WRITING CENTER, (2016), Conditional sentences
have two parts or clauses that give a condition in the dependent clause and a result in the
independent clause. The condition clause usually contains an if statement. There are several
different forms of conditional sentences that allow the writer to express various meanings using
different tenses.

They describe the result of something that might happen (in the present or future) or might have
happened but didn't (in the past). They are made using different English verb tenses.

4.2. Real Conditional in the Present or Future

A conditional sentences expresses the idea that the action in the main clause (the result clause)
can only happen when a certain condition (the clause that begins with if) is fulfilled. The if
clause states the condition, and the main states the result.

Real Condition if clause Result or Main Clause Meaning

If the weather changes I get a headache. factual
suddenly, simple presente Simple present tense
tense
If it snows a lot tonight, They will call off school Certainty/prediction for the
simple present tense tomorrow future
Future tense
If you have time, simple You should visit the local Advise/suggestion/warning
present tense museum. Modal+VERB for the future
If it rains, simple present Don’t open the windows. Instructions for the future
tense imperative

Rule 1: real conditions express situations that can happen in the present or future. They are
often used when starting facts, general knowledge, habitd, predictions, advice, or
instructions.
Rule 2: real conditions in the present (factual) use simple present tense form of the verb in both
the if clause and the result.

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Rule 3: real conditions in the future (real possibility) use the simple present tense form of thr
verb in the if clause +modal or modal phrase (should/can/could/may/might, will, be going
to, have to) and the base form of the verb or the imperative in the result clause.
Rule 4: Negative forms of the verb can be used in the condition or result clause or both

4.3. Types of Conditional Clauses

4.3.1. Conditionals according to Raymond Murphy

In English Grammar in Use for intermediate students Murphy does not call conditional clauses
conditional at all. He just shows examples of “if-clauses” so that students would understand the
meaning and usage of conditionals. Compared to the linguists, he focuses only on direct
conditions and does not mention indirect conditions. Murphy speaks of If I do–clauses which
correspond to open conditionals according to linguists, then of If I did–clauses and If I had–
clauses which correspond to hypothetical clauses. As for different subordinators, he mentions
apart from if also in case, unless, as long as, provided/providing. The sample sentences and
diverse examples are followed by various exercises which tests students understanding
(MURYPHY, 2006).

4.3.2. Conditionals according to Elaine Walker and Steve Elsworth

In Grammar Practise for intermediate students Walker divides conditionals into several groups.
She talks about the first, second, zero conditional and third conditional. The first and zero
conditionals refer to open conditionals due to their use of the present tense in if-clauses. The
second and third conditional refer to hypothetical conditionals, because of their use of past
tenses and past perfect tenses in if-clauses (WALKER & ELSWORTH, 2000)

Walker also mentions different subordinators beside if. They are unless, provided (that), on
condition (that), as long as, so long as, (just) suppose, supposing (that), what if, imagine. Apart
from direct conditions into which we can classify the first group of conditionals mentioned
above, she investigates sentences containing hidden conditions. These can be classified from a
linguistic point of view into the group of indirect conditions. In addition, mixed tense
conditionals are put forward as well. (WALKER & ELSWORTH, 2000)

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Compared to Murphy, Walker presents conditionals from a more theoretical and “scientific”
point of view. Her theory is also much broader than that of Murphy's. However, the exercises
that follow the theory are not that diverse and numerous.

4.3.3. Conditionals according to Michael Swan and Catherine Walter

Swan in his How English Works similarly to Murphy does not use the term conditional clause
and he speaks of if-clauses instead and of a different use of tenses in them. According to him
the present tense in an if-clause is used when referring to the future which corresponds again to
open conditionals and past tenses when talking about unreal situations in present of future. This
is in conformity with hypothetical conditionals. (SWAN & WALTER, 2001)

When using past perfect tenses, these express unreal past situations because they distance our
language from reality. Since this book is aimed at intermediate to advanced students, it
sometimes goes into more detail in its explanations. Swan discusses the different uses between
if I were and if I was, the use of unless and in case as well in comparison with if. The
explanations are followed by several exercises using pictures, and a nice touch are also the jokes
in which the grammar is shown visually, e.g. conditionals. In contrast with Murphy and Walker
Swan's book is the least clearly organized? (SWAN & WALTER, 2001).

Table 2: Conditionals in selected course books

The form of conditional Murphy Walker Swan

clauses

If + Present simple + If I do - clauses First Conditional If –clause (real

will situations)

If + Present Simple + If I do - clauses Zero Conditional If –clause (real

Present Simpl situations

If + Past Simple + If I did - clauses Second Conditional If-clause (present or

would If + Past Simple future unreal
+ Could, Might, Would sutuations)
have to

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 If + Past Perfect If I had - clauses Third Conditional If-clause (past unreal
(continuous) + would situations)
have + past participle

a) Zero conditional
The zero conditional uses the present tense in both clauses and is used to talk about something
that is always or generally true. The present tense signifies that these actions are both possible
and typical.

The zero conditional is used to talk about general truths, or things that are almost always true
under certain conditions. For example, it's pretty much always true that if it rains, stuff gets wet.

Zero conditional is easy to form because all the verbs are in present tense. You just use two
clauses, one with If + simple present verb and the other with another simple present verb, as in,
"If students miss an exam, the professor fails them." Or you can reverse the order of the clauses.
You can say, "The professor fails students if they miss an exam."

Finally, this form can also be used for giving instructions about what to do under certain
conditions. For example, "If I'm late for dinner, start eating without me."

Form: If + simple present, simple present

Example 1: If it rains, I take an umbrella with me to work.
Example 2: If I wake up early, I always read in bed.
Other examples:
 If people eat too much, they get fat.
 If you touch a fire, you get burned.
 People die if they don't eat.
 You get water if you mix hydrogen and oxygen.
 Snakes bite if they are scared
 If babies are hungry, they cry

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 b) First conditional (If + Present Simple + Will + Base Verb)
The first conditional uses the present tense in the if clause and the future tense in the result
clause. This form is used to talk about something that is a probable future result of a condition.
We are talking about the future. We are thinking about a particular condition or situation in the
future, and the result of this condition. There is a real possibility that this condition will happen.
Form: If + simple present, will + base verb
Example 1: If I see you later, I will say hello.
Example 2: If I don’t see you later, I won’t be able to say hello.

Other examples:
 If it rains, I won't go to the park.
 If I study today, I'll go to the party tonight.
 If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes.
 She'll be late if the train is delayed.
 She'll miss the bus if she doesn't leave soon.
 If I see her, I'll tell her

c) Second conditional (If + Pasta Simple + Would + Base Verb)

The second conditional uses the past tense in the if clause and a modal and base verb in the
result clause. This form is used to talk about a hypothetical situation that cannot happen or is
unlikely to happen.
The second conditional is like the first conditional. We are still thinking about the future. We
are thinking about a particular condition in the future, and the result of this condition. But there
is not a real possibility that this condition will happen.
Form: If + simple past, modal + base verb
Example 1: If I had a million dollars, I would buy a large vacation home.
Example 2: If I were you, I wouldn’t wait to study for the test

d) Third conditional (If +Past perfect + Would have + Past participle)

The third conditional uses the past perfect in the if clause and a modal and present perfect in
the result clause. This form is used to talk about a hypothetical situation in the past that did not
happen – typically with an outcome that did not happen and is perhaps the opposite of what did
happen.

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Form: If + past perfect, modal + present perfect
Example 1: If it had rained last week, the plants would not have died.
Example 2: If I had finished college, I would have become a doctor.

e) Mixed conditional (if + past perfect + would + infinitive)

Mixed conditionals combine the second and third conditionals to present both an unreal
condition either in the past or the present and an unreal result either in the past or the present.
The first form presents an unreal condition in the past that changes an unreal outcome in the
present (the past changes the present).
Form 1: If + past perfect, modal + base
Example 1: If I had finished college, I would be a doctor now.
Example 2: If it had rained last week, the plants would be alive now.

The second form presents an unreal condition in the present that changes an unreal outcome in
the past (the present changes the past).
Form 2: If + simple past, would/could + present perfect
Example 1: If I spoke louder, you would have heard me before.
Example 2: If you were nicer, you could have had more friends when you were younger.

f) Additional notes on conditionals

There are a few aspects of conditionals that should be noted in order to make their use easier
and clearer. Conditionals can be categorized as real and unreal. You can think of this as
meaning possible or impossible. Zero and first conditionals are possible as they deal with things
that are generally true or that could be true in the future. Second, third, and mixed conditionals
are impossible because they are either hypothetical or concerned with events in the past that we
cannot change. o Real Conditionals: Zero and First o Unreal Conditionals: Second, Third, and
Mixed • In the second conditional, the simple past is used in the condition clause. If the be verb
is being used, it is typical to use were in more formal contexts. If you’re speaking informally
though, was is more usual. o Formal: If I were you, I would drink more water. o Informal: If I
was you, I wouldn’t stay out so late.

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5. CONCLUSION
However, conditionals are words or ways that we use to express things that may happen or not
because of what it is conditioned, it depends the circumstances that occurred in the past or
situations which are still occurring in the present moment or will happen in the future. We can
describe conditionals in four different ways such as: Zero conditional; First conditional, second
conditional and third conditional.

So, zero conditional uses the present tense in both clauses and is used to talk about something
that is always or generally true. The present tense signifies that these actions are both possible
and typical. The first conditional uses the present tense in the “if” clause and the future tense in
the result clause. This form is used to talk about something that is a probable future result of a
condition. The second conditional uses the past tense in the “if” clause and a modal and base
verb in the result clause. This form is used to talk about a hypothetical situation that cannot
happen or is unlikely to happen and at the end we have the third conditional uses the past perfect
in the if clause and a modal and present perfect in the result clause. This form is used to talk
about a hypothetical situation in the past that did not happen – typically with an outcome that
did not happen and is perhaps the opposite of what did happen.

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6. BIBLIOGRAPHY
LUNSFORD, A. (2002). The Everyday Writer 2nd Edition Bedford/St Martins. Boston: Print.
MADONA UNIVERSITY WRITING CENTER. (2016). Conditional Sentences: The Farlex
grammar book: Complete English grammar rules . Farlex International.
MARCONI, M. D., & LAKATOS, E. M. (2003). Fundamentos de Metodologia Científica (5
ed.). São Paulo: Atlas S.A.
MURYPHY, R. (2006). English Grammar in Use: A Self-Study Reference and practice book
for Intermediate Students of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
SLAWSON, J., WITTON, N., & Jeff WIEMELT. (2011). Adapted from The Little, Brown
Handbook (11 ed.). Southeastern Writing Center.
SWAN, M., & WALTER, C. (2001). How English Works: A Grammar Practice Book (9 ed.).
Oxford: Oxford University Press.
WALKER, E., & ELSWORTH, S. (2000). Grammar Practice for intermediate students.
Harlow: Pearson Education Limited.

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