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Conditionals

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Conditionals

Uploaded by

tehanimariah
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Definition

Conditional sentences are sentences expressing factual implications, or


hypothetical situations and their consequences. They are so called
because the validity of the main clause of the sentence is conditional on
the existence of certain circumstances, which may be expressed in a
dependent clause or may be understood from the context.

A full conditional sentence (one that expresses the condition as well as


its consequences) therefore contains two clauses: the dependent clause
expressing the condition, called the protasis; and the main clause
expressing the consequence, called the apodosis.An example of such a
sentence (in English) is the following:
• If it rains, the picnic will be cancelled.

Here the condition is expressed by the clause "If it rains", this being the
protasis, while the consequence is expressed by "the picnic will be
cancelled", this being the apodosis. (The protasis may either precede or
follow the apodosis; it is equally possible to say "The picnic will be
cancelled if it rains".) In terms of logic, the protasis corresponds to the
antecedent, and the apodosis to the consequent. For more complicated
conditional sentences, in English, a convenient form is 'if ..., then ...'. For
example, "If all of these conditions are fulfilled, then our inference is
valid."
Languages use a variety of grammatical forms and constructions in
conditional sentences. The forms of verbs used in the protasis and
apodosis are often subject to particular rules as regards their tense and
mood. Many languages have a specialized type of verb form called the
conditional mood – broadly equivalent in meaning to the English "would
(do something)" – for use in some types of conditional sentence.
Imagined conditions
There are different types of conditions. Some are possible or likely,
others are unlikely, and others are impossible:

• If the weather improves, we’ll go for a walk. (It is possible or likely


that the weather will improve.)

• If the weather improved, we could go for a walk. (It is not likely


that the weather will improve.)

• If the weather had improved, we could have gone for a


walk. (The weather did not improve – fine weather is therefore an
impossible condition.)

These types of conditions are used in three types of sentences, called


first, second and third conditional sentences.
Zero conditional
Some conditions seem more real to us than others. Real conditionals refer to things
that are true, that have happened, or are very likely to happen:
• If you park here, they clamp your wheels. (It is always true that they clamp
your wheels if, or every time, you park here.)
• If I can’t sleep, I listen to the radio. (it is often true that I can’t sleep, so I listen
to the radio)
In real conditional sentences, we can use the present simple or present continuous
in both clauses for present situations, and the past simple or past continuous in both
clauses for past situations. We can use these in various different combinations.
Present simple + present simple
• If the weather is fine, we eat outside on the terrace. (Every time this happens,
this is what we do.)
Present continuous + present simple
• If the kids are enjoying themselves, we just let them go on playing till they’re
ready for bed. (Every time this happens, this is what we do.)
Present continuous + present continuous
• If the economy is growing by 6%, then it is growing too fast. (If it is true that
the economy is growing by 6%, then it is true that it is growing too fast.)
Past simple + past simple
• If my father had a day off, we always went to see my granddad. (Every time
that happened in the past, that is what we did.)
Past simple + past continuous
• Kevin always came in to say hello if he was going past our house. (Every
time he was going past our house, that is what he did.)
We can also use modal verbs in the main clause:
• If we go out, we can usually get a baby sitter. (Every time we go out, it is
usually possible to get a babysitter.)
• If we wanted someone to fix something, we would ask our neighbor. He was
always ready to help. (Every time we wanted someone; we would ask our
neighbor.)
First conditional
We use the first conditional to talk about the result of an imagined future situation,
when we believe the imagined situation is quite likely:
• [imagined future situation] If the taxi doesn’t come soon, [future result] I’ll drive
you myself.

First conditional: form

conditional clause main clause

modal verb with future meaning


if + present simple
(shall/should/will/would/can/could/may/might)

If he gets a job in
he’ll have to get up early. It’s a long drive.
Liverpool,

If Sheila rings, I might ask her to come over for dinner.

Warning:
We use the modal verb in the main clause, not in the conditional clause.
• If a lawyer reads the document, we will see if we’ve missed anything
important.
Not: If a lawyer will read the document…
Second conditional
We use the second conditional to talk about the possible result of an
imagined situation in the present or future. We say what the conditions
must be for the present or future situation to be different.
• If people complained, things would change. (People don’t
complain at themoment.)
Second conditional: form

conditional clause main clause

modal verb with future-in-the-past meaning


if + past simple
(should/would/might/could)

If you asked her


she would say yes, I’m sure.
nicely,

We use a past form in the conditional clause to indicate a distance from


reality, rather than indicating past time. We often use past forms in this
way in English.
Warning:
We use would in the main clause, not in the conditional clause:
• If you decided to take the exam, you would have to register by 31
March.
Not: If you would decide to take the exam …
First and second conditional compared

When we use the first conditional, we think the imagined situation is


more likely to happen than when we use the second conditional.
Compare

first conditional second conditional

If the flight’s late, we’ll miss our If there were more buses,
connection. we would leave the car at
(it’s possible or likely that the home. (it is unlikely that there will
flight will be late) be more buses)

I’ll come and give a hand if


He would buy a flat if he had the
you need help moving your
money for a deposit. (it is unlikely
stuff. (it is possible or likely that
that he will have the money)
you will need help)
Third conditional
We use the third conditional when we imagine a different past, where
something did or did not happen, and we imagine a different result:
If I had played better, I would have won. (I didn’t play well and I didn’t
win.)
It would have been easier if George had brought his own car. (George
didn’t bring his own car, so the situation was difficult.)
If the dog hadn’t barked, we wouldn’t have known there was
someone in the garden. (The dog barked, so we knew there was
someone in the garden.)
Third conditional: form

conditional
main clause
clause

modal verb with future-in-the-past meaning


if + past perfect
(should/would/might/could) + have + -ed form

If they had
they would have arrived on time.
left earlier,

Warning:
We use would have + -ed in the main clause, not in the conditional
clause:
• If he had stayed in the same room as Dave, it would have been a
disaster.
Not: If he would have stayed … it would have been a disaster.
People do sometimes use the form with would have in informal
speaking, but many speakers consider it incorrect.

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