The conditional

Transcript The conditional

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

Conditional sentences consist of two clauses – a main (‘conditional’) clause containing a verb in a form with will or would that is introduced by if .

, and a subordinate clause Examples: Joan will help you If I were you, if you ask her.

I’d buy a cheaper car.

order of clauses can be changed.

Whenever we begin with the subordinate clause, we normally use a comma (as in 2nd example)

Cond. Cont’d.

• • I’ll turn on the heating if it gets dark.

If it gets dark, I’ll turn on the heating.

• If is barely pronounced in casual conversation. The vowel /i/ disappears entirely, and even /f/ is whispered. A phrase like If I were you is pronounced /faiwәju:/.

• There are 4 types of conditionals:

1. Zero

conditional sentences • Form: If clause If + present tense If I eat late at night , Conditional clause Present tense I normally have trouble sleeping.

Conditional clause Present tense Most cats purr If clause If + present tense If you tickle them under the chin

Use of zero conditional • To express general truths.

e.g. If you boil water, it evaporates.

• Habits e.g. If I drink coffee, I get headaches

.

2. Type 1 (first or future conditional) If clause Conditional clause If + present tense Future tense If you help me with my essay, I’ll tidy up your room.

Conditional clause Future tense He’ll get here early If clause If + present tense If he catches the fast train.

first type – basic usage • Persuasion: e.g

. I’ll take the children to the party if you collect them from school .

• Warning: e.g. If you try to take a short cut, you’ll get lost.

• Threat: e.g. If you poke your sister again, I’ll thrash you.

• • • • • First type other forms If + present, imperative (to give advice and instructions) e.g. If you go to Hagkaup, bring back a carton of cream please.

Present continuous : We’re staying at home on Tuesday if the transport strike goes ahead.

Going to : We’re going to build a house if the bank gives us a loan.

Present perfect : If it hasn’t rained by the weekend, we’ll have to water the garden Present continuous: won’t hear you.

If they’re watching TV, they

3. Type 2 (2nd, ‘hypothetical or unreal conditional) • Used to refer to or speculate about sth. that is impossible or ‘contrary to fact’ (unreal present condition) • Type 2 conditional sentences can refer to the present or the future.

Type 2 – basic form Time reference If clause Conditional clause Present: Future: If he didn’t annoy me so much, If I got an invitation, I’d spend more time in his office.

I’d go there right away.

Type 1 vs type 2 • Both type 1 and 2 conditionals can refer to the future. Compare:

type 1

If it gets colder tonight, I’ll turn on the heating.

(a real possibility)

type 2

If it got colder tonight, I’d turn on the heating.

(not a real possibility)

Type 2 – notes • In the

if

clause use

was

. (N.B.

was were

in place of can be heard in spoken English) e.g.

I’d be able to find the information if I were at home.

• Use the idiom

if I were you

advice.

to express e.g.

If I were you, I’d see a doctor.

Type 2 – other forms • Should is often used after I and we.

e.g. I shouldn’t get to sleep at all if I lived next to that noise.

• Should in official/commercial correspondence.

e.g. I should be grateful for an early response to my letter.

Type 2 – other forms cont’d.

• Were + infinitive (makes the even more hypothetical or the statement more tentative, therefore, more polite) e.g. If the river were to rise above the height of the flood barrier, there would be absolutely nothing we could do to save the city.

Were + subject : Were you to accept my offer, I’d personally oversee arrangements

Type 2 – other forms cont’d.

• If + would in the if (In US English, would is often used clause.) e.g. I’d eat something if I wouldn’t have indigestion.

4. Type 3 (third or past conditional) If clause If + past perfect If we had hurried, Conditional clause would + have + past participle we wouldn’t have missed the train.

Type 3 cont´d.

Conditional clause Would + have + past participle I would have (would’ve) been more sympathetic, If clause If + past perfect if she hadn’t accused me of lying.

Type 3 - usage • Used to speculate about past events, and about how things that happened or didn’t happen might have affected other things • Often used to express reproach and regret.

e.g. If you hadn’t driven so fast, you would never have had the accident.

I wouldn’t have left my job if I’d known how difficult it is to find another one.

Type 3 – usage cont’d.

• Type 3 conditional is also used to make excuses.

e.g. If I hadn’t been held up by the traffic jam, I would’ve been here on time for the meeting.

Type 3 – other forms • Many native speakers use a non-standard variant of the Type 3 conditional.

If clause Conditional clause If + had have + past participle If they’d have arrived on time.

Would + have + past participle I’d have let them into the cinema.

conjunctions • Other conjunctions are used instead of These include: 1&2); types) supposing, as long as provided , on condition (that), if . (Type unless (all e.g. Where will you go supposing holiday?

I would help him as long as phoned and asked me to.

you have a he asked me nicely.

I wouldn’t have come round unless you’d

Modal verbs in conditional sentences • Zero conditionals We can use a modal verb in either or both clauses of a zero conditional e.g.

If you have a ticket , you can You should go through now.

wear glasses if you can’t see.

Modal verbs cont’d.

• Type 1. We can use may , might and could show that something is a possible consequence (rather than a certain one) to e.g. I can bring something to eat if you want.

If you listen to me carefully, you something useful.

may learn

Modal verbs cont’d.

• Type 2 and 3 might and could in place of would in Type 2&3.

e.g.

If you explained more clearly, I might understand.

If we hadn’t worked so hard, we could’ ve missed our deadline.

Will and would in if clauses • • would (like) may appear in the if clause where the meaning is similar to want.

e.g.

If you would like to sit down, please help yourself to a seat.

Will meaning is similar to be perpared to/be willing to can be used in the if clause where the e.g.

If you’ll wait a minute, the doctor will be here to see you.

Will and would in if clauses cont’d.

• Will and would can suggest perverse ( siðspilltur ) and deliberate behaviour (normally stressed) e.g.

If you will argue with everyone, you can’t expect to be popular.

If you wouldn’t take so much time off, you might earn more.

Mixed conditionals

• Things we did in the past may have present consequences, and equally these past events may be the result of present facts. Look at this situation: Past action: You wasted money last week.

Present consequence: We can’t afford a good holiday.

Mixed conditionals cont’d.

If clause (Type 3) If you hadn’t wasted so much money last week, Main clause (Type 2) We’d be able to afford a better holiday.