Topic 14
Conditional Tenses
If-clause…………….., the main clause………………
The main clause……..if –clause ……………………..
A clause = [S]
V…………………
It is just a part
of the sentence.
If –clause is an
adverbial clause and is also called subordinate clause. It is a dependent clause, so it needs the
main clause to express a complete thought.
3 Conditional Tenses
In a conditional tense, the subordinate conjunction ‘if’ is used to
express a condition.
I. Likely Conditions
II.
Unlikely Conditions
III.
Impossible Conditions
I. Likely
Conditions
It is
about the conditions that are likely to take place in the present.
If- clause………………………………….., the main
clause…………
A. If [S] Simple Present Tense…………,[S] Simple
Present Tense
B.
[S] Simple Past Tense
C. [S]
Simple Future Tense
For the Likely
Conditional Tenses, the If-clause is always in the Simple Present Tense.
The main clause
may be in the Simple Present Tense, Simple Past Tense / Simple Future Tense.
A. If
[S] Simple Present Tense…………….., [S]
Simple Present Tense
The
main clause --- the Simple Present Tense ----- to show a natural
result.
1. If a
baby is hungry, [it] cries.
2. If it is
too hot, [we] sweat.
B. If [S]
Simple Present Tense …………….., [S] F3
1. If this
is the basket, [she] borrowed it a few days ago.
2. If she
is the one in the photograph, I saw her last Tuesday.
C. If [S]
Simple Present Tense ………………, [S] shall/ will F1
1. If he is
angry, he will keep quiet all the time.
2. If Ali
is free, he will usually go fishing.
The imperative
sentence always starts with F1
If [S] Simple Present Tense, F1 …………………..
If
he is naughty again, tell his mother.
If Alice is sick, advise her
to stay at home.
In the main clause, you may use can / may <-- to show possibility / permission.
If he is short of money, he may borrow
loan from the bank.
If Tina is late, she can go by taxi.
Other
subordinating conjunctions ----- unless/ provided that/ supposing that/ on condition
that ….. can replace ‘if’
if
/ unless/ provided that/ supposing that / on condition that
Unless you work smart and very hard, you
can’t pass the examination.
You may borrow my radio provided that
you take good care of it.
II.
Unlikely Conditions
It is
about the conditions that are unlikely to fulfil.
It is
about the conditions that are in contrary to the situation now.
[If]
[S] Simple Past Tense ……………, [S] would/could/ might F1
a) If
[S] Verb-to-be …………………., [S] would F1
If [S] were……………………………, [S] would F1
Regardless the
subject to be singular/plural, Verb-to-be ‘were’ is used in the If-clause.
b) If
[S] F3…………………………….., [S] would F1
1. If I were
a billionaire, I would travel around the world.
(I am
not a billionaire, so I can’t travel around the world.)
2. If you were
free now, you would play squash with us.
(You
are not free now, so you can’t play squash with us.)
3. If he were
here, he would help them.
(He is
not here, so he can’t help them.)
4. If Peter
knew about it, he would be very happy.
5. If Maria
bought the dress, she would wear it.
6. The
children would do the work if they could understand.
7. John would
open the door if he had the key.
III.
Impossible Conditions
It is about the conditions that can NEVER
be fulfilled. They are in the
past.
If
[S] had F4……………………….., [S] would/could/ might have F4
1. If he had
been more careful, he would not have slipped and fallen.
(He was
not careful, so he slipped and fell.)
2.
If Vivian had started her assignment
earlier, she would have finished it before the deadline.
(She didn’t start
her assignment earlier, so she couldn’t finish it before
the deadline.)
3. Hassan
would have done his work better if he had been more attentive.
(But
Hassan did not do his work better as he was not attentive.)
4. Jean
would have come earlier if she had got up earlier.
(Jean did
not come earlier as she did not get up earlier.)
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