conditional

1. Conditional Sentences
Structure :
A conditional sentence is composed of 2
parts :
If-clause + Main Clause
Example :
If it rains tomorrow, we will not come.
If-clause Main Clause

2. Conditional Sentences
Types :
 There are 4 types of conditional sentences.
They are classified according to their
specific
implications.
 Each type of conditional sentences uses
different tenses to show the difference in
their implications.

3. Conditional Sentences
Type 0 :
Use
:
Talk about universal truth.
Tense
:
Present tense in both clauses
Example
:
Present Tense Present Tense
If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.
If you pour oil into water, it floats.

4. Conditional Sentences
Type 1
Use : Talk about a present or future probable case.
Tense : If-clause ~ Present Tense
Main Clause ~ Future Tense
Example :
Present Tense Future Tense
If I feel sick, I will not go to school.
If it rains tomorrow, the match will be cancelled.

5. Exercise One
do not come
will miss
1. If you ___________________ (not come),
You ________________ (miss ) the show.
will buy
2. John __________________ (buy)a car if he
gets
_____________ (get)a job.
gets
eats
3. Mary ________________(get) a toothache if
she_________________ (eat) too many sweets.

6. Conditional Sentences
Type 2 (Present Subjunctive)
Use : Talk about a present or future improbable
case. (A case that is unlikely to happen)
Tense : If-clause ~ Past Tense
Main Clause ~ would + an infinitive
Example :
Past Tense Would + infinitive
If he were a bird, he would fly across the harbour.
If I had $200,000 now, I would buy a car.

7. Conditional Sentences
Type 3 (Past Subjunctive)
Use
:
Talk about a past, impossible case
Tense : If-clause ~ Past Perfect Tense
Main Clause ~ Would + Present Perfect
Example :Form
Past Perfect Tense Would + Present Perfect Form
If I had had enough money, I would have bought the
camera yesterday.
If I had come home earlier, I would not have missed the
programme.

8. Exercise Two
were
1. If I ________________ (be) four years old, I
would learn
________________ (learn) to play the piano.
had not failed
2. If I ________________ (not fail) in the
would have bought
examination, my mother_______________
(buy)
me a new computer.
would have finished
had had
3. We ________________________ (finish) if we
________________ (have) better preparation.

9. Conditional Sentences
SHOULD may
replace IF in type
1
Variations:
Type
1I f: you see John, ask him to come and see me.
Should you see John, ask him to come and see
me.
COULD or MIGHT may
replace WOULD
Type 2 :
If I were an aeroplane, I could fly in the sky.
Were I an aeroplane, I could fly in the sky.
WERE may replace IF in an inversion

10. Conditional Sentences
Type 3 :
If I had come home earlier, I would not have
missed the programme.
Had I come home earlier, I would not have
missed the programme.
HAD may replace IF in an
inversion

11. Conditional Sentences
But for+ a noun may
replace `If it were not
for’
Type 2 & Type 3 :
If it were not for the rain, we would go to Shatin. (Type
2)
But for the rain, we would go to Shatin.
If it had not been for the traffic jam, we would have
arrived on time. (Type 3)
But for the traffic jam, we would have arrived on time.
But for + a noun may replace
`If it had not been for’

12. The Subjunctive Mood
Other sentences than the conditional may bear the
subjunctive mood.
a. Wish (v)
Type 2 Type 3
I wish I were a
(But I am
king.
I wish she had left lansot t!)
night.
(But she didn’t!)
* Non-subjunctive use of wish
 I wish to travel to Europe next year
 We wish you a happy birthday.

13. The Subjunctive Mood
b. If only
If only I were you!
If only he were born in the
USA!
(He was not born
in USA)
If only she had left last night! (She did not leave
last night)
Type
2
Type
2
Type
3

14. The Subjunctive Mood
b. Would rather
I would rather you came earlier. (But you come
late.)
Type 2
I would rather he had told me the
secret.
(But he
didn’t.)
Type 3
* Non-subjunctive use of would rather
A : Do you want to go fishing today?
B : I would rather stay at home and take some
(rBes pt.refers staying at home to going fishing)

15. The Subjunctive Mood
d. Lest
(Conjunction)
He put the money in the safe lest someone
should / might steal it.
e. It is (high) time
Past
Tense
 It is (high) time you studied hard.
(You have not studied hard. Now the
examination is near, so you have to study very
hard.)
 It is time for you to leave (non-subjunctive)

16. END