Conditional Sentences (A Review) NL

Conditional Sentences “If” sentences are made up of a main clause and a subordinate clause. The main clause can make sense on its own. The subordinate clause does not make sense on its own.

Conditional Sentences IF clauses present the condition. Examples: If I go into town tomorrow… If he spoke Chinese… If they had been faster…

Conditional Sentences The main clauses present the results. Examples: … I will see a movie. …. he would work as a guide in China. … they would have won the race.

Conditional Sentences You can go to the shops if you are good. Can you spot the main clause? If the subordinate clause is at the start of the sentence, we use a comma after the last word. If you are good, you can go to the shops.

Zero Conditional Present/ Present (general truths) Type 0 Talk about universal truth. Present tense in both clauses  If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.  If you pour oil into water, it floats.  If water freezes, it turns to ice.  If people don’t get enough sleep, they are dangerous drivers.  If I don’t eat breakfast, I get hungry during class.

Conditional I (present/future situation– possible) When something is possible now or in the future Form: [If + subject +(present)] + [subject + (will Inf.)] Example: If she studies, she will pass the geography test. (It is possible !!)

Unless Unless = if not Example: If we don’t finish soon, we will miss the train. Unless we finish soon, we will miss the train.

Conditional II Often called the "unreal" conditional because it is used for unreal - impossible or improbable situations. This conditional provides an imaginary result for a given situation. When something is unlikely now, or in the future. Form: [If+ subject +(past)]+ [subject + (would Inf.)] Example: If he spoke Chinese, he would work as a guide in China. (Fact: He doesn’t speak Chinese, so it’s impossible.) The Great Wall of China

Special Rules for Conditional II “To be” is always “were” Example: If he were here, he would do it. (Fact: He’s not here, so it’s impossible.) You can drop the “if” by moving the “were” to the front. Example: Were he here, he would do it.

Conditional III (past – impossible) Often referred to as the "past" conditional because it concerns only past situations with hypothetical results. Used to express a hypothetical result to a past given situation. Form: [If+ subject +(had p.p)] +[subject + (would have p.p)] Example: If we had studied, we would have passed the exam. (Fact: We didn’t study and we didn’t pass the exam.)

Where does the “not” go? If the girl had not looked both ways when she crossed the street, a car would have hit her. (Fact: She did look both ways, so a car did not hit her.) If the boys had practiced more, they would not have lost the game. (Fact: They did not practice enough, so they lost the game.)

Special Rules for Conditional III You can drop the “if” by moving the “had” to the front. Example: If he had been there, we would have done it. Had he been there, we would have done it. Be careful !! Although you are starting with a “little verb”, this is not a question !!

Good Luck !! Just remember to ask yourself: 1)Is the situation possible or impossible? 2)Is the situation in the past or in the present/future?

Remember !! The four words that NEVER (well, almost never) appear in the IF clause are: will, won’t, would, wouldn’t

Exercises A) Complete the Conditional Sentences. Decide whether to use Type I or II 1.If they go to Washington, they (see) _____________ the White House. 2.If she (have) __________ a hamster, she would call him Fred. 3.If he gave her a sweet, she (stop) ______________ crying. 4.If he (arrive) ________________ later, he will take a taxi. 5.We would understand him if he (speak) _______________ slowly. 6.Andy (cook) _______________ dinner if we buy the food. 7.I will prepare breakfast if I (wake up) _________________ early. 8.If they shared a room, they (fight)_________________ all day long. 9.If you hate walking in the mountains, you (enjoy/not) ____________ the tour. 10.Janet would go jogging if she (have/ not) ______________ to do her homework.

Exercises A) Complete the Conditional Sentences. Decide whether to use Type I or II. (KEY) 1.If they go to Washington, they will see the White House. 2.If she had a hamster, she would call him Fred. 3.If he gave her a sweet, she would stop crying. 4.If he arrives later, he will take a taxi. 5.We would understand him if he spoke slowly. 6.Andy will cook dinner if we buy the food. 7.I will prepare breakfast if I wake up early. 8.If they shared a room, they would fight all day long. 9.If you hate walking in the mountains, you will not enjoy the tour. 10.Janet would go jogging if she didn’t have to do her homework.

Exercises B) Complete the Conditional Sentences (Type II) by putting the verbs into the correct form. 1.If we had a yacht, we (sail) ____________the seven seas. 2.If he (have) ___________ more time, he would learn karate. 3.If they (tell) _________ their father, he would be very angry. 4.She would spend a year in the USA if it (be) __________ easier to get a green card 5.If I (live) ___________on a lonely island, I would run around naked all day. 6.We (help) _____________you if we knew how. 7.My brother would buy a sports car if he (have) ___________ the money. 8.If I ( feel)_________ better, I would go to the cinema with you. 9.If you went by bike more often, you (not/ be)_______________so flabby. 10.She (not/ talk) _______________to you if she were mad at you.

Exercises B) Complete the Conditional Sentences (Type II) by putting the verbs into the correct form. (KEY) 1.If we had a yacht, we (sail) would sail the seven seas. 2.If he (have) had more time, he would learn karate. 3.If they (tell) told their father, he would be very angry. 4.She would spend a year in the USA if it (be) were easier to get a green card 5.If I (live) lived on a lonely island, I would run around naked all day. 6.We (help) would help you if we knew how. 7.My brother would buy a sports car if he (have) had the money. 8.If I ( feel) felt better, I would go to the cinema with you. 9.If you went by bike more often, you (not/ be) wouldn’t be so flabby. 10.She (not/ talk) wouldn’t talk to you if she were mad at you.

Exercises C) What a match – your favourite team has lost again! So after the game, the supporters discuss what could have been different. Complete the Conditional Sentences Type III. 1.If the midfielders had passed the ball more exactly, our team (have) ___________more chances to attack. 2.If the forwards had run faster, they (score) _______________ more goals. 3.Their motivation would have improved if they (kick) _____________ a goal during the first half. 4.The fullbacks (prevent) ________________one or the other goal if they had marked their opponents. 5.If the goalie had jumped up, he (catch) _________________ the ball.

Exercises 6.If the referee had seen the foul, he (award)__________ a penalty kick to our team. 7. Our team would have been in better form if they (train) ________harder the weeks before. 8. The game (become) _______________ better if the trainer had sent a substitute in during the second half. 9. If it had been a home game, our team (win)____________the match. 10. If our team (win)_____________ the match, they would have moved up in the league.

Exercises C) Complete the Conditional Sentences Type III. (KEY) 1.If the midfielders had passed the ball more exactly, our team would have had more chances to attack. 2.If the forwards had run faster, they would have scored more goals. 3.Their motivation would have improved if they had kicked a goal during the first half. 4.The fullbacks would have prevented one or the other goal if they had marked their opponents. 5.If the goalie had jumped up, he would have caught the ball. 6.If the referee had seen the foul, he would have awarded a penalty kick to our team. 7.Our team would have been in better form if they had trained harder the weeks before. 8.The game would have become better if the trainer had sent a substitute in during the second half. 9.If it had been a home game, our team would have won the match. 10.If our team had won the match, they would have moved up in the league.

Exercises D) Complete the Conditional Sentences with the correct form (Type I, II or III). 1.If I were stronger, I (help)______you carry the piano. 2.If we'd seen you, we (stop) ___________. 3.If we (meet)_________ him tomorrow, we'll say hello. 4.He (repair) __________ the car himself if he had had the tools. 5.If you drop the vase, it (break)_________.

Exercises 6. If I hadn't studied, I (pass) _________ the exam. 7. I (not/ go)___________to school by bus if I had a driving licence. 8. If she didn't see him every day, she(be) ______ lovesick. 9. I won't travel to London if I (not/ get) ________a cheap flight. 10. We'd be stupid if we (tell) ________ him about our secret.

Exercises D) Complete the Conditional Sentences with the correct form (Type I, II or III). (KEY) 1.If I were stronger, I'd help you carry the piano. 2.If we'd seen you, we would have stopped. 3.If we meet him tomorrow, we'll say hello. 4.He would have repaired the car himself if he had had the tools. 5.If you drop the vase, it will break. 6.If I hadn't studied, I would not have passed the exam. 7.I wouldn't go to school by bus if I had a driving licence. 8.If she didn't see him every day, she'd be lovesick. 9.I won't travel to London if I don't get a cheap flight. 10.We'd be stupid if we told him about our secret.