Conditional Sentences: Real and Unreal We use conditional sentences a lot. Here are a few: 1-If you are late to the theater, you will not be seated until intermission. 2-If you mix ammonia and chlorine bleach, you will create a smelly, dangerous solution. 3-If you take the 8 a.m. flight to New York, you don't have to change planes. 1-If I were the ambassador, I'd make sure the President hears about this. 2-If I were a little taller, I'd be able to water the plant on the top shelf. 3-If I spoke French, I'd love to talk to Francois.

1-If Ambassador Fox hadn't gone to college with the President, -he wouldn't have been given the ambassadorship. 2-If it had rained last night, -it wouldn't be so hot today. 3-If we hadn't had that problem with the car, -we wouldn't have missed the speech. What are the differences in these three groups of conditional sentences? Notice that the first group of three sentences are all true. Well, we don't know about the 8 a.m. flight, but it sounds as if the information is being given on good authority! All three sentences tell what will happen (result) if certain conditions are met. These are real conditions. The second group tells what might happen (result) if some unreal conditions were met. I'm not the ambassador, I'm not taller, and I don't speak French. Thus, none of these outcomes (results) will materialize. The third group just speculates about what would result if past conditions had been different. These are considered unreal past conditional sentences.

Forming Conditional Sentences Conditional sentences have two clauses : Independent ClauseDependent Clause "Result" Clause"If" Clause ResultCondition you will get sunburned!If you stay in the sun too long, you will get sick.If you drink too much whiskey, your English will improve. If you study hard and practice a lot,

The clauses can be reversed. If the dependent (If) clause comes first in the sentence, you must separate them with a comma. You shouldn't use a comma if the independent clause comes first. You will get sunburned if you stay in the sun too long! You will get sick if you drink too much whiskey. Your English will improve if you study hard and practice a lot.

The difference in meaning between the first pattern and the second is in the statement's intent. If you stay up too late, you'll be really tired tomorrow. Specific Warning: You'll be really tired tomorrow if you stay up too late. General Statement:

Verb Forms with Conditionals Factual conditions: Result clause=future tenseIf clause=present tense you'll get sick. If you eat too much ice cream, she will call us.If Betsy needs help,

Unreal Conditions--present: Result clause=would or could + base form of verb If clause=simple past I'd do exercises everyday.If I had more time, you could buy a large house in the suburbs. If you were* rich, she would walk him everyday.If Patricia owned a dog, * It is a peculiarity of unreal conditional sentences that all persons of the verb be are written as were. This will likely disappear in American English in the next 20 years.

Unreal Conditions--past : Result clause=would have + past participle or would +beIf clause=past perfect he would have gotten a better job.If Ronald had stayed in school, I would be rich today. If I had invented the personal computer, we would have had dessert. If the kids hadn't eaten all the ice cream,

Questions with Conditions You can, of course, ask questions with conditions: Yes-no Questions Does Homer get angry if you forget to feed him? Would it hurt the car if you put apple juice in the gas tank? Does it hurt your computer if you leave it on all night? Information Questions What happens to your computer if you leave it on all night? What would happen if you put apple juice in the gas tank? Unreal: What would you do if you got the job? Real: What will you do if you get the job? Remember: The main thing to consider when you are writing conditional sentences is whether or not the condition (IF clause) is real or possible. Unreal condition: If I were the king of the world, I would make it easy to write English. Real condition: If I'm your teacher next year, I'll give you some writing exercises.

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