CONDITIONAL SENTENCES Module: Teen Problems – Grammar

In Secondary 1 & 2, we learnt how to use conditional sentences to talk about facts and possible situations. We can use conditional sentences to talk about imaginary situations and to make possible suggestions. When do we use conditional sentences?

the simple past in the if-clause and would + a bare infinitive in the main clause. e.g. If you stay in this room, you would smell the smoke too. e.g. I would go to the park if I had nowhere to breathe the fresh air. In this type of conditional, we use:

were instead of was after I / he / she / it. There is no difference in meaning, but were is more formal. e.g. I’d ask Carol for permission if I was you. e.g. If she were younger, she would take the chance. When we talk about imaginary situations, we can use were instead of was after I / he / she / it.

We often use the following expression when we give advice, “If I was / were you” Please not that…

different types of conditional sentences Let’s talk about…

 Use to talk about what will possibly happen now or in the future Different types of conditional sentences If-clauseMain clause simple present tense simple future tense If this happens,we will try another method.

 Use to talk about facts Different types of conditional sentences If-clauseMain clause simple present tense If you don’t water a plant, it dies.

 Use to talk about imaginary situations Different types of conditional sentences If-clauseMain clause simple past tense ‘would’ + bare infinitive If I were you,I would be more caution.

 Use to talk about something which could have happened in the past but did not Different types of conditional sentences If-clauseMain clause past perfect tense ‘would have’ + past participle If I had studied hard before the test, I would have passed.