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 à the Simple Present Tense à 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. 31
In the main
clause, you may use à 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 à 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.)
