Conditional Sentence
A conditional sentence is a complex sentence expressing a result which is expected from a condition. The condition is stated in
a clause which generally begins with the word (/, and the result is expressed
in the main clause. The result expected can be real or unreal.
. There are three important types
of conditional sentences:
·
Future
conditional sentences
·
Present
conditional sentences
·
Past
conditional sentences
1) A future conditional sentence
expresses that something mentioned in the if – clause will probably happen or
is likely to happen in the present or in the future.
2) A present conditional sentence
expresses that something mentioned in the if – clause is unreal or contrary to
the fact of the present.
3) A past conditional sentence also
states a contrary – to – the -fact condition. It expresses that something
mentioned in the if- clause did not occur in the past.
Ø In the future conditional sentence
the main clause uses will, can, must,
may, to be going to. have to, expect to, plus the first form of a verb. The verb in the
conditional clause is in the present
tense.
Ø In the present conditional sentence
the main clause uses would, could,
might, was going to, expected to, plus the first form of a verb. The verb in the conditional clause is in
the past tense.
Ø In the past conditional sentence the
main clause uses would have, could
have, might have, plus the third
form of a verb. The verb in the conditional clause is in the past perfect tense.
Future
conditional sentences
Examples:
- If meet him again, I will tell him that. (zero conditional or first conditional can be used)
- I will probably meet him soon.
- If I were a bit taller, I would be more attractive.
But I'm not taller.
o
I don’t know if anna is at home.
I don’t know if anna is at home or not.
I don’t know if
whether or not anna is at home.
Ø
I don’t know whether he will.
Ø
I don’t know if he will come.
Ø
We don’t know whether he speaks Spanish.
Ø
We don’t know whether or not he
speaks Spanish or not.
Ø
We don’t know whether or not he
speaks Spanish.
Present
conditional sentences
Examples:
·
If
rains tomorrow, we will not go swimming.
Should it rains tomorrow, we will not go swimming.
·
If
she invited me to the party I would came
Where she invited me to the party, I would came.
·
If
you were busy, we couldn’t force you.
were you busy, we couldn’t force you.
·
If
you change your mind, let me know.
Should you change your mind, let me know.
·
If
my boss calls, please let me know right away
Should my boss call, please let me know right away
Past
conditional sentences
Examples:
·
It
sound as though there were a herd of lions that came to here.
·
She
spoke as if she would know all of matters.
·
As
though his girl was hurts him.
·
She
talked to him as if he were a child.
As if/as
though + Past Perfect Tense
·
She
acted as though she had never met
·
When
she came from the trip, she looked as if she hadn’t has energy.
·
He
behaved as though he had been understood.
·
Anne
cried as if she had lost all of her
wishes.
