conditional sentences

Nanda Putri Ayu Lestari / 14615974 / 4SA02

Conditional Sentences.

Independent and dependent clauses are the building blocks of sentences. A single independent clause can be a sentence, by itself. However, dependent clauses are used to make sentences more complete and more interesting. Using conjunctions and proper punctuation, dependent and independent clauses can be joined together to create interesting and complex compound sentences that are fun and engaging to read.

An independent clause is a clause that can stand on its own, by itself. It does not need to be joined to any other clauses, because it contains all the information necessary to be a complete sentences.

Independent clauses have three components:

1.     They have a subject - they tell the reader what the sentence is about.

2.     They have an action or predicate - they tell the reader what the subject is doing.

3.     They express a complete thought - something happened or was said.

An independent clause can be as simple as a subject and a verb:

Example : Jim reads.

Conditional Sentences are also known as Conditional Clauses or If Clauses. They are used to express that the action in the main clause (without if) can only take place if a certain condition (in the clause with if) is fulfilled. There are three types of Conditional Sentences.

Conditional sentences are statements discussing known factors or hypothetical situations and their consequences. Complete conditional sentences contain a conditional clause (often referred to as the if-clause) and the consequence. Consider the following sentences:

Example :

·        If a certain condition is true, then a particular result happens.

·        I would travel around the world if I won the lottery.

·        When water reaches 100 degrees, it boils.

1.     How to Use First Conditional Sentences (type 1)

First conditional sentences are used to express situations in which the outcome is likely (but not guaranteed) to happen in the future.

It is possible and also very likely that the condition will be fulfilled.

Form: if + Simple Present, will-Future

Look at the examples below:

Example :

·        If you rest, you will feel better.

·        If you set your mind to a goal, you’ll eventually achieve it.

Note: that we use the simple present tense in the if-clause and simple future tense in the main clause—that is, the clause that expresses the likely outcome. This is how we indicate that under a certain condition (as expressed in the if-clause), a specific result will likely happen in the future. Examine some of the common mistakes people make using the first conditional structure:

Example :

Incorrect : If you will rest , you will feel better.

Correct : If you rest , you will feel better.

Explanation: Use the simple present tense in the if-clause.

Incorrect : If you set your mind to a goal, you eventually achieve it.

Correct : If you set your mind to a goal, you’ll eventually achieve it.

Explanation: Use the zero conditional (i.e., simple present + simple present) only when a certain result is guaranteed. If the result is likely, use the first conditional (i.e., simple present + simple future).

2.     How to Use Second Conditional Sentences (type 2)

Second conditional sentences are useful for expressing outcomes that are completely unrealistic or will not likely happen in the future.

It is possible but very unlikely, that the condition will be fulfilled.

Form: if + Simple Past, Conditional I (= would + Infinitive)

Consider the examples below:

Example :

·        If I inherited a billion dollars, I would travel to the moon.

·        If I owned a zoo, I might let people interact with the animals more.

Notice the correct way to structure second conditional sentences is to use the simple past tense in the if-clause and an auxiliary modal verb (e.g., could, should, would, might) in the main clause (the one that expresses the unrealistic or unlikely outcome). The following sentences illustrate a couple of the common mistakes people make when using the second conditional:

Example :

Incorrect : If I inherit a billion dollars, I would travel to the moon.

Correct : If I inherited a billion dollars, I would travel to the moon.

Explanation: When applying the second conditional, use the simple past tense in the if-clause.

Incorrect : If I owned a zoo, I will let people interact with the animals more.

Correct : If I owned a zoo, I might let people interact with the animals more.

Explanation: Use a modal auxiliary verb in the main clause when using the second conditional mood to express the unlikelihood that the result will actually happen.

3.     How to Use Third Conditional Sentences (type 3)

Third conditional sentences are used to explain that present circumstances would be different if something different had happened in the past.

It is impossible that the condition will be fulfilled because it refers to the past.

Form: if + Past Perfect, Conditional II (= would + have + Past Participle)

Look at the following examples:

Example :

·        If you had told me you needed a ride, I would have left earlier.

·        If I had cleaned the house, I could have gone to the movies.

These sentences express a condition that was likely enough, but did not actually happen in the past. The speaker in the first sentence was capable of leaving early, but did not. Along these same lines, the speaker in the second sentence was capable of cleaning the house, but did not. These are all conditions that were likely, but regrettably did not happen.

Note: that when using the third conditional, we use the past perfect (i.e., had + past participle) in the if-clause. The modal auxiliary (would, could, shoud, etc.) + have + past participle in the main clause expresses the theoretical situation that could have happened.

Consider these common mistakes when applying the third conditional:

Example :

Incorrect : If you would have told me you needed a ride, I would have left earlier.

Correct : If you had told me you needed a ride, I would have left earlier.

Explanation: With third conditional sentences, do not use a modal auxiliary verb in the if-clause.

Incorrect : If I had cleaned the house, I could go to the movies.

Correct : If I had cleaned the house, I could have gone to the movies.

Explanation: The third conditional mood expresses a situation that could have only happened in the past if a certain condition had been met. That’s why we use the modal auxiliary verb + have + the past participle.

Exceptions and Special Cases When Using Conditional Sentences

As with most topics in the English language, conditional sentences often present special cases in which unique rules must be applied.

1.     Use of the Simple Future in the If-Clause

Generally speaking, the simple future should be used only in the main clause. One exception is when the action in the if-clause will take place after the action in the main clause. For example, consider the following sentence:

·        If aspirin will ease my headache, I will take a couple tonight.

The action in the if-clause is the aspirin easing the headache, which will take place only after the speaker takes them later that night.

2.     “Were to” in the If-Clause

The verb phrase were to is sometimes used in conditional sentences when the likely or unlikely result is particularly awful or unthinkable. In this case, were to is used to place emphasis on this potential outcome. Consider these sentences:

·        If I were to be sick, I would miss another day of work.

·        If she were to be late again, she would have to have a conference with the manager.

·        If the rent were to have been a penny more, they would not have been able to pay it.

Note:  that the emphatic “were to” can be used to describe hypothetical scenarios in the present, future, and past.

3.     Punctuating Conditional Sentences

Despite the complex nature of conditional sentences, punctuating them properly is really simple!

Here’s the skinny:

Use a comma after the if-clause when the if-clause precedes the main clause.

·        If I’d had time, I would have cleaned the house.

·        If the main clause precedes the if-clause, no punctuation is necessary.

·        I would have cleaned the house if I’d had time.

Rules to used conditional sentences :

1.     It’s important to use the correct structure for each of these different conditional sentences because they express varying meanings.

2.     Pay attention to verb tense when using different conditional modes.

3.     Use a comma after the if-clause when the if-clause precedes the main clause.

The expressions 'I wish' and 'If only' are used in English to express wishes and regrets about things that may happen in the future or may have happened in the past.

When I wish and if only are used, they follow the structure of one of these conditionals, depending on what we want to express. If we talk about a regret about a present or future event, then we will use the structure of the second type of conditional and the expressions I wish/if only are followed by past simple:

Example :

·        I wish I had enough money to travel to New York. 

·        If only I had enough money to travel to New York.

(That is, I don't have enough money, and I am sorry for it because I can't go)

If the event we regret happened (or failed to happen) in the past and is, therefore, impossible to change, then we use the third type of conditional structure. This time the expressions I wish/if only are followed by past perfect.

Example :

·        I wish I had had enough money to travel to New York. 

·        If only I had had enough money to travel to New York.

(That is, I didn't have enough money to travel, so I couldn't go and now I regret it).