CONDITIONAL SENTENCE/IF CLAUSE

I.       Theoritical Review

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.  

Conditional tenses are also used to speculate about what could happen, what might have happened, and what we wish would happen. In English, most sentences using the conditional contain the word if. Many conditional forms in English are used in sentences that include verbs in one of the past tenses. This usage is referred to as "the unreal past" because we use a past tense but we are not actually referring to something that happened in the past. There are five main ways of constructing conditional sentences in English. In all cases, these sentences are made up of an if clause and a main clause. In many negative conditional sentences, there is an equivalent sentence construction using "unless" instead of "if".

There are many different ways to express “conditional” or “hypothetical” meaning in English. One of them is to use the word “if” in the clause that expresses the condition. For example, “If it rains, we’ll cancel the picnic. If it doesn’t rain, we won’t.” This handout explains how different verb tenses indicate different meanings when you are speaking hypothetically and should help you choose the right verb tense for the meaning you want to convey.

Most explanations of the conditional don’t use one consistent example, so it’s difficult to see how different verb tenses convey different meanings. This handout uses the same basic activity in each example (sticking your fingers into the fire) to show how the situation influences the choice of verb tense. The critical factor is the *likelihood* of the situation being real. Pay attention to the situation described before each example and notice how the verb changes as the situation becomes more and more likely.

II.      The Types of If Clause

         A. Zero Conditional

This conditional deals with “real” conditions. We don’t call it “real” because it has already happened: we call it real because it *always* happens this way. We use this to describe a condition with an absolutely predictable result—in other words, to state a fact. If you stick your fingers in the fire, they get burned. (fact—happens every time) When the situation is completely likely, use present tense in both clause.

          B. First Conditional

This conditional deals with “unreal, but likely” situations in the present or future. We call it “unreal” because situation we are describing hasn’t happened yet, and “likely” because we can easily imagine it happening. We use the first conditional to describe these situations.

For example, a 3 year old child is reaching toward the fire. She hasn’t put her fingers into the fire yet, but we know that small children don’t understand fire, so we can easily imagine her touching it. We would say:  If you stick your fingers into the fire, you will burn yourself. (Same idea as   above, but rather than stating a general fact, you are talking about a specific  incident.

If you stick your fingers into the fire, you will be crying all day.

Notice that the verb “stick” is in the present tense. Using the present tense verb shows two things:

1. it hasn’t happened yet (it’s unreal)

2. you believe it could happen (it’s likely)

Also notice that the main clause verbs (will burn, will be crying) can be in simple form or -ing form. It depends on whether you want to emphasize a single moment in time (simple form) or the an  extended period of time (-ing form). In either case, use will + verb in the main clause.

When the situation is unreal, but likely, use present tense in the conditional clause and will + verb in the main clause.

           C. Second Conditional

This conditional deals with situations in the present and future that are both unreal and unlikely. The situation we are describing hasn’t happened yet, and we really can’t imagine it happening very easily, except in a freak accident or a moment of great stupidity.

For example, a 25 year old is joking about reaching into the fire. He hasn’t put his fingers into the fire yet, and we don’t think he’s serious about doing it, but we want to warn him about the consequences just in case. We would say:

•   If you stuck your fingers into the fire, you would need medical attention.
•   If you stuck your fingers into the fire, you would be screaming in pain all day.

Notice that the verb “stuck” is in the past tense. Using the past tense verb shows two things:

1. It hasn’t happened yet (it’s unreal)

2. You don’t really believe it will happen (it’s unlikely)

Also notice that the main clause verbs (would need, would be screaming) can be in simple form or -ing form. It depends on whether you want to emphasize a single moment in time (simple form) or the an extended period of time (-ing form). In either case, use would + verb in the main clause.

When the situation is unreal and unlikely, use past tense in the conditional clause and would + verb in the main clause.

               D. Unreal Conditional

This conditional deals with situations in the *past* that are unreal—they didn’t happen. We can still imagine what the consequences would have been.For example, the 25 year old was joking about reaching into the fire, but he didn’t actually do it. We would say:

 If you had stuck your hand into the fire, you would have needed medical attention.

  If you had stuck your hand into the fire, you would have been screaming in pain.

In the next two examples, the 25 year old actually did stick his hand into the fire. The “unreal” situation is the opposite:

• If you hadn’t stuck your hand into the fire, you wouldn’t have spent the evening in the  emergency room.
• If you hadn’t stuck your hand into the fire, you wouldn’t have blistered it so badly.

When the situation is unreal and in the past, use past perfect (had + -ed) in the conditional clause and would have + verb in the main clause.

III.     Conditional Clause and Main Clause

Chart 1                              

If I have enough money, (conditional clause)	I will go to Japan.     (main clause)
I will go to Japan, (main clause)	if I have enough money     (conditional clause)

Chart 2

Conditional sentence type	Usage	If clause verb tense	Main clause verb tense
Zero	General truths	Simple present	Simple present
Type 1	A possible condition and its probable result	Simple present	Simple future
Type 2	A hypothetical condition and its probable result	Simple past	Present conditional or Present continuous conditional
Type 3	An unreal past condition and its probable result in the past	Past perfect	Perfect conditional
Mixed type	An unreal past condition and its probable result in the present	Past perfect	Present contditional

IV.     The Form

       

          A. Zero Conditional

The zero conditional is used for when the time being referred to is now or always and the situation is real and possible. The zero conditional is often used to refer to general truths. The tense in both parts of the sentence is the simple present. In zero conditional sentences, the word "if" can usually be replaced by the word "when" without changing the meaning.

If Clause	Main clause
If + simple present	simple present
If this thing happens	that thing happens.
If you heat ice	it melts.
If it rains	the grass gets wet.

              B. First Conditional

Nature: Open condition, what is said in the condition is possible

 Time: This condition refers either to present or to future time.

If-Clause	Main Clause
Simple Present If + S +v1 If + S+ do / does not +v1 If + S + Vbe	S+ will/won’t-future or (Modal + infinitive)

Examples:

No.	If Clause	Main Clause
1.	If I study	I will pass the exam
2.	If you don’t hurry	You will miss the bus
3.	If we are punctual very early	We won’t be late

             C. Second Conditional

Nature: unreal (impossible) or improbable situations.

Time: present; the TENSE is past, but we are talking about the present, now.

If-Clause	Main Clause
Simple Past If +S+V2 If + S+ were If+ S + didn’t +v1	S+ would/could/not + infinitive *

Examples:

No.	If Clause	Main Clause
1.	If I studied,	I would pass the exam. (fact : I don’t study, so I don’t pass the exam
2.	If I were taller,	I would buy this dress (fact: I am shrort and I won’y buy this dress
3.	If you didn’t  love me	You would not marry me (fact:  you love me, so you want to marry me)

        

 The main difference between the first conditional and the second conditional is about probability: the first conditional is realistic, the second conditional is unrealistic.

Sometimes we can use both with the following difference in meaning.

• If I see him, I will tell him. (I suppose I will see him, because we go to the same school.)
• If I saw him, I would tell him. (I don't think I will see him, because he is ill.)
• If I need your help, I'll call you. (It is probable that I will need your help.)
• If I needed your help, I'd call you. (It is not very probable that I will need your help.)

Sometimes we must use either the first conditional or the second conditional to make it clear that the situation is real or unreal.

• If you get up late, you will miss your bus. (A real situation.)
• If I came from your country, I would understand your problems. (An unreal situation - I am not from your country.

              D. Third Conditional

Nature: unreal

Time: Past (so we are talking about a situation that was not so in the past.)

If-Clause	Main Clause
Past Perfect S+ had + v3 S + had + been S+ had + not +v3	S + would / not+ have + past participle *

Examples:

No	Main Clause	If-Clause
1.	If I had studied	I would have passed the exam (fact: I didn’t study, so I didn’t pass the exam)
2.	If I had been in Italy	I would have visited Pisa (fact: I was not in Italy, so I didn’t visit visa)
3.	If I had not lived in England	I wouldn’t have been fluent in English (fact: I lived in England, so I was fluent in English)

          

          E.         Examples (if-clause at the beginning)

Type	If clause	Main Clause
I	If I study,	I will pass the exam.
II	If I studied,	I would pass the exam.
III	If I had studied,	I would have passed the exam.

            F.         (if-clause at the end)

Type	Main Clause	If-clause
I	I will pass the exam	if I study.
II	I would pass the exam	if I studied.
III	I would have passed the exam	if I had studied.

* We can substitute could or might for would (should, may or must are sometimes possible, too).

•  I would pass the exam.
•   I could pass the exam.
•   I might pass the exam.
•  I may pass the exam.
• I should pass the exam.
• I must pass the exam.

IV.     Mixed Type Conditional

The mixed type conditional is used to refer to a time that is in the past, and a situation that is ongoing into the present. The facts they are based on are the opposite of what is expressed. The mixed type conditional is used to refer to an unreal past condition and its probable result in the present. In mixed type conditional sentences, the if clause uses the past perfect, and the main clause uses the present conditional.

If clause	Main clause
If + past perfect or simple past	present conditional or perfect conditional
If this thing had happened	that thing would happen. (but this thing didn't  happen so that thing isn't happening)
If I had worked harder at school	I would have a better job now.
If we had looked at the map	we wouldn't be lost.
If you weren't afraid of spiders	you would have picked it up and put it outside.

V.      IF + PRESENT SIMPLE, ...+ IMPERATIVE

We use the imperative to give instructions of advice.

• If you see John, tell him he needs to come to my office.
• If you travel abroad, remember your passport.
• If you go to Australia, send me a postcard.
• If you go to the supermarket, bring back some milk.
• If Mike comes, call me.
• If you drink, don't drive.

The highlighted words are in the imperative. These sentences are similar to saying: If the first condition happens, you must do this (in the second/imperative clause).

VI.     Remember

1. The conditional construction does not normally use will or would in if-                                       clauses. EXCEPTION: If will or would express willingness, as in requests, they can be             used in if-clauses.

    e.g. If you will come this way, the manager will see you now.

    I would be grateful if you would give me a little help.

    (= ± please, come this way; please, give me...)

2. For the second conditional, were replaces was: If I were a rich man...

3. After if, we can either use "some(-one, -where...)" or "any(-one, -where...)

    If I have some spare time next weekend....or 

    If I have any spare time...

4. Instead of if not, we can use unless.

     e.g. I'll be back tomorrow unless there is a plane strike.

     He'll accept the job unless the salary is too low.

5. There is a "mixed type" as well, for the present results of an unreal condition in the

     Past:

     If + Past Perfect - would + inf.

     If you had warned me [then], I would not be in prison [now].

VII.    If Clause Summary

            

VIII. Exercises

A. Choose the correct answer!

1. If I had had enough money, I ________that     radio
    a. bought   b. would buy    c. would have bought    d. had bought

 2. If it rains, you ______ wet
     a. will get  b. would get    c. get     d. had got

3. She would go to the Job Centre if she ______ a job
    a. had wanted   b. will want   c. wanted   d. wants

4. The dog ________ you if it hadn´t been tied up. 
     a. would bite  b. will bite    c. would have bitten   d. bites

5. It _______ easy  to paint pictures if you  knew how to.
    a. would be   b. had been   c. would have been    d. be

B. Put the verbs in brackets in the correct tense!

6. If he (be) ________ careful, he would not have had that terrible accident.

7. If I were a star, I (help)  _______ the poor.

8. She will know the answer, if she (try) _______ to understand.

9. He (buy) ________ a house if he had a job.
10. Her father would not have been sick, if  he (go) _______ the doctor. 

C. Decide which of the sentences below is conditional type 1, 2 & 3 !

1. If I were rich, I would travel around the world. (_____)

2. She wouldn't have missed the train if she had woken up earlier. (______)             

3. I’ll call you if I come back early.  (_____)

Answers:

1. C

2. A

3. C

4. C

5. A

6. had been

7. would help                                                     

8. tries

9. would buy

10. had gone

11. 2

12. 3

13. 1

Sources:

www.first-english.org

www.grammar.cl

www.e-grammar.org

www.edufind.com

www.grammarly.com

www.ego4u.com

www.english-hilfen.de

www.writingcenter.unc.edu

www.english.lingolia.com

Active Passive Verb Form

I.       Active Form

In active sentences, the thing doing the action is the subject of the sentence and the thing receiving the action is the object. Most sentences are active.

§  Examples:

a. The professor teaches the students

            (subject)        (verb)      (object)

       b. John          washes     the dishes

            (subject)    (verb)        (object)

II.      Passive Form

In passive sentences, the thing receiving the action is the subject of the sentence and the thing doing the action is optionally included near the end of the sentence. You can use the passive form if you think that the thing receiving the action is more important or should be emphasized. You can also use the passive form if you do not know who is doing the action or if you do not want to mention who is doing the action.

The passive voice is used to show interest in the person or object that experiences an action rather than the person or object that performs the action. In other words, the most important thing or person becomes the subject of the sentence.

• §             The form  of Passive Voice:

be + past participle

§                                Examples :

a. The students are taught by the professor

     (subject)         (verb)

b. The dishes are washed by John

      (subject)        (verb)

III.     Passive Voice Formation

            A.         Tenses Overview

Tense	Active	Passive
Simple Present	Tom cleans the house	The house is cleaned by Tom
Present Continuous	Tom is cleaning the house	The house is being cleaned by Tom
Simple Past	Tom cleaned the house	The house was cleaned by Tom
Past Continuous	Tom was cleaning the house	The house was being cleaned by Tom
Present Perfect	Tom has cleaned the house	The house has been cleaned by Tom
Present Perfect Continuous	Tom has been cleaning the house	The house has been being cleaned by Tom
Past Perfect	Tom had cleaned the house	The house had been cleaned by Tom
Past Perfect Continuous	Tom had been cleaning the house	The house had been being cleaned by Tom
Simple Future will	Tom will clean the house	The house will be cleaned by Tom
Simple Future be going to	Tom is going to clean the house	The house is going to be cleaned by Tom
Future Continuous will	Tom will be cleaning the house	The house will be being cleaned by Tom
Future Continuous be going to	Tom is going to be cleaning the house	The house is going to be being cleaned by Tom
Future Perfect will	Tom will have cleaned the house	The house will have been cleaned by Tom
Future Perfect be going to	Tom going to have cleaned the house	The house is going to have been cleaned by Tom
Future Perfect Continuous will	Tom will have been cleaning the house	The house will have been being cleaned by Tom
Future Perfect Continuous be going to	Tom is going to have been cleaned the house	The house is going to have been being cleaned by Tom
Used to	Tom used to clean the house	The house used to be cleaned by Tom
Would Always	Tom would always clean the pies.	The house would always be cleaned by Tom
Future in the Past Would	Tom would clean the house	The house would be cleaned by Tom
Future in the Past Was Going to	Tom was going to clean the house	The house was going to be cleaned by Tom

            B.         Sentence Overview

Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative
The house is cleaned by Tom	The house is not cleaned by Tom	Is the house cleaned by Tom?
The houses were built in 1990	The houses were not built in 1990	Were the houses built in 1990?

            When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:

•      The object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence
•           The finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)
•      The subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)

IV.     Verbals in Passive Structures

            Verbals or verb forms can also take on features of the passive voice. An infinitive phrase in the passive voice, for instance, can perform various functions within a sentence (just like the active forms of the infinitive).

·         Subject: To be elected by my peers is a great honor.

·         Object: That child really likes to be read to by her mother.

·         Modifier: Grasso was the first woman to be elected governor in her own right.

The same is true of passive gerunds.

·         Subject: Being elected by my peers was a great thrill.

·         Object: I really don't like being lectured to by my boss.

·         Object of preposition: I am so tired of being lectured to by my boss.

With passive participles, part of the passive construction is often omitted, the result being a simple modifying participial phrase.

·         [Having been] designed for off-road performance, the Pathseeker does not always behave well on paved highways.

V.      Indirect Object as Passive Subject

            A.         Active Voice With Two Objects

The passive can also be used in sentences that have two objects--a direct object and an indirect object. Because many sentences with both a direct and an indirect object can be written in two different ways (with and without to or for), the corresponding passive sentences can also be written in two different ways:

Subject	Verb	Direct Object	Indirect Object
They	Gave	an award	to Spielberg

Subject	Verb	Indirect Object	Direct Object
They	Gave	Spielberg	an award

            B.         Passive Voice Sentences

Subject	Verb	Indirect Object	Agent
An award	was given	to Spielberg	by them

Subject	Verb	Direct Object	Agent
Spielberg	was given	an award	by them

VI.     Exercises

            Check the correct answer!

1. They were interviewing her for the job. 
She ________________ for the job.
  was being interviewed
  was interviewed
  has been interviewed

2. Tom is writing the letter. 
The letter ________________ by Tom.
  was written
  is being written
  has been written

3. Everyone understands English. 
English ________________ by everyone.
  is understood
  has been understood
  was understood

4. The employees brought up this issue during the meeting. 
This issue ________________ by the employees during the meeting.
  has been brought up
  is brought up
  was brought up

5. The professor told him not to talk in class. 
He ________________ by the professor not to talk in class. 
  has been told
  was told
  was being told

6. They say that women are smarter than men. 
Women ________________ to be smarter than men.
  were being said
  were said
  are said

7. The fire has destroyed the house. 
The house ________________ by the fire. 
  has been destroyed
  was being destroyed
  is destroyed

8. She would have told you. 
You ________________ by her. 
  would have been told
  would be told
  were being told

9. She would reject the offer. 
The offer ________________ by her.
  will have been rejected
  would be rejected
  will be rejected

10. This surprises me. 
I ________________ by this.
  would have been surprised
  will be surprised
  am surprised

Sources:

https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/passive

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/activepassive.html

https://www.seattlecentral.edu/faculty/dloos/Grammar/Passive%20Voice/passive_voice_direct&indirectobjects_grammarincontext3_page67.htm

http://www.eslcafe.com/grammar/using_passive_voice05.html

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/passive.htm

http://www.edufind.com/english-grammar/passive-voice/

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/passive.html

http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/esl-passive-voice-exercise2.html