conditional clauses
Neighbors
(two neighbours in the backyard)
Fred: (looking at James' back yard) I've got to admit you have a beautiful backyard James. How do you do it?
James: Well, it does take time and patience. But I've also got a few secrets...
Fred: OK, OK, what do I have to do to get you to reveal your secrets? You know if I had the money, I'd just hire a gardener.
James: No, no you needn't do that. I'd never hire a gardener. Working in the yard is the greatest form of relaxation that I know of!
Fred: You're kidding, right?! I would never have planted so many trees if I had known how much work they'd require.
James: You see, that's your problem. Right there. Your attitude is all wrong.
Fred: Excuse me. My attitude is wrong? What does attitude have to do with gardening?
James: You've got to love working in the backyard - that's my secret!
Fred: Love working in the backyard ---
What! What kind of secret is that? I expected some special lawnmower, or a special type of gardening tool.
James: No, any lawnmower or tool will do the job. It's all in the mind.
Fred: I can't believe what you're saying. Let me see if I understand this: ...
James: It's very simple ...
Fred: If I had a better feeling about my work in the garden, everything would be wonderful. I'd have a beautiful lawn like you, I'd have healthy plants like you.
James: ... yes, yes that's it. You've got it!
Fred: ... all just a simple matter of enjoying myself.
James: Now you understand.
Fred: Look, can I borrow the tea you are drinking? Because, to tell you the truth, I think you're crazy!!
James: Oh, Fred, we live in modern times, but the old farmers know: what you put into the land you reap.
Fred: On second thought, I think I'll just pay a gardener.
James: Ha ha, that won't work.
Fred: Why not?
James: Because he has to enjoy his gardening...
Fred: Please, James, thank you very much for your advice. But, don't start in again!
Check your understanding with this multiple choice comprehension quiz.
More Dialogue Practice - Includes level and target structures / language functions for each dialogue.
Conditional Forms
Listed below are examples, uses and formation of Conditionals followed by a quiz.
Conditional 0
Situations that are always true if something happens.
NOTE
This use is similiar to, and can usually be replaced by, a time clause using 'when' (example: When I am late, my father takes me to school.)
If I am late, my father takes me to school.
She doesn't worry if Jack stays out after school.
Conditional 0 is formed by the use of the present simple in the if clause followed by a comma the present simple in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first without using a comma between the clauses.
If he comes to town, we have dinner.
OR
We have dinner if he comes to town.
Conditional 1
Often called the "real" conditional because it is used for real - or possible - situations. These situations take place if a certain condition is met.
NOTE
In the conditional 1 we often use unless which means 'if ... not'. In other words, '...unless he hurries up.' could also be written, '...if he doesn't hurry up.'.
If it rains, we will stay at home.
He will arrive late unless he hurries up.
Peter will buy a new car, if he gets his raise.
Conditional 1 is formed by the use of the present simple in the if clause followed by a comma will verb (base form) in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first without using a comma between the clauses.
If he finishes on time, we will go to the movies.
OR
We will go to the movies if he finishes on time.
Conditional 2
Often called the "unreal" conditional because it is used for unreal - impossible or improbable - situations. This conditional provides an imaginary result for a given situation.
NOTE
The verb 'to be', when used in the 2nd conditional, is always conjugated as 'were'.
If he studied more, he would pass the exam.
I would lower taxes if I were the President.
They would buy a new house if they had more money.
Conditional 2 is formed by the use of the past simple in the if clause followed by a comma would verb (base form) in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first without using a comma between the clauses.
If they had more money, they would buy a new house.
OR
They would buy a new house if they had more money.
Conditional 3
Often referred to as the "past" conditional because it concerns only past situations with hypothetical results. Used to express a hypothetical result to a past given situation.
If he had known that, he would have decided differently.
Jane would have found a new job if she had stayed in Boston.
Conditional 3 is formed by the use of the past perfect in the if clause followed by a comma would have past participle in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first without using a comma between the clauses.
If Alice had won the competition, life would have changed OR Life would have changed if Alice had won the competition.
Test your knowledge of conditionals by taking the Conditionals Quiz
http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/bl_conditionals1.htm
Quiz
Choose the phrase which best completes the conditional statement.
1. If he comes,
| we will go to lunch |
| we went to lunch |
| we would go to lunch | ||
2. I would buy a new house
| if I have a lot of money. |
| if I win the lottery. |
| if I inherited a million dollars. | ||
3. If she misses the bus,
| I take her to school by car. |
| she have to walk. |
| I would take her to school by car. | ||
4. If I had known you were in town,
| I would buy you some flowers! |
| I will buy you some flowers. |
| I would have bought you some flowers. | ||
5. If he studies a lot,
| he might pass the exam. |
| he is going to pass the exam. |
| he would pass the exam. | ||
6. I would get a new job
| if I was you. |
| if I were you. |
| if I am you. | ||
7. He will surely fail his exams
| if he not work harder |
| if he weren't serious. |
| unless he begins to study | ||
8. She would live in New York now
| if she stays |
| if she was to stay |
| if she had stayed. | ||
9. They would have bought that new car
| if they had had the money. |
| if they were having the money |
| if they had the money. | ||
10. I leave on Saturdays
| if she will come to visit |
| if she won't come to visit |
| if she comes to visit | ||
11. If he were President,
| he would help the poor more. |
| he will help the poor more |
| he would have helped the poor more | ||
12. If they had had enough good sense,
| they would move to Santa Monica |
| they would had moved to Santa Monica |
| they would have moved to Santa Monica. | ||
13. She will go crazy
| if you leaves her. |
| unless she leaves you. |
| if she don't leave you. |
| |
14. If this storm gets worse,
| we will have to go inland. |
| we must to go inland |
| we have to get inland. | ||
15. Watch out! If you touch that cable,
| a. you will get a shock. |
| b. you had a shock. |
| c. you shocked. | ||
16. I might have had time
| a. if you needed my help. |
| b. if you ask me for help. |
| c. if you had asked me for help. | ||
17. I'm afraid I can't understand you
| a. if you speak unclear. |
| b. if you don't speak clear. |
| c. unless you speak more clearly. | ||
18. She would have gone
| a. if she had been in your position. |
| b. if she was in your position. |
| c. if she were in your position. | ||
19. You would certainly have been angry
| a. if you discovered what he knew. |
| b. if you had discovered what he knew. |
c. | d. if you had discovered what he had known. | ||
http://esl.about.com/library/printable/blconditional2_print.htm
Conditional Statements - Reviewing the First and Second Conditional
Making conditional statements are an important part of fluency. This lesson focuses on helping students improve their recognition of the structure and use it in conversation.
Aim: Improve recognition of the first and second conditional forms used in conditional statements, while inductively reviewing the structures.
Activity: Reading Short prepared text with first and second conditional forms included, Speaking Replying to student generated conditional questions, Writing Developing structurally correct questions using the first and second conditionals
Level: Intermediate
Outline:
· Ask students to imagine the following situation: You’ve arrived home late at night and you find that the door is open to your apartment. What would you do? - Refresh students awareness of the conditional in this relaxed introductory portion of the lesson.
· Have students read prepared extract using conditionals.
· Ask students to underline all conditional structures.
· In groups, students complete fill-in activity based on previous reading.
· Correct worksheets in small groups. Move about the room helping students with their corrections.
· Go over corrections as a class.
· Answer any questions they may have on first and second conditional structure at this point.
· In groups, have students prepare two “What if…” situations on a separate piece of paper. Ask students to employ first and second conditionals.
· Ask students to exchange their prepared situations with another group.
· Students in each group discuss the "what if..." situations. Move about the class and help students - especially concentrating on the correct production of the first and second conditional forms.
Exercise 1: Emergency Procedures
Directions: Underline all conditional structures with either 1 (first conditional) or 2 (second conditional)
If you take a look at the handout, you’ll find all the telephone numbers, addresses and other necessary information. If Tom were here, he'd help me with this presentation. Unfortunately, he couldn't make it today. OK, let's get started: Today’s subject is helping guests with emergency situations. We'd certainly have a worse reputation if we didn't handle these situations well. That's why we like to review these procedures every year.
If a guest looses his passport, call the consulate immediately. If the consulate isn’t nearby, you’ll have to help the guest get to the appropriate consulate. It would be great if we had some more consulates here. However, there are also a few in Boston. Next, if a guest has an accident which is not so serious, you’ll find the first-aid kit under the reception desk. If the accident is serious, call an ambulance.
Sometimes guests need to return home unexpectedly. If this happens, the guest might need your help making travel arrangements, re-scheduling appointments, etc. Do everything you can to make this situation as easy to cope with as possible. If there is a problem, the guest will expect us to be able to handle any situation. It’s our responsibility to make sure ahead of time that we can.
Exercise 2: Check Your Understanding
Directions: Fill in the blanks with the correct missing half of the sentence
you’ll have to help the guest get to the appropriate consulate
you’ll find all the telephone numbers, addresses and other necessary information
the guest will expect us to be able to handle any situation
if we didn't handle these situations well
If Tom were here
If this happens
If a guest looses his passport
call an ambulance
If you take a look at the handout, _____. _____, he'd help me with this presentation. Unfortunately, he couldn't make it today. OK, let's get started: Today’s subject is helping guests with emergency situations. We'd certainly have a worse reputation _____. That's why we like to review these procedures every year.
_____, call the consulate immediately. If the consulate isn’t nearby, _____. It would be great if we had some more consulates here. However, there are also a few in Boston. Next, if a guest has an accident which is not so serious, you’ll find the first-aid kit under the reception desk. If the accident is serious, _____.
Sometimes guests need to return home unexpectedly. ______, the guest might need your help making travel arrangements, re-scheduling appointments, etc. Do everything you can to make this situation as easy to cope with as possible. If there is a problem, _____. It’s our responsibility to make sure ahead of time that we can.
Other types of If Clauses
These type of clauses are often called "if clauses" in English grammar books and follow conditional sentence patterns. Take a look at the chart below to study the various usage of different time expressions.
Punctuation
When an adverb clause begins the sentence use a comma to separate the two clauses. Example: If he comes, we will have some lunch.. When the adverb clause finishes the sentence there is no need for a comma. Example: He would have invited me if he had known.
More information on the correct tense usage for the conditionals
If
· If we win, we'll go to Kelly's to celebrate!
· She would buy a house, if she had enough money.
'If' clauses express the conditions necessary for the result. If clauses are followed by expected results based on the condition. More information on the correct tense usage for the conditionals
Even if
· Even if she saves a lot, she won't be able to afford that house.
In contrast to sentences with 'if' sentences with 'even if' show a result that is unexpected based on the condition in the 'even if' clause. Example: COMPARE: If she studies hard, she will pass the exam AND Even if she studies hard, she won't pass the exam.
Whether or not
· They won't be able to come whether or not they have enough money.
· Whether they have money or not, they won't be able to come.
'Whether or not' expresses the idea that neither one condition or another matters; the result will be the same. Notice the possibility of inversion (Whether they have money or not) with 'whether or not'.
Unless
· Unless she hurries up, we won't arrive in time.
· We won't go unless he arrives soon.
'Unless' expresses the idea of 'if not' Example: Unless she hurries up, we won't arrive in time. MEANS THE SAME AS: If she doesn't hurry up, we won't arrive in time. 'Unless' is only used in the first conditional.
In case (that), in the event (that)
· In the case you need me, I'll be at Tom's.
· I'll be studying upstairs in the event he calls.
'In case' and 'in the event' usually mean that you don't expect something to happen, but if it does... Both are used primarily for future events.
Only if
· We'll give you your bicycle only if you do well on your exams.
· Only if you do well on your exams will we give you your bicycle.
'Only if' means 'only in the case that something happens - and only if'. This form basically means the same as 'if'. However, it does stress the condition for the result. Note that when 'only if' begins the sentence you need to invert the main clause.
Common Mistakes in English - Whether / If
Whether / If
Both whether and if are used to introduce a yes/no question:
Examples:
He asked me whether I felt well.
We're not sure if they have decided.
The verb discuss generally takes whether rather than if.
Examples:
We discussed whether he should be hired.
They discussed whether to invest in the new idea.
After Prepositions
Use only whether after prepositions:
Examples:
We talked about whether we should go or not.
I looked into whether he should stay.
Infinitives
Use only whether before infinitives:
Examples:
She can't decide whether to buy the house or wait.
He considered whether to give up the position or quit next year.
Formal / Informal
Generally, whether is considered more formal than if.
Examples:
Let me know whether you will be able to attend the conference.
The CEO will decide whether this is a risk worth taking.
Do you understand the rules? Test your knowledge with this Whether / If quiz.
http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/bl_wif.htm
Whether or If Quiz
Choose whether whether or if is correct. Each question has only one correct answer. When you are finished click on the "Next Question" button. There are 10 questions to this quiz. Try to use only 30 seconds per question. At the end of the quiz, your score.
Parte superior do formulário
1. Let's discuss ______ we should go or not.
( ) whether ( ) if
2. They were wondering ______ to come or not.
( ) whether ( ) if
3. (Formal) Let me know ______ you will be able to attend the conference.
( ) whether ( ) if
4. (Informal) Tell me ______ you can come to the party or not.
( ) if ( ) when
5. We talked about ______ we should go or not.
( ) whether ( ) if
6. We're not sure ______ they have decided.
( ) if ( ) who
7. She's the one _____ telephoned last night.
( ) if ( ) who
8. I looked into ______ he should stay.
( ) whether ( ) if
9. (Formal) The CEO will decide _____ this is a risk worth taking.
( ) whether ( ) if
10. (Informal) He asked ______ I could help him with his math homework.
Parte inferior do formulário
http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/bl_wif.htm
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