CONDITIONAL SENTENCE

IF CLAUSE Known as If Clauses or Conditional 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. Has three types, will be explained below :

-          Type I

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

IF + SUBJECT + V1 + OBJECT          →       SUBJECT + WILL + V1

        (SIMPLE PRESENT)                                   (SIMPLE FUTURE)

Example :

(+) If I study hard                                   →        I will get a better score

(-)  If I don’t study hard                         →        I will not get a better score

      Unless I study hard                           →        I will not get a better score

(?) If you don’t study hard                     →        will you get a better score?

-          Type II

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

Fact : Present Tense

IF + SUBJECT + V2 + OBJECT           →        SUBJECT + WOULD + V1 + OBJECT

      (SIMPLE PAST)                                →                 (SIMPLE PAST FUTURE)

IF + SUBJECT + BE + V2                      →        SUBJECT + WOULD + V1

Example :

(+) i           f I were a bird                          →        I would fly so high

(-) If I were not a bird                               →        I would not fly so high

(?) If you were not a bird                          →        Would you fly so high?

Fact : I’m not a bird

-          Type III (past unreal)

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

Fact : Simple Past

IF + SUBJECT + HAD + V3                 →        SUBJECT + WOULD + HAVE + V3

      (PAST PERFECT)                           →               (PAST FUTURE PERFECT)

Example :

(+) If I had eaten healthy food                 →        I would have been strong

(-) if I had not eaten healthy food            →        I would not have been strong

(?) if you had eaten healthy food             →        Would you have been strong ?

Fact : I did not eat healthy food, so I was not strong.

Wishes

-          WISH + SUBJECT + V2 (SIMPLE PAST)

 is used to express that we want a situation in the present (or future) to be different.

Example :

I wish I spoke Turkish ( I didn’t speak Turkish)

I wish I went to Paris ( I’m in college)

-          WISH + SUBJECT + TO BE (WAS/WERE) + VERB-ING + OBJECT (PAST CONTINOUS)

is used to express that we want to be doing a different action in the present (or future).

Example :

I wish you weren’t leaving tomorrow. (You are leaving tomorrow)

I wish it wasn’t raining. (It is raining)

-          WISH + S + HAD + PAST PARTICIPLE (V3) (PAST PERFECT)

is used to express a regret, or that we want a situation in the past to be different.

Example :

I wish I hadn’t eaten so much. (I ate a lot)

I wish I had studied harder at school. (I was lazy at school)

-          WISH + WOULD + BARE INFINITIVE

 is used to express impatience, annoyance or dissatisfaction with a present action.

Example :

I wish you would stop smoking.

(You are smoking at the moment and it is annoying me)

I wish she would be happy

(she isn’t happy)

-          WISH AND WANT

WISH + INFINITIVE OR WISH + OBJECT + INFINITIVE

is used to mean want in a formal situation.

Example :

I wish to leave now. (+ infinitive)

I wish to speak to your supervisor please. (+ infinitive)

I do not wish my name to appear on the list. (+ object + infinitive)

EXERCISE

Fill in the blank with your own words

If.

1.      If I have enough time,

2.      If I had enough time,

3.      If the weather is nice tomorrow,

4.      If you study hard,

5.      If my uncle were here,

6.      If you need some money,

7.      I won’t be in class tomorrow, if

8.      I didn’t have to go to class tomorrow,

9.      I would fly to London, if

10.  If the weather had been nice yesterday,

Wish.

The true situation                                                                   Expressing a wish

1.      I don’t have a car                                                      I wish

2.      Alice doesn’t have a car                                            Alice wishes

3.      I have a cold                                                              I wish

4.      I live in dorm                                                             I wish

5.      I can’t speak Spanish                                                 I wish

6.      Sue can’t find a good job                                          Sue wishes

7.      My friend can’t come                                                I wish

8.      I have to study for a test                                           I wish

9.      I’m not at home right now                                        I wish

10.  It isn’t Saturday                                                        I wish