Conditions and Suppositions
In English, Adverbial clauses beginning with provided, as long as, so long as, if, unless, supposing or conjunction with similar meanings, where a state or situation in one clause is dependent upon something that may or may not happen, and which is described in another clause is a conditional sentence. There are different types of conditional sentences. Look at the following examples and notice the structures and punctuations.
- If I lived in downtown, I could walk to work.
I could walk to work if I lived in downtown.
IF-CLAUSE (SUBORDINATE CLAUSE) MAIN CLAUSE (PRINCIPAL CLAUSE)
If I lived in downtown, I could walk to work.
Conditional sentences can be real or unreal. One is that which contains a condition that may or may not be fulfilled and the other is that in which a theoretical or hypothetical condition is put forward, these are clauses combined with improbability or unreality. For example:
1. We shall go provided the weather is fine ►real condition
2. If I were a bird, I could fly high in the sky. ►unreal condition
Now let’s see the most common types of conditional sentences as prescribed at this level.
NB[1]: V1 V2 V3 V4 V5
Types
|
Usages
|
If-Clause ► Main Clause
|
Type -0
(real, possible )
|
-to express natural phenomena
-to express what is automatically followed by a cause
|
If +s +V1V5+…, ► s+V1/V5+…
i. If it rains, the \ground gets wet.
ii. When water is heated, it changes into steam.
|
Type-1
(possible, real)
|
-to express one’s will when a condition is fulfilled
-to express real possibilities, happenings
|
If +S+V1/V5…..,►S +can/may/will/shall/need/must+V1 + …….
ii. When I am free, I’ll come to see you. iii. If you have enough money, why don’t you buy a car? iv. If Rita studies hard, she will surely pass the test. v.If only I were a mother, I would know what it is to be a mother. |
Type-2
(unreal/ imaginarypast)
|
-to give strong advice
-to express regrets
-to give warnings
- to express wishes
|
If +S + V2 + …., ► S would/could/should/ might/must +V1 +……
i. If I were a bird, I could fly high in the sky.
ii. If he were sick, he wouldn’t come to school
|
Type-3
(hypothetical, past, impossible, unreal)
|
- to express
strong regrets
- to express
|
If + S +had + V3 +….,► S +would/could/ should/might/must +…
i. If I had seen you, I would have called you.
ii. Had I got enough money, I should have thrown a party.
iii. If Rita had done it, I would have appreciated her.
|
Other Types
(Unless/Until)
|
-to warn
-to prohibit from doing something
|
Until/Unless +S (not) +V1V5 +…, ► S +will/can/must/shall/may/ +not +V1+…
i. Until you don’t do your work, you can’t go home.
ii. Unless you study hard, you can’t pass the exam.
|
Fill in these sentences with correct clauses.
- Had I known you earlier, …………………
- If you were my friend………………
- Did you lend me $1000, …….
- But for the last bus,……………………….
- Provided you drive carefully, ………….
- Supposing you had $50000,……………?
- As long as we were in the air, ……………
- So long as I was at school, ………………….
- Unless you study hard, ……………………….
- If only I were not broke, ………………
- Only if you tell the truth, …………………
- If I had a true friend, …………
[1] V1 (bare infinitive) V2(past) V3 (past participle) V4(present participle) V5(present indefinite, singular verb)
English Department \\2062// Winter Coaching Class Handouts for Grade 9, 10 and the SLC students
