Conditionals

CONTENTS
20-1 Overview of basic verb forms used in 20-6 Using "mixed time" in
conditional sentences conditional sentences
20-2 True in the present or future 20-7 Omitting if
20-3 Untrue (contrary to fact) in the present 20-8 Implied conditions
or future 20-9 Using as ijlas though
20-4 Untrue (contrary to fact) in the past 20-10 Verb forms following wish
20-5 Using progressive verb forms in 20-1 1 Using would to make wishes
conditional sentences about the future
A conditional sentence typically consists of an if-clause (which presents a condition) and a

result clause.* Example: I f it rains, the streets get wet.
*See Charts 17-1 (p. 359) and 17-5 (p. 367) for the basic structure of adverb clauses of condition.
EXERCISE 1 . Preview: conditional sentences. (Charts 20-1 -P 20-4)

Directions: Answer the questions with "yes" or "no."
1. I f the weather had been good yesterday, our picnic would not have been canceled.
a. Was the picnic canceled? yes
b. Was the weather good? h0
2. I f 1 had an envelope and a stamp, I would mail this letter right now.
a. Do I have an envelope and a stamp right now? No
b. Do I want to mail this letter right now? No
c. Am I going to mail this letter right now? No
3. Ann would have made it to class on time this morning if the bus hadn't been late.
a. Did Ann try to make it to class on time? Yes
b. Did Ann make it to class on time? No
c. Was the bus late? Yes
4. I f the hotel had been built to withstand an earthquake, it would not have collapsed.
a. Was the hotel built to withstand an earthquake? No
b. Did the hotel collapse? Yes
5. If I were a carpentq, I would build my own house.
a. Do I want to build my own house? Yes
b. Am I going to build my own house? No
c. Am I a carpenter? No
6. If I didn't have any fiends, I would be lonely.
a. Am I lonely? No
b. Do I have friends? Yes
7. If Bob had asked me to keep the news a secret, I wouldn't have told anybody.
a. Did I tell anybody the news? Yes
b. Did Bob ask me to keep it a secret? No
8. I f A n n and Jan, who are twins, dressed alike and had the same hairstyle, I wouldn't be able to
tell them apart.
a. Do Ann and Jan dress alike? No
b. Do they have the same hairstyle? No
c. Can I tell them apart? Yes
( SITUATION ( IF-CLAUSE 1 RESULT CLAUSE I EXAMPLES 1

True in the simple present simple present If I have enough time, I watch T V
presentlfuture every evening.
will + simple form If I have enough time, I will watch
TV later on tonight.
Untrue in the simple past would + simple form If I had enough time, I would watch
presentlfuture TV now or later on.
Untrue in the past past perfect would have + past participle If I had had enough time, I would
have watched T V yesterday.
EXERCISE 2. Basic verb forms in conditional sentences. (Chart 20-1)

Directions: Complete the sentences with the verbs in parentheses.
1. SITUATION: I usually write my parents a letter every week. That is a true fact. In other
words:
I f I (have) have enough time, I (write) bvite my parents a letter
every week.
Conditional Sentences and Wishes 41 3

2. SITUATION: I may have enough time to write my parents a letter later tonight. I want to write
them a letter tonight. Both of those things are true. In other words:
If I (have) have enough time, I (write) will write my
parents a letter later tonight.
3. SITUATION: I don't have enough time right now, so I won't write my parents a letter. I'll try
to do it later. I want to write them, but the truth is that I just don't have enough time right
now. In other words:
If I (have) had enough time right now, I (write) would write
my parents a letter.
4. S ~ A T I O N :I won't have enough time tonight, so I won't write my parents a letter. I'll try to
do it tomorrow. I want to write them, but the truth is that I just won't have enough time. In
other words:
If I (have) had enough time later tonight, I (write) would write
my parents a letter.
5. SITUATION: I wanted to write my parents a letter last night, but I didn't have enough time.
In other words:
If I (have) had had enough time, I (write) would have written
my parents a letter last night.
- -
(a) If I aim't eat breakfast, I always get hungry during class. In conditional sentences that express true, factual
ideas in the presentlfuture, the simple present (not the
(b) Waterfreezes OR zvillfreeze if the temperature simple future) is used in the if-clause.
reaches 32°F/00C. The result clause has various possible verb forms. A
result clause verb can be:
(c) If I don't eat breakfast tomorrow morning, I 1. the simple present, to express a habitual activity or
will get hungry during class. situation, as in (a).
2. either the simple present or the simple future, to
(d) If it rains, we should stay home. express an established, predictable fact or general
If it rains, I might decide to stay home. truth, as in (b).
If it rains, we can't go. 3. the simplefuture, to express a particular activity or
If it rains, we're going to stay home. situation in the future, as in ( c ) .
4. modals and phrasal modals such as should, might,
(e) If anyone calls, please take a message. can, be going to, as in (d) .*
5. an imperative verb, as in (e) .
(f) If anyone should c d , please take a message. Sometimes should is used in an if-clause. It indicates
a little more uncertainty than the use of the simple
present, but basically the meaning of examples (e)
and ( f ) is the same.
*See Chart 9-1, p. 151, for a list of modals and phrasal modals.
414 CHAPTER 20

Conditionals

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CONTENTS

A conditional sentence typically consists of an if-clause (which presents a condition) and a

EXERCISE 1 . Preview: conditional sentences. (Charts 20-1 -P 20-4)

( SITUATION ( IF-CLAUSE 1 RESULT CLAUSE I EXAMPLES 1

EXERCISE 2. Basic verb forms in conditional sentences. (Chart 20-1)

Conditional Sentences and Wishes 41 3

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