Please Teach Me ENGLISH, Sensei ! Vol. 2
(A Reference of Sensei Can't Teach Me About Love)
There's a Request From @susanty.smile
CONDITIONAL
Conditional tenses are 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".
Conditional Tenses
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
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.
FORM
In zero conditional sentences, the tense in both parts of the sentence is the simple present.
If clause (condition) Main clause (result) If + simple present simple present If this thing happens that thing happens.
As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to rearrange the pronouns and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the clauses, but the meaning is identical. In zero conditional sentences, you can replace "if" with "when", because both express general truths. The meaning will be unchanged.
EXAMPLES
FUNCTION
- If you heat ice, it melts.
- Ice melts if you heat it.
- When you heat ice, it melts.
- Ice melts when you heat it.
- If it rains, the grass gets wet.
- The grass gets wet if it rains.
- When it rains, the grass gets wet.
- The grass gets wet when it rains.
The zero conditional is used to make statements about the real world, and often refers to general truths, such as scientific facts. In these sentences, the time is now or always and the situation is real and possible.
EXAMPLES
The zero conditional is also often used to give instructions, using the imperative in the main clause.
- If you freeze water, it becomes a solid.
- Plants die if they don't get enough water.
- If my husband has a cold, I usually catch it.
- If public transport is efficient, people stop using their cars.
- If you mix red and blue, you get purple.
EXAMPLES
- If Bill phones, tell him to meet me at the cinema.
- Ask Pete if you're not sure what to do.
- If you want to come, call me before 5:00.
- Meet me here if we get separated.
TYPE 1 CONDITIONAL
The type 1 conditional is used to refer to the present or future where the situation is real. The type 1 conditional refers to a possible condition and its probable result. In these sentences the if clause is in the simple present, and the main clause is in the simple future.
FORM
In a Type 1 conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if' clause is the simple present, and the tense in the main clause is the simple future.
If clause (condition) Main clause (result) If + simple present simple future If this thing happens that thing will happen.
As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to rearrange the pronouns and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the clauses, but the meaning is identical.
EXAMPLES
FUNCTION
- If it rains, you will get wet.
- You will get wet if it rains.
- If Sally is late again I will be mad.
- I will be mad if Sally is late again.
- If you don't hurry, you will miss the bus.
- You will miss the bus if you don't hurry.
The type 1 conditional refers to a possible condition and its probable result. These sentences are based on facts, and they are used to make statements about the real world, and about particular situations. We often use such sentences to give warnings. In type 1 conditional sentences, the time is the present or future and the situation is real.
EXAMPLES
In type 1 conditional sentences, you can also use modals in the main clause instead of the future tense to express the degree of certainty, permission, or a recommendation about the outcome.
- If I have time, I'll finish that letter.
- What will you do if you miss the plane?
- Nobody will notice if you make a mistake.
- If you drop that glass, it will break.
- If you don't drop the gun, I'll shoot!
- If you don't leave, I'll call the police.
EXAMPLES
- If you drop that glass, it might break.
- I may finish that letter if I have time.
- If he calls you, you should go.
- If you buy my school supplies for me, I will be able to go to the park.
TYPE 2 CONDITIONAL
The type 2 conditional is used to refer to a time that is now or any time, and a situation that is unreal. These sentences are not based on fact. The type 2 conditional is used to refer to a hypothetical condition and its probable result. In type 2 conditional sentences, the if clause uses the simple past, and the main clause uses the present conditional.
FORM
In a Type 2 conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if' clause is the simple past, and the tense in the main clause is the present conditional or the present continuous conditional.
If clause (condition) Main clause (result) If + simple past present conditional or present continuous conditional If this thing happened that thing would happen.
As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to rearrange the pronouns and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the clauses, but the meaning is identical.
EXAMPLES
FUNCTION
- If it rained, you would get wet.
- You would get wet if it rained.
- If you went to bed earlier you wouldn't be so tired.
- You wouldn't be so tired if you went to bed earlier.
- If she fell, she would hurt herself.
- She would hurt herself if she fell.
The type 2 conditional refers to an unlikely or hypothetical condition and its probable result. These sentences are not based on the actual situation. In type 2 conditional sentences, the time is now or any time and the situation is hypothetical.
EXAMPLES
It is correct, and very common, to say "if I were" instead of "if I was" (subjunctive mood).
- If the weather wasn't so bad, we would go to the park. (But the weather is bad so we can't go.)
- If I was the Queen of England, I would give everyone a chicken. (But I am not the Queen.)
- If you really loved me, you would buy me a diamond ring.
- If I knew where she lived, I would go and see her.
EXAMPLES
In type 2 conditional sentences, you can also use modals in the main clause instead of "would" to express the degree of certainty, permission, or a recommendation about the outcome.
- If I were taller, I would buy this dress.
- If I were 20, I would travel the world.
- If I were you, I would give up smoking.
- If I were a plant, I would love the rain.
EXAMPLES
THE PRESENT CONDITIONAL TENSE
- We might buy a larger house if we had more money
- He could go to the concert if you gave him your ticket.
- If he called me, I couldn't hear.
The present conditional of any verb is composed of two elements:
would + the infinitive of the main verb, without "to"
Subject + would + infinitive He would go They would stay
TO GO: PRESENT CONDITIONAL
Subject + would + infinitive He would go They would stay
PRESENT CONTINUOUS CONDITIONAL
FORM
In type 2 conditional sentences, the continuous form of the present conditional may be used.
If clause (condition) Main clause (result) If + simple past present continuous conditional If this thing happened that thing would be happening.
FUNCTION
This form is common in type 2 conditional sentences. It expresses an unfinished or continuing action or situation, which is the probable result of an unreal condition.
EXAMPLES
THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS CONDITIONAL TENSE
- I would be working in Italy if I spoke Italian. (But I don't speak Italian, so I am not working in Italy)
- She wouldn't be living with Jack if she lived with her parents. (But she is living with Jack and not with her parents).
- You wouldn't be smiling if you knew the truth. (But you are smiling because you don't know the truth.)
The present continuous conditional tense of any verb is composed of three elements:
would + be + present participle
The present participle is formed by taking the base form of the verb and adding the -ing ending.
Subject + would + be + present participle He would be staying They would be going
TO LIVE: PRESENT CONTINUOUS CONDITIONAL
Affirmative Negative Interrogative Interrogative Negative I would be living I wouldn't be living Would I be living? Wouldn't I be living? You would be living You wouldn't be living Would you be living? Wouldn't you be living? He would be living He wouldn't be living Would he be living? Wouldn't he be living? She would be living She wouldn't be living Would she be living? Wouldn't she be living? We would be living We wouldn't be living Would we be living? Wouldn't we be living? They would be living They wouldn't be living Would they be living? Wouldn't they be living?
TYPE 3 CONDITIONAL
The type 3 conditional is used to refer to a time that is in the past, and a situation that is contrary to reality. The facts they are based on are the opposite of what is expressed. The type 3 conditional is used to refer to an unreal past condition and its probable past result. In type 3 conditional sentences, the if clause uses the past perfect, and the main clause uses the perfect conditional.
FORM
In a Type 3 conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if' clause is the past perfect, and the tense in the main clause is the perfect conditional or the perfect continuous conditional.
If clause (condition) Main clause (result) If + past perfect perfect conditional or perfect continuous conditional If this thing had happened that thing would have happened.
As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to rearrange the pronouns and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the clauses, but the meaning is identical.
EXAMPLES
FUNCTION
- If it had rained, you would have gotten wet.
- You would have gotten wet if it had rained.
- You would have passed your exam if you had worked harder.
- If you had worked harder, you would have passed your exam.
- I would have believed you if you hadn't lied to me before.
- If you hadn't lied to me before, I would have believed you.
The type 3 conditional refers to an impossible condition in the past and its probable result in the past. These sentences are truly hypothetical and unreal, because it is now too late for the condition or its result to exist. There is always some implication of regret with type 3 conditional sentences. The reality is the opposite of, or contrary to, what the sentence expresses. In type 3 conditional sentences, the time is the past and the situation is hypothetical.
EXAMPLES
In type 3 conditional sentences, you can also use modals in the main clause instead of "would" to express the degree of certainty, permission, or a recommendation about the outcome.
- If I had worked harder I would have passed the exam. (But I didn't work hard, and I didn't pass the exam.)
- If I had known you were coming I would have baked a cake. (But I didn't know and I didn't bake a cake.)
- I would have been happy if you had called me on my birthday. (But you didn't call me and I am not happy.)
EXAMPLES
CONTRACTIONS
- If I had worked harder I might have passed the exam.
- You could have been on time if you had caught the bus.
- If he called you, you could go.
- If you bought my school supplies for me, I might be able to go to the park.
Both would and had can be contracted to 'd, which can be confusing if you are not confident with type 3 conditional sentences. Remember 2 rules:
1. would never appears in the if-clause so if 'd appears in the if clause, it must be abbreviating had.
2. had never appears before have so if 'd appears on a pronoun just before have, it must be abbreviating would.
EXAMPLES
THE PERFECT CONDITIONAL TENSE
- If I'd known you were in hospital, I'd have visited you.
- If I had known you were in hospital, I would have visited you.
- I'd have bought you a present if I'd known it was your birthday.
- I would have bought you a present if I had known it was your birthday.
- If you'd given me your e-mail, I'd have written to you.
- If you had given me your e-mail, I would have written to you.
The perfect conditional of any verb is composed of three elements:
would + have + past participle
Have followed by the past participle is used in other constructions as well. it is called the "perfect infinitive".
Subject + would + have + past participle He would have gone They would have stayed
TO GO: PERFECT CONDITIONAL
Affirmative Negative Interrogative Interrogative Negative I would have gone I wouldn't have gone Would I have gone? Wouldn't I have gone? You would have gone You wouldn't have gone Would you have gone? Wouldn't you have gone? He would have gone He wouldn't have gone Would he have gone? Wouldn't he have gone? She would have gone She wouldn't have gone Would she have gone? Wouldn't she have gone? We would have gone We wouldn't have gone Would we have gone? Wouldn't we have gone? They would have gone They wouldn't have gone Would they have gone? Wouldn't they have gone?
PERFECT CONTINUOUS CONDITIONAL
FORM
In type 3 conditional sentences, the perfect form of the present conditional may be used.
If clause (condition) Main clause (result) If + past perfect perfect continuous conditional If this thing had happened that thing would have been happening.
FUNCTION
The perfect continuous conditional can be used in type 3 conditional sentences. It refers to the unfulfilled result of the action in the if-clause, and expresses this result as an unfinished or continuous action.
EXAMPLES
THE PERFECT CONTINUOUS CONDITIONAL TENSE
- If the weather had been better (but it wasn't), I'd have been sitting in the garden when he arrived (but I wasn't).
- If she hadn't got a job in London (but she did), she would have been working in Paris (but she wasn't).
- If I had had a ball I would have been playing football.
- If I had known it was dangerous I wouldn't have been climbing that cliff.
The perfect continuous conditional tense of any verb is composed of four elements:
would + have + been + present participle
The present participle is formed by taking the base form of the verb and adding the -ing ending.
Subject + would + have + been + present participle He would have been staying They would have been going
TO WORK: PERFECT CONTINUOUS CONDITIONAL
Affirmative Negative Interrogative Interrogative Negative I would have been living I wouldn't have been living Would I have been living? Wouldn't I have been living? You would have been living You wouldn't have been living Would you have been living? Wouldn't you have been living? He would have been living He wouldn't have been living Would he have been living? Wouldn't he have been living? She would have been living She wouldn't have been living Would she have been living? Wouldn't she have been living? We would have been living We wouldn't have been living Would we have been living? Wouldn't we have been living? They would have been living They wouldn't have been living Would they have been living? Wouldn't they have been living?
MIXED 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.
It is possible for the two parts of a conditional sentence to refer to different times, and the resulting sentence is a "mixed conditional" sentence. There are two types of mixed conditional sentence.
PRESENT RESULT OF A PAST CONDITION
FORM
In this type of mixed conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if' clause is the past perfect, and the tense in the main clause is the present conditional.
If clause (condition) Main clause (result) If + past perfect present conditional If this thing had happened that thing would happen.
As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to rearrange the pronouns and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the clauses, but the meaning is identical.
EXAMPLES
FUNCTION
- If I had worked harder at school, I would have a better job now.
- I would have a better job now if I had worked harder at school.
- If we had looked at the map we wouldn't be lost.
- We wouldn't be lost if we had looked at the map.
- If you had caught that plane you would be dead now.
- You would be dead now if you had caught that plane.
This type of mixed conditional refers to an unreal past condition and its probable result in the present. These sentences express a situation which is contrary to reality both in the past and in the present. In these mixed conditional sentences, the time is the past in the "if" clause and in the present in the main clause.
EXAMPLES
In these mixed conditional sentences, you can also use modals in the main clause instead of would to express the degree of certainty, permission, or a recommendation about the outcome.
- If I had studied I would have my driving license. (but I didn't study and now I don't have my license)
- I would be a millionaire now if I had taken that job. (but I didn't take the job and I'm not a millionaire)
- If you had spent all your money, you wouldn't buy this jacket. (but you didn't spend all your money and now you can buy this jacket)
EXAMPLES
PAST RESULT OF PRESENT OR CONTINUING CONDITION
- If you had crashed the car, you might be in trouble.
- I could be a millionaire now if I had invested in ABC Plumbing.
- If I had learned to ski, I might be on the slopes right now.
FORM
In this second type of mixed conditional sentence, the tense in the 'if' clause is the simple past, and the tense in the main clause is the perfect conditional.
If clause (condition) Main clause (result) If + simple past perfect conditional If this thing happened that thing would have happened.
As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to rearrange the pronouns and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the clauses, but the meaning is identical.
EXAMPLES
FUNCTION
- If I wasn't afraid of spiders, I would have picked it up.
- I would have picked it up if I wasn't afraid of spiders.
- If we didn't trust him we would have sacked him months ago.
- We would have sacked him months ago if we didn't trust him.
- If I wasn't in the middle of another meeting, I would have been happy to help you.
- I would have been happy to help you if I wasn't in the middle of another meeting.
These mixed conditional sentences refer to an unreal present situation and its probable (but unreal) past result. In these mixed conditional sentences, the time in the if clause is now or always and the time in the main clause is before now. For example, "If I wasn't afraid of spiders" is contrary to present reality. I am afraid of spiders. "I would have picked it up" is contrary to past reality. I didn't pick it up.
EXAMPLES
- If she wasn't afraid of flying she wouldn't have travelled by boat.
- I'd have been able to translate the letter if my Italian was better.
- If I was a good cook, I'd have invited them to lunch.
- If the elephant wasn't in love with the mouse, she'd have trodden on him by now.
Please Teach Me ENGLISH, Sensei ! Vol. 2
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