Conditionals. Types of conditional sentence
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Conditionals. Types of conditional sentence. If a certain condition is true, then a particular result happens. How to use first conditional sentences. Types of Conditional Sentences Grammarly Grammarly Updated on May 8, 2023 GRAMMAR There are four types of conditional sentences. It’s important to use the correct structure for each of these different types, because they express varying meanings. Pay attention to verb tense when using different conditional modes. Use a comma after the if-clause when the if-clause precedes the main clause. Conditional sentences are statements discussing known factors or hypothetical situations and their consequences. We use them to communicate that something is true or happens only if something else is true or happens—that is, only under a certain condition. Complete conditional sentences contain a conditional clause (often referred to as the if-clause) and the consequence. Consider the following sentences: If a certain condition is true, then a particular result happens. I would travel around the world if I won the lottery. When water reaches 100 degrees, it boils. Here’s a tip: Want to make sure your writing shines? Grammarly can check your spelling and save you from grammar and punctuation mistakes. It even proofreads your text, so your work is extra polished wherever you write. Your writing, at its best
1 Zero conditional sentences 2 First conditional sentences 3 Second conditional sentences 4 Third conditional sentences Let’s look at each of these types of conditional sentences in more detail. How to use zero conditional sentences
If you don’t brush your teeth, you get cavities. When people smoke cigarettes, their health suffers.
When people smoke cigarettes, their health will suffer. Second, notice that the words if and when can be used interchangeably in these zero conditional sentences. This is because the outcome will be the same any time the condition is in place; there’s no difference in meaning for if and when to communicate. How to use first conditional sentences First conditional sentences are used to express situations in which the outcome is likely (but not guaranteed) to happen in the future. Look at the examples below: If you rest, you will feel better. If you set your mind to a goal, you’ll eventually achieve it.
If you will rest, you will feel better. If you rest, you will feel better.
If you set your mind to a goal, you eventually achieve it. If you set your mind to a goal, you’ll eventually achieve it.
How to use second conditional sentences Second conditional sentences are useful for expressing outcomes that are completely unrealistic or will not likely happen in the future. Consider the examples below: If I inherited a billion dollars, I would travel to the moon. If I owned a zoo, I might let people interact with the animals more.
If I inherit a billion dollars, I would travel to the moon. If I inherited a billion dollars, I would travel to the moon.
If I owned a zoo, I will let people interact with the animals more. If I owned a zoo, I might let people interact with the animals more.
How to use third conditional sentences Third conditional sentences are used to explain that present circumstances would be different if something different had happened in the past. Look at the following examples: If you had told me you needed a ride, I would have left earlier. If I had cleaned the house, I could have gone to the movies.
Note that when using the third conditional, we use the past perfect (i.e., had + past participle) in the if-clause. The modal auxiliary (would, could, should, etc.) + have + past participle in the main clause expresses the theoretical situation that could have happened. Consider these common mistakes when applying the third conditional:
If you would have told me you needed a ride, I would have left earlier. If you had told me you needed a ride, I would have left earlier.
If I had cleaned the house, I could go to the movies. If I had cleaned the house, I could have gone to the movies.
Exceptions and special cases when using conditional sentences As with most topics in the English language, conditional sentences often present special cases in which unique rules must be applied. Use of the simple future in the if-clause Generally speaking, the simple future should be used only in the main clause. One exception is when the action in the if-clause will take place after the action in the main clause. For example, consider the following sentence: If aspirin will ease my headache, I will take a couple tonight. The action in the if-clause is the aspirin easing the headache, which will take place only after the speaker takes them later that night. Were to in the if-clause The verb phrase were to is sometimes used in conditional sentences when the likely or unlikely result is particularly awful or unthinkable. In this case, were to is used to place emphasis on this potential outcome. Consider these sentences: If I were to be sick, I would miss another day of work. If she were to be late again, she would have to have a conference with the manager. If the rent were to have been a penny more, they would not have been able to pay it. Note that the emphatic were to can be used to describe hypothetical scenarios in the present, future, or past. Punctuating conditional sentences Despite the complex nature of conditional sentences, punctuating them properly is really simple! Here’s how it works: Use a comma after the if-clause when the if-clause precedes the main clause.
If I’d had time, I would have cleaned the house. If the main clause precedes the if-clause, no punctuation is necessary. Yüklə 27,49 Kb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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