Writing in English seems not to be an easy job, especially, writing a good English essay or article since it requires many skills. First, good writers need to have lots of vocabularies in their brain so that they can select right word for their essay. Then, they should have enough knowledge in English grammar. This week I want to learn English grammar as I found that sometimes I still use it in the wrong way.
As Conditional / If-Clause sentence seems to be one of the most English grammar problem for many students, I would want to start at this first.
Conditional Sentences are also known as Conditional Clauses or If 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.
Real Conditions (first conditional)
- If + Present Simple + will / won't (do)
This shows the results in the future of a real situation, with possible or likely results.
Ex. If you eat all the ice-cream, you'll be sick!
- Other variants
If can also be followed by can / can't, present perfect (to emphasize completion),
going to, present continuous with future meaning.
Ex. If you can't answer this exercise, you won't be able to do next exercise.
If you've finished washing the floor, I'll help you clean the kitchen.
The second clause can contain could requests, be able to, can, goting to, imperative, had better, could and might etc.
Ex. If I give you the money, could you get me some stamps?
If you've finished washing the clothes, you can start doing your homework.
Future Results: If clauses with will
- There are some if-sentences that describe the possible results of an offer. In these sentences, will is used in the if-clause.
Ex. I'll talk to your teacher, if that will stop you worrying so much.
- In some if-sentences, if is followed by emphasized will, meaning 'insist on', or won't meaning 'refuse to'.
Ex. If you will wear such thin clothes, of course you'll feel cold!
If you won't listen to common sense, there's no point my talking to you.
- If can be followed by will and would as polite request forms.
Ex. If you'll just wait here, I'll tell Mr. Brown that you've arrived.
If you'd just fill in this form, I'll check the details.
Unreal Conditions (second conditional)
- If + Past Simple + Would (do)
This shows the results which would follow from an imaginary situation, with impossible or unlikely results.
Ex. If the Earth didn't have a Moon, there wouldn't be any tides.
- Could and might are often used instead of would, as are other modals.
Ex. If we all worked together, we could solve the problem faster.
- The difference between real and unreal may be a matter of speaker choice and context.
Ex. If you buy a bike, you'll get a lot fitter.
(You are really thinking of buying one - perhaps we are in the bike shop.)
If you bought a bike, you'd get a lot fitter. (We are only discussing possibilities.)
Impossible Past Conditions (Third Conditional)
- If + Past Perfect + would have (done) / (passive would have been done)
Used for the results which would follow from an imaginary past situation. As we cannot change the past, this is an impossible condition. Passive forms are common.
Ex. If the ship had had more lifeboats, more passengers would have been saved.
If the ship hadn't hit an iceberg, it wouldn't have sunk.
If another ship hadn't arrived soon afterwards, none of the passengers would have been saved.
- Could have and might have are often used instead of would have, as are other modals.
Ex. If the ship had been travelling more slowly, it might have avoided the iceberg.
Mixed Conditions
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