CONDITIONAL CLAUSES
Conditional Type | Form | Use |
Conditional 0 | If + simple present==> simple present | General truth / scientific facts |
Conditional 1 | If + simple present==> simple future ( will / won’t + verb) | Possible condition in the future |
Conditional 2 | If + simple past ==> would / could / might + verb | Impossible / unreal / imaginary condition in the present |
Conditional 3 | If + past perfect ==> would have /could have / might have +past participle | Impossible / unreal / imaginary condition in the past |
Conditional Type “0”
EXAMPLES:
If people don't eat, they get hungry.
If you heat ice, it melts.
If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.
If people eat too much, they get fat.
If you touch a fire, you get burned.
People die if they don't eat.
You get water if you mix hydrogen and oxygen.
These are facts and they don't change with time or place because they are always true.
( in the past, the present and the future)
Conditional Type “1”
EXAMPLES:
If I study today, I'll go to the party tonight.
If it rains during the weekend, we won't go to the park.
If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes.
She'll miss the bus if she doesn't leave soon.
If the weather does not improve , we will not have a picnic.
In conditional type"1", we are talking about a future possibility but under a certain condition. The action may be fulfilled or not depending on the condition.
The guy in the first example may or may not go to the party. It all depends on the condition.
Imagine that he studies, so he will go to that party.
Imagine the contrary- that he doesn't study, so he won't go to the party.
Conditional Type “2”
EXAMPLES:
She would travel all over the world if she were rich.
If I had his number, I would call him. (I don't have his number now, so it's impossible for me to call him).
If I had enough money, I would buy a big house.
If she were not always so late, she would be promoted.
If we lived in Mexico, I would pick up some Spanish.
She would be happier if she had more friends.
In conditional type "2", we are talking about an imaginary, unreal situation IN THE PRESENT which is contrary to facts or to reality.
The person in the first example IS NOT RICH , SO SHE WON'T / CAN'T TRAVEL ALL OVER THE WORLD. It's impossible for her NOW, AT THE PRESENT TIME.
Conditional Type “3”
In conditional type "3", we are talking about an imaginary, unreal situation IN THE PAST which is contrary to facts or to reality.
EXAMPLES:
If she had studied, she would have passed the exam (but, really we know she didn't study and so she didn't pass).
If I hadn't eaten so much, I wouldn't have felt sick (but I ate a lot, and so I felt sick).
If we had taken a taxi, we wouldn't have missed the plane.
She wouldn't have been tired if she had gone to bed earlier.
She would have become a teacher if she had gone to university.
He would have been on time for the interview if he had left the house at nine.
BACCALAUREATE EXAM PRACTICE
REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES BEGINNING WITH THE WORDS GIVEN:
N.B =
* Since conditionals type 2 and type 3 are contrary to facts ( unreal, imaginary), the verbs in the situation ( reality)
change from positive ( affirmative) to negative and vice versa.
** We always use the “cause” clause with “if” and the “effect” clause in the main clause.
Example:
She didn't study and so she didn't pass the exam.
Or
She didn’t pass the exam because she didn’t study.
Or
She didn't study, that’s why she didn't pass the exam.
Or
She didn't study. As a result, she didn't pass the exam.
In this situation, we have two clauses, cause and effect.
The cause: she didn’t study
The effect / result / consequence: she didn’t pass the exam.
Since this situation (reality) is in the past, conditional type 3 is required (needed).
IF+PAST PERFECT>>>>>>>>>> WOULD HAVE / COULD HAVE / MIGHT HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE.
The cause: she didn’t study>>>>>>>> IF SHE HAD STUDIED
The effect / result / consequence: she didn’t pass the exam>>>>>>>>>>WOULD HAVE PASSED THE EXAM.
ALL THESE SENTENCES ARE TAKEN FROM NATIONAL BACCALAUREATE EXAMS (2005-2011)
1- Kamal failed his English test because he didn’t attend the English classes regularly.
If Kamal ……………………………………………………..
2- My father didn’t get a loan from the bank. So he couldn’t buy a new car.
If …………………………………………………………………………
3- Salah didn’t buy the farm because he didn’t get financial support from the bank.
If ………………………………………………………………………
4- Dr Fathi didn’t get a visa. He couldn’t attend the conference in France.
If …………………………………………………………………
5- I didn’t phone you because it was late.
If………………………………………………………………………………
6- It didn’t rain enough last year in Morocco, so fruit exports decreased considerably.
If……………………………………………………………………………
7- Souad made many mistakes because she didn’t revise her composition.
If ………………………………………………….
8- He had an accident because the traffic was heavy.
If ……………………………………………………………………
9- Rahma didn’t find a house because she was an immigrants
If …………………………………………………………………………
10- The new secretary was laid off because she didn’t do her job well.
If………………………………………………………..
11- The children are not well educated because the family is not small.
If ………………………………………………………………………
12- I couldn’t get in touch because I didn’t have your phone number.
If ………………………………………….
13- You touched the dog so it bit you.
If ………………………………
14- They lost the match because they did not play well.
If ………………………………
15- He was deadly drunk , so he was killed in a road accident.
If ………………………………
CONDITIONALS
MORE PRACTICE
1- If I were you, I.......... to a smaller house.
A) would move
B) had moved
C) was moving
D) have moved
E) moved
2- ............. I would invite you to dinner.
A) If I knew how to cook
B) Since it was only six o'clock in the evening
C) Unless the shops are all closed
D) Even though everyone was free
E) Whether my wife can get back in time
3- ....... I would refuse to obey that order.
A) If I were you
B) Although he's wrong
C) When I leave the meeting
D) Whether you signed the document
E) As long as the lecture lasted
4- If only we ......... the holiday better, we .......... all the major cities of Germany.
A) have planned/visited
B) had planned/could have visited
C) planned/visit
D) plan/are visiting
E) could have planned/had visited
5- It's so hot and dry here; I wish I.......... on holiday soon.
A) had gone
B) have gone
C) could go
D) will go
E) could have gone
6- If the advertisement were on television, ............ .
A) there may be a great demand for it
B) they would have had a place in the market
C) it might reach a larger group of people
D) they were selling more and more goods
E) it can be too expensive and complicated for them
7- "I can't possibly get these papers filed by midday unless someone helps me."
A) Unless you help me till 12 o'clock, I'm not going to file all these papers.
B) I shall have to have some help, if I am to get this filing job finished by 12 o'clock.
C) The papers have to be filed before lunch time, so you will have to help me.
D) I'll help you file those papers before lunch if I possibly can.
E) It's possible that with your help we can get these papers filed today.
8- The play starts in half an hour; ........... we hurry, we're going to be late.
A) when
B) in case
C) unless
D) since
E) whether
9- If the rules hadn't been ignored ........ .
A) the problem could become that serious
B) it will be easier to communicate with them
C) this error would never have occurred
D) there have been no disagreements so far
E) they may not feel a need to strengthen the police force
10-If we don't start early in the morning........
A) you'd better pack up now
B) we may not get there before it gets dark
C) the main road has been blocked
D) we wouldn't have had time to enjoy the view
E) we were still worried about our flight to Rome
11-If I had saved enough money last year........
A) I still can't pay the bill
B) I would have gone to Europe this April
C) we might even be able to buy a car
D) I was also working as a shop assistant
E) we had been staying in a big hotel
12- Unless the necessary precautions are taken immediately .............. .
A) we shall not be able to control the epidemic
B) there has been heavy rain resulting in widespread flooding
C) all the attempts to rescue the passengers were in vain
D) the casualties have been taken to the nearest hospital
E) the country suffered the worst economic disaster since 1927
13-............... if all nations work together.
A) The threat to the environment can only be overcome
B) They wouldn't have been in such a difficult position now
C) The committee decided to sign the agreement
D) There would be a steady improvement in the company's trading position
E) The new manager has many problems to solve
14-"We'll have to set off by 6 in the morning if we are to get there in the daylight."
A) It gets light by 6 a.m., so we don't need to travel in the dark.
B) Though we leave before 6 a.m., it will be dark by the time we arrive there.
C) Let's leave in the dark so as to be there before 6 a.m.
D) We left at 6 a.m. in order to arrive before it got dark.
E) It will be necessary to leave at 6 a.m. at the latest if we are to arrive before dark.
15-I wish I ........... you, but I was short of money myself.
A) have helped
B) can help
C) would help
D) could have helped
E) help
16-If I had known you were coming..........
A) I may ask John to join us
B) there is a very good meal waiting for you
C) l would have arranged to stay at home this evening
D) you won't need to take a taxi to the station
E) I ought to have given you my telephone number
17- Take your credit card with you .......... you are expected to pay for the dinner.
A) in case
B) unless
C) so that
D) but
E) whether
18- If they let us know which flight they are coming on, then of course we ........ them at the airport.
A) have met
B) will meet
C) would have met
D) had met
E) met
19-........... it's important to replace the water you lose through sweating.
A) When sales of bottled water had increased
B) Even if you don't feel thirsty after exercising
C) Although more than half the weight of the human body is water
D) Not only do we get some water from the foods we eat
E) Since tap-water is the most reliable source
20- If only you had consulted the dentist when the trouble began .......... .
A) the pain naturally stops as soon as you arrive for your appointment
B) this tooth could not have been saved
C) you can get his number from the telephone directory
D) you would not be needing all this expensive treatment now
E) I can recommend mine with great confidence
21-If I.......... you were coining round to see me this afternoon I......... a cake for us.
A) would have known/have made
B) have known/will make
C) did know/had made
D) knew/will have made
E) had known/would have made
22-If I .......... how far away the concert hall was, I......... there by bus.
A) realize/have gone
B) have realized/went
C) had realized/would have gone
D) realized/will go
E) will realize/go
23-If you .......... me know what bus you were taking, I.......... there to meet you.
A) had let/would have been
B) would let/will have been
C) let/have been
D) will let/would be
E) would have let/had been
ANSWERS
1.A
2.A
3.A
4.B
5.C
6.C
7.B
8.C
9.C
10.B
11.B
12.A
13.A
14.E
15.D
16.C
17.A
18.B
19.B
20.D
21.E
22.C
23.A
ENJOYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
Sincerelyours
And Blessed Are The Ones Who Care For Their Fellow Men!
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