Conditional sentences

source : John Fleming - flemingjohn @ fhda.

Conditional sentences




Because conditional sentences are quite complex in both form and meaning, they are a problem for most Learners of Indonesia. Because the conditional sentence is very complex both in form and meaning, they are a problem for most English language learners. If you have a good understanding of the Bahasa tense system and of the capital Auxiliaries, you will find it easier to understand and use conditional sentences. If you have a good understanding of the English tense system and the help of capital, you will find it easier to understand and use conditional sentences. (The sentence you just read is a predictive conditional sentence.) (The sentence you just read is a conditional sentence prediction.)
All conditional sentences contain a dependent clause and an independent clause. All sentences containing dependent clauses and conditional clauses are independent. The dependent clause usually begins with if; it expresses a condition. Dependent clause usually begins with if; it states a condition. The independent clause expresses a result of the condition. Independent clause expresses a result of the condition. The if-clause is usually first, but the order of the clauses is usually not important. If-clause is usually first, but the order of the clause is usually not important. Thus, these two sentences have basically the same meaning: So, these two sentences have basically the same meaning:
If she goes to the store, she will buy ice cream. When he went to the store, he would buy ice cream.
She will buy ice cream if she goes to the store. He'll get ice cream when she went to the store.
You have probably noticed that different teachers, textbooks, and Web sites sometimes explain the same thing in different ways. You may notice that teachers are different, books, and Web sites are sometimes describe the same thing in different ways. This seems to be especially true of conditional sentences. This seems especially true conditional sentence. However, two different Explanations can both be correct, especially if the difference is due to the fact that complicated the material has been organized in different ways. However, two different explanations could both be right, especially if the difference is due to the fact that the complex material has been compiled in various ways. This is often true of Explanations of conditionals that you find in your textbooks. This is often true conditional explanations you find in textbooks. Here conditional sentences are divided into three types based on their Meanings: real, predictive, and imaginative conditional sentences. The following conditional sentence is divided into three types according to meaning: real, predictive, and imaginative conditional sentence.
Also see The Sentence, Modal Auxiliaries, Verbs AL, MZ Verbs, tenses, and adverb Clauses. Also see the sentence, Modal Auxiliaries, says AL, MZ words, tenses, and Adverb Clauses.


A. Real conditional sentences can express generalizations and inferences. A. Real conditional sentences can express generalizations and conclusions.
1. 1. Generalizations include facts that are always true and never change, and they include present or past habitual activities that are or were usually true. Generalizations include the facts that are always true and never change, and their current or past habits or activities, including the usually right.
Real conditionals expressing generalizations usually have the same tense (usually simple present or simple past) in both clauses. Real conditionals express generalizations usually have the same tense (usually the simple present or simple past) in the second clause. However, if the simple present tense is used in the if-clause, will + verb can be used in the main clause without changing the meaning. However, if the time is now simply used in if-clause, would + verb can be used in the main clause without changing the meaning.
Examples of real conditional sentences expressing facts: Example of real conditional sentences expressing facts:
If water boils, it turns to steam. If the water boils, turn into steam.
If water boils, it will turn to steam. If the water boils, it will turn into steam.
Examples of real conditional sentences expressing habitual activities: a real example of a conditional sentence to express the habit of activity:
If he eats breakfast, he feels better all day. If he eats breakfast, he felt better throughout the day.
If he eats breakfast, he will feel better all day. If he eats breakfast, she'll feel better throughout the day.
If he ate breakfast, he felt better all day. If he eats breakfast, he felt better throughout the day.
These generalizations can also be Expressed by using or whenever when instead of if: Generalization can also be expressed by using the time or at any time rather than if:
When water boils, it turns to steam. When the water boils, turn into steam.
When he eats breakfast, he feels better all day. When he ate breakfast, she felt better throughout the day.
When he ate breakfast, he felt better all day. When he ate breakfast, she felt better throughout the day.
2. 2. Inferences are often Expressed in real conditional sentences. The conclusion is often expressed in real conditional sentence.
Real conditionals expressing inferences usually have parallel verb phrases in both clauses. Real conditionals express a conclusion usually has a verb phrase in the second parallel clause. However, if a capital which explicitly expresses an inference (must or should, for example) is used in the main clause, parallel verb phrases are not used. However, if a capital that explicitly expresses a conclusion (or should be, for example) used in the main clause, the parallel verb phrase is not used.
Examples of real conditional sentences expressing inferences: Example of a real conditional sentence states the conclusion:
If today is Wednesday, it is George's birthday. If this day Wednesday, it was George's birthday.
If I can do it, anyone can do it. If I could do it, anyone can do it.
if it is raining, The Streets are getting wet. if it rains, the wet street.
If he was at school, he saw the accident. If he's at school, he saw the accident.
If today is Wednesday, it must be George's birthday. If this day Wednesday, it must be George's birthday.
If I can do it, anyone must be able to do it. If I can do it, anyone should be able to do it.
if it is raining, The Streets must be getting wet. if it rains, the streets must be wet.
If he was at school, he must have seen the accident. If he's at school, he must have seen the accident.


B. Predictive conditional sentences can express predictions and plans. B. Input sentence can express conditional predictions and plans.
1. Predictive conditional sentences usually contain simple present tense in the if-clause and will or be going to in the result clause. 1. Conditional input usually contain simple sentences in present tense when-clause and will or will go to in clause results. However, a weaker capital of prediction (may or should, for example) can be used in the result clause to express less certainty. However, weaker capital than expected (can or should be, for example) can be used in the clause to express less certainty of outcome.
2. Examples of predictive conditional sentences: 2. Examples of predictive conditional sentence:
If the exam is hard, many students are going to fail. If the exam is difficult, many students will fail.
If Mary does well on the final exam, she will get an A in the class. If Mary is not well on final exams, he'll get an A in class.
If George does well on the final exam, he may get an A in the class. If George is not well on final exams, he might get an A in class.
If Fred studies, he should pass the exam. If Fred's study, he must pass the exam.


C. Imaginative conditional sentences are the most difficult for many Learners of Indonesia because of the unusual relationship between form (the tenses used) and meaning. C. imaginative conditional sentence of the most difficult for many English language learners because of the relationship between the unusual shape (which tenses are used) and meaning.
In this type of conditional sentence, past tense refers to present or future time; past perfect tense refers to past time. In this type of conditional sentences, past tense refers to present or future; past perfect tense refers to the past. Another problem for many Learners of Indonesia is that were (not was) is used with singular subjects. Be is the only Home verb with two past tense forms, but only one of them (were) is used in imaginative conditional sentences. Another problem for many English language learners is that they (not being) used with a single subject. Be is the only one English verb with two past tense forms, but only one of them (are) used in conditional sentences imaginative.
Imaginative conditional sentences can express hypothetical or contrary-to-fact events or states. Able to express imaginative hypothetical conditional sentence or contrary-to-fact events or states.
1. Hypothetical events or states are Unlikely but possible in the present or future. 1. Hypothetical events or states that are not possible but may in the present or future.
Conditional sentences expressing imaginative hypothetical events or states have a past tense verb in the if-clause and would + verb (or might or could + verb) in the result clause. Imaginative sentences conditionally express hypothetical events or states have the verb in the past if-clause and would + verb (or might or could + verb) in the clause.
Examples of hypothetical conditional sentences (present and / or future time): Example of hypothetical conditional sentences (present and / or future time):
If George had enough money, he would buy a new car. If George had enough money, he would buy a new car.
If I won the lottery, I would buy you a present. If I win the lottery, I'll buy a present for you.
If she knew the answer, she would tell us. If he knew the answer, he'll tell us.
(George probably does not have enough money; I probably will not win the lottery; she probably does not know the answer.) (George may not have enough money, I probably will not win the lottery, he might not know the answer.)
2. -To-contrary fact events or states are either impossible in the present time or did not happen in the past. 2. Different-to-fact events or states that either are not possible in the present or does not happen in the past.
Conditional sentences expressing imaginative present contrary-to-fact events or states have a past verb in the if-clause and would + verb (or might or could + verb) in the result clause. Expressing a conditional sentence is now opposed imaginative-to-fact events or states have a past verb in the if-clause and would + verb (or might or could + verb) in the clause. Some examples: Some examples:
If I were you, I would not do that. If I were you, I'm not going to do it.
If she studied for exams, she would get better grades. If he was studying for exams, he will get a better value.
If it were raining, The Streets would be wet. If it rains, the roads will be wet.
(I am not you; she does not study for exams; it is not raining.) (I am not you; she does not study for exams, but it is not raining.)
Expressing imaginative past conditional sentences contrary-to-fact events or states have a past perfect verb in the if-clause and would + have + verb (or might or could + have + verb) in the result clause. Conditional sentences expressing imaginative past conflict-to-fact events or states have a verb past perfect in the if-clause and would + have + verb (or might or could + have + verb) in the clause. Some examples: Some examples:
If George had had enough money, he would have bought a new car. If George had had enough money, he would buy a new car.
If I had won the lottery, I would have bought you a present. If I had won the lottery, I'll buy a present for you.
If she had known the answer, she would have told us. If he already knew the answer, he'll tell us.
(George did not have enough money; I did not win the lottery; she did not know the answer.) (George did not have enough money, I did not win the lottery, he did not know the answer.)