Conditional Grammar, Part 1:“Real Conditionals”

Let’s study the rules Let’s study the rules for this week’s for this week’s

grammar.grammar.

Let’s start with some examples:

1. It’s 6:00 a.m. on Monday morning, and Margaret is getting ready for work. She has to hurry because …

If she is late for work, Margaret’s boss will be angry.

What tense is the first verb in?

What tense is the second verb in?

2. It’s 3:00, and John is at work. He doesn’t feel well. He has a terrible headache.

John will go home early if he doesn’t feel better soon.

What tense is the first verb in?

What tense is the second verb in?

3. It’s Saturday morning, and Marissa has a busy day ahead of her. She has to do a lot of chores and run some errands. But . . .

If she has time before dinner, she is going to see a movie with her friend.

What tense is the first verb in?

What tense is the second verb in?

If I finish my homework early, I’ll watch TV for a while.

In this type of sentence . . .o Put the verb in _________ tense after IFo Put the other verb in the _________

tenseo Which clause gives the condition?

o Which clause gives the result of the condition?

About Real Conditionals:

Real Conditional sentences have two clauses or phrases:

1) If clause: gives the condition and has a verb in simple present tense

1) Main clause: gives the result and has a verb in future. The two ways to make the future are:

-will-be going to

It doesn’t matter what order the clauses are in:

a. Karen will look for a new job if she doesn’t get a raise soon.

b. If she doesn’t get a raise soon, Karen will look for a new job.

Important Note: if you begin with IF, use a comma between the two clauses.

Be careful with negative forms:

Remember, for the present tense negative use:

But for present tense BE, simply use:

For the future negative, use:

More examples:(with negatives)

1. If my family doesn’t come to visit me this year, I’ll be very sad.

2. Linda and her family won’t get a dog if their new apartment complex prohibits it.

UnlessUnless Unless means the same as if not.Unless means the same as if not. We do not use a negative structureWe do not use a negative structure in the unless in the unless

clauseclause i.e.: i.e.: unless we don’t protect unless we don’t protect languageslanguages X in correct!!X in correct!!

UnlessUnless we protect languages, they will become we protect languages, they will become extinct.=extinct.=if if we we don’t don’t protect languages, they will protect languages, they will become extinct.become extinct.

We cannot speak a foreign language fluently We cannot speak a foreign language fluently unlessunless we practice we practice the previously learnt discussion structures.= we cannot speak a the previously learnt discussion structures.= we cannot speak a foreign language fluently foreign language fluently ifif we we don’tdon’t practice the previously practice the previously learnt structures. learnt structures.

when& as soon aswhen& as soon as They can replace They can replace if if in the first conditional. We use in the first conditional. We use

them when we are sure that something will them when we are sure that something will happenhappen

i.e:i.e:As soon asAs soon as they arrive, we they arrive, we’ll’ll start the meeting.start the meeting.

WhenWhen they arrive, call me and I’ they arrive, call me and I’ll ll meet them. meet them.

IMPORTANTIMPORTANT!!! We NEVER use a FUTURE TENSE !!! We NEVER use a FUTURE TENSE with these time expressions!!!with these time expressions!!!

When the train When the train will arrive XXX INCORRECT! XXX INCORRECT!As soon as they As soon as they will comewill come XXX INCORRECT!XXX INCORRECT!

Your turn to practice:Complete each sentence with an appropriate idea. Be sure to use

correct grammar.1. IF I have time tomorrow, I …2. I will buy a new television IF …3. IF you don’t practice English often, …4. IF I feel sick tomorrow, …5. The teacher will help you IF …6. I will lend you $10 IF …7. IF the weather is nice tomorrow, …8. I’ll be upset IF…9. Unless we study harder…10. As soon as the teacher comes to the

classroom,…11. When the exam starts,…