Practice and Improve Your Grammar part 2

We don't usually put will in the if-clause unless we are using the full emphatic form to mean 'if you insist' (5) or when it is part of a polite invitation or request (6).

5 If you will put off doing your homework, then of course you'll get bad marks.

6 If you'll just follow me, I'll take you to your room. • If you'll open the door, I'll bring these in.

EXERCISE 17. Find an example of each of the following in the paragraphs.

1 a present tense factual conditional

2 a past tense factual conditional

3 a predictive conditional

EXERCISE 18. Choose an ending (a-f) for each beginning (1-6). Choose the correct verb.

1If there is/was a lot to do, (...)

2If the students come/came to us, (...)

3If the test is/will be difficult, (...)

4If there is/was a lot to carry, (...)

5If you don't/didn't want to study. (…)

6If it is/was cold and wet, (...)

ashe won't do well.

bwe can't make you do it.

сshe goes by bus.

dwe can usually help them.

ewe ask the porter to help us.

feveryone helped.

UNREAL CONDITIONALS

Hypothetical conditionals

We use a hypothetical conditional to express a distant and unlikely connection between one imaginary event (if+ past tense) and another imaginary event (would). It is also called the 'second conditional'.

1 If I got the job, I'd move to London. • If you lived closer, we'd visit you more often.

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The past subjunctive {were) is also used in a hypothetical conditional: If I were you, I'd go.

The most common modal in the main clause is would, but we also use other modals such as could and might.

2 If you came in the summer, you could stay with us and you might even get your own room.

We don't usually put would in the if-clause unless we are using it to express a desired outcome (3).

3 If he would only behave himself, I'd take him with me. • If it would stop raining, we'd go.

Counterfactual conditionals

We use a counterfactual conditional to express an imaginary connection between one event that never happened (if+ past perfect) and another event that also never happened (would have + past participle). It is also called the 'third conditional'.

4 He didn't call me. I didn't help him. • If he had called me, I would have helped him.

The most common modal in the main clause is would have, but we also use other modals such as might have and could have.

5 If she had asked us, we might have known how to fix it, or we could have tried at least.

The contracted form you'd can be you had in the if-clause or you would in the main clause.

6 If you'd seen him, you'd have laughed. (= If you had seen him, you would have laughed) • We'd have been really disappointed if they'd lost. (= We would have ... if they had)

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EXERCISE 19. Find an example of each of the following in the paragraphs.

1 a hypothetical conditional

2 a counterfactual conditional

EXERCISE 20. Complete each sentence with an unreal conditional using information from the sentences above it.

	Example:	I don't have extra pens. I won't give you one.
		If I had extra pens, I would give you one.
1	I don't know Jason's phone number. I can't tell him what happened. If …
2	She didn't prepare for the test. She didn't pass. If …
3	You didn't warn us about the bad weather. I didn't bring a raincoat. If …
4	I'm not in your situation. I'll start looking for another job.		If …

EXERCISE 21. Choose one of these verbs for each space in this text (about saving money for retirement).

decided	were	would contribute	would start
started	had started	would cost	would have contributed
wanted	could do	would end up	could have paid

How many times have you heard, 'If I (1) …….. you, I (2) …….. saving now for retirement.'? If you (3) …….. to have £100,000 at age 65, you (4) …….. it for as little as £31 per month. The earlier you start, the lower your monthly payments will be and the lower your total payment (the amount you contribute) will be.

Look at Sandra. She's 24 now. Beginning next year, if she (5) …….. investing £31 every month, she (6) …….. only £14,880 in total over forty years. So, she'd invest less than £15,000 in total and receive £100,000 from her investment.

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Now look at David. He's 55. If he (7) …….. investing at 30, he (8) …….. only £46 every month and (9) …….. £19,320. But if he (10) …….. to start investing now, it (11) …….. £552 every month and he (12) …….. paying a total of £66,240. Doesn't it make sense to start early?

EXERCISE 22. Editing. Correct the mistakes in the use of conditionals in this text.

My mother keeps trying to give me a big old armchair that used to belong to my grandparents. I remember that, when I was a child, if my grandfather sit (sat) in that chair after dinner, he always fall asleep. He snored too. If his feet are near the fire, his slippers start to smoke and my grandmother has to rush over and wake him up. I have also noticed recently that if my father sit in that chair, he immediately go to sleep and start snoring. My mother get really annoyed if that happen. It's like a chair with a curse. I am worried that if I take the chair, the same thing happen to me. I don't have this dilemma if my older brother didn't move away two years ago. If he stays, he is given the chair first and I am not faced with the problem. But it is a really nice-looking chair and maybe I could make room for it. If I move a small table, the chair fit in my living room next to the fire. Do I really have a problem if I settle into its comfortable embrace after dinner and give in to its seductive charms? But who wake me up if my slippers catch fire?

MIXED CONDITIONALS

Mixed real conditionals

In factual conditionals, we usually use the same tense in both clauses (1), but we sometimes use a mixture of past and present tenses in the clauses (2).

1 If it snowed heavily, we didn't go to school. • If she works late, I wait for her.

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2 If you saw the film, you know how it ends. • If they don't understand what to do, they probably weren't listening earlier.

Some factual conditionals are used to describe habits in the past with would (3). It has the same meaning as used to. It makes the sentence look like a hypothetical conditional, but it isn't.

3 When we were kids, if it rained a lot, we'd stay indoors. But if it was sunny, we'd often go down to the lake.

In predictive conditionals, we usually use the present simple in the if-clause (4), but we can also use the past simple (5) or present perfect (6).

4 If we don't eat now, we'll get hungry later during the concert. 5 If you studied for the test, you won't have any problems.

6 If they've finished already, we'll give them something else to do.

When we use predictive conditionals to express a preference, we can include would with verbs of 'liking' or 'not liking' in the main clause (7). We can also use would rather plus the base form of a verb when we express a preference between alternatives which have been suggested (8).

7 If it isn't too late, we'd like to watch the news on TV.

8 If it's OK with you, I'd rather stay here. (You suggested going somewhere else.)

Mixed unreal conditionals

In hypothetical conditionals, instead of connecting an imaginary event to a possible present or future event using would (9), we can connect it to a possible past event with would have (10).

9 If we were rich, we would offer to help those poor people who are suffering. 10 If we were rich, we would have offered to help those poor people who were suffering.

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In counterfactual conditionals, instead of connecting an imaginary past event to another past event using would have (11), we can connect it to a present event or situation using would (12).

11 If your parents hadn't met, you wouldn't have been born. 12 If your parents hadn't met, you wouldn't be sitting here now.

EXERCISE 23. Add he or he'd and the following words to this extract from the poem The Rum Turn Tugger by T. S. Eliot.

chase have prefer rather wants

The Rum Turn Tugger is a Curious Cat.

If you offer him pheasant, (1) …….. would …….. have grouse. If you put him in a house, (2) …….. would much …….. a flat, If you put him in a flat, then (3) …….. rather …….. a house.

If you set him on a mouse, then (4) …….. only …….. a rat, If you set him on a rat, then (5) …….. rather …….. a mouse. Yes, the Rum Turn Tugger is a Curious Cat.

ORDER AND PUNCTUATION IN CONDITIONALS

We can put the if-clause before or after the main clause (1). When we put the if- clause first, it's clearer to separate the two clauses with a comma (2).

1 If you feel dizzy, you shouldn't go to work. • You shouldn't go to work if you feel dizzy.

2 If I had some eggs, I could make a cake. • If I go and get some eggs, will you make one?

We can also emphasize the fact that the main clause is a consequence of the if- clause by putting then at the beginning of the main clause.

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3 The bus service is limited. If you hire a car, then you'll be able to go wherever you choose. • If the key isn't in the drawer, then Cathy must have taken it.

Note that we don't use so in this way. (NOT If it isn't there, so Cathy must have taken it.)

When we add an if-clause after a main clause as an additional comment, we can use a comma to show that the if-clause is separate.

4 I'd like to get a ticket, if they still have some. • Kate always goes to work, even if she feels bad.

EXERCISE 24. Add the word if four times to the following description. Put in the missing full stops and commas.

A number of idioms have come from the game of cricket something is described as not cricket it means that it is not fair or honourable someone is on a sticky wicket they are in a difficult situation this is because balls do not bounce very well the ground near the wicket is sticky (wet and muddy) it is said that someone had a good innings it means they had a long fife or career.

EXERCISE 25. Choose one verb from each pair to complete the clauses below. Add the completed clauses to the sentences (1–8), with appropriate punctuation.

completes	don't watch	isn't	I have paid	take
has completed	didn't watch	wasn't	are paying	took
didn't eat	will stay	would arrive	wouldn't be
hadn't eaten	would stay	would have arrived	wouldn't have been
Example: if you have paid		the men already
if I …….. so much at lunch		if Sarah …….. all her work already
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if it …….. going to be a problem	I …….. so tired now
if you …….. television as a child	we …….. in bed until noon
if they …….. the test earlier today	it …….. by now, I'm sure

	Example: If you have paid the men already , they probably won't come
	back to work after lunch.
1	…….. they won't get the results until tomorrow.
2	…….. I'd like to leave my bike in the hallway tonight.
3	If William sent the letter last week ……..
4	If it was a terribly cold day outside ……..
5	If the neighbour's dog hadn't started barking at 4 a.m. ……..
6	I wouldn't feel so full now ……..
7	…….. we can let her leave early today.
8	…….. you probably won't know why some of these people from old TV
	programs are famous.

THE USES OF CONDITIONALS

EXERCISE 26. Write the numbers of appropriate examples in the spaces.

Factual conditionals: What happens if... ? What happened if... ?

We use factual conditionals to describe typical patterns in the present (_) or the past (_) .

1 What happens if there's a lot of demand? If demand increases, prices usually go up.

2 What happened if there was bad weather? If it was really bad, crops failed and people starved.

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We can use factual conditionals to express rules (_), habits (_) and correlations, such as scientific observations (_). We can also use them with imperative forms in the main clause when we are explaining how to do something (_).

3 If people earn more, they spend more. • If the paper turns red, the solution is acid.

4 If it was a nice Sunday morning, we always walked to church. 5 If the ball touches the line, it's in, not out.

6 If you need customer service, press 1. If you want to place an order, press 2.

Predictive conditionals: What will happen if... ?

We use predictive conditionals to describe possibilities.

7 What will happen if the situation gets worse? If things get worse, we'll leave the country.

We can use predictive conditionals for plans (_) and predictions (_). We can also use them with questions in the main clause to ask about future events (_) or to make requests (_).

8 If we have time later, we'll go to the theatre and get tickets for the concert. 9 If Williams is mentally ready, she'll win easily.

10 If you have a moment, will you check this for me? 11 If the camps are closed, where will these people go?

Hypothetical conditionals: What would happen if... ?

We use hypothetical conditionals to describe imaginary or fictional situations. 12 What would happen if a volcano erupted underneath the ocean? If a volcano erupted underneath the ocean, there would be a huge tidal wave.

We can use hypothetical conditionals to talk about completely imaginary situations (_), or to describe the potential outcomes of a course of action (_). We can also use them when we want to express willingness to do something, despite lack of ability (_).

13 If I were feeling better, I would help you move your boxes.

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14 If England was a communist country, there wouldn't be a queen.

15 If they agreed to make classes smaller, we could give each student more attention.

Counterfactual conditionals: What would have happened if... ?

We use counterfactual conditionals to imagine past events happening in a different way and having different outcomes.

16 What would have happened if she hadn't said 'Yes'? • If she had said 'No', I would have been devastated.

We can use counterfactual conditionals when we express regret (_) or assign blame (_).

17 If I had told her that I loved her more often, she might not have left me. 18 If you had listened to his advice, we wouldn't have lost all our money.

EXERCISE 27. Each of these questions can be answered by one of the example sentences (1–18). Decide which type of conditional each answer will be and choose the most appropriate sentence.

Example: Can you remember your childhood? What happened if the weather was nice? (..factual, 4..)

1 What do you think will happen if there's a Carrera-Williams final? (…) 2 What happens in the economy if real wages rise? (…)

3 What would happen if your ideas about class size were adopted? (…) 4 Can you remember what the rule is if the ball hits the line? (…)

5 What would you have felt if Helen had given a negative answer? (…) 6 What do I do if I want to order something? (…)

7 What did he actually say would happen if he didn't have the flu? (…)

8 What would have happened if I had paid better attention to what your father said? (…)

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