Conditionals
Listed below are examples, uses and formation of Conditionals followed by some exercises.
Examples and usage
Conditional 0
If I am late, my father takes me to school.
She doesn't worry if Julian stays out after school.
Situations that are always true if something happens.
NOTE
This use is similiar to, and can usually be replaced by, a time clause using 'when' (example: When I am late, my father takes me to school.)
Conditional 1
If it rains, we will stay at home.
He will arrive late unless he hurries up.
Simon will buy a new car, if he gets his raise.
Often called the "real" conditional because it is used for real - or possible - situations. These situations take place if a certain condition is met.
NOTE
In the conditional 1 we often use unless which means 'if ... not'. In other words, '...unless he hurries up.' could also be written, '...if he doesn't hurry up.'.
Conditional 2
If he studied more, he would pass the exam.
I would lower taxes if I were the the Prime Minister.
They would buy a new house if they won the lottery.
Often called the "unreal" conditional because it is used for unreal - impossible or improbable - situations. This conditional provides an imaginary result for a given situation.
NOTE
The verb 'to be', when used in the 2nd conditional, is always conjugated as 'were'.
Conditional 3
If he had known that, he would have decided differently.
Joanna would have found a new job if she had stayed in Gorzów.
Often referred to as the "past" conditional because it concerns only past situations with hypothetical results. Used to express a hypothetical result to a past given situation.
Structure
Conditional 0 is formed by the use of the present simple in the if clause followed by a comma + the present simple in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first without using a comma between the clauses.
If he comes to town, we have dinner
We have dinner if he comes to town.
Conditional 1 is formed by the use of the present simple in the if clause followed by a comma + will + verb (base form) in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first without using a comma between the clauses.
If he finishes on time, we will go to the cinema
We will go to the cinema if he finishes on time.
Conditional 2 is formed by the use of the past simple in the if clause followed by a comma + would + verb (base form) in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first without using a comma between the clauses.
If they won the lottery, they would buy a new house.
They would buy a new house if they won the lottery.
Conditional 3 is formed by the use of the past perfect in the if clause followed by a comma + would have + past participle in the result clause. You can also put the result clause first without using a comma between the clauses.
If Hania had won the competition, life would have changed.
Life would have changed if Hania had won the competition.
Exercises
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REPORTED SPEECH
CLICK HERE TO PRACTICE THE REPORTED SPEECH.
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Verbs Followed by Gerund and/or Infinitive
Gerund only
admit
anticipate
appreciate
avoid
can't help
consider
defend
defer
delay
deny
detest
discuss
dislike
dread
enjoy
excuse
fancy
finish
forgive
imagine
involve
keep (=continue)
mention
mind
miss
pardon
postpone
prevent
quit (=stop)
recall
recollect
resent
resist
resume
risk
save (=avoid the trouble of)
suggest
understand
Infinitive only
afford
agree
appear
arrange
ask
attempt
beg
care
chance
choose
claim
consent
conspire
dare
decide
demand
deserve
endeavor
expect
fail
happen
hesitate
hope
intend
learn
manage
mean
need
omit
offer
plan
prepare
pretend
promise
prove
refuse
remain
rush
seem
struggle
swear
tend
threaten
wait
want
wish
Gerund or Infinitive
attempt*
can/can't bear
begin
cease
continue
dislike
dread
forget*
hate
intend
like
love
neglect
prefer
propose
regret*
remember*
can/can't stand
start
stop*
try*
*These verbs have a different meaning with the gerund or infinitive.
Exercises
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Conjunctions
What is a Conjunction?
You can use a conjunction to link words, phrases, and clauses, as in the following example:
I ate the pizza and the pasta.
Call the movers when you are ready.
Co-ordinating Conjunctions
You use a co-ordinating conjunction ("and," "but," "or," "nor," "for," "so," or "yet") to join individual words, phrases, and independent clauses. Note that you can also use the conjunctions "but" and "for" as prepositions.
In the following sentences, each of the highlighted words is a co-ordinating conjunction:
Lilacs and violets are usually purple.
In this example, the co-ordinating conjunction "and" links two nouns.
This movie is particularly interesting to feminist film theorists, for the screenplay was written by Mae West.
In this example, the co-ordinating conjunction "for" is used to link two independent clauses.
Daniel's uncle claimed that he spent most of his youth dancing on rooftops and swallowing goldfish.
Here the co-ordinating conjunction "and" links two participle phrases ("dancing on rooftops" and "swallowing goldfish") which act as adverbs describing the verb "spends."
Subordinating Conjunctions
A subordinating conjunction introduces a dependent clause and indicates the nature of the relationship among the independent clause(s) and the dependent clause(s).
The most common subordinating conjunctions
are "after," "although," "as," "because," "before," "how," "if," "once," "since," "than," "that," "though," "till," "until," "when," "where," "whether," and "while."
Each of the highlighted words in the following sentences is a subordinating conjunction:
Aftershe had learned to drive, Alice felt more independent.
The subordinating conjunction "after" introduces the dependent clause "After she had learned to drive."
If the paperwork arrives on time, your cheque will be mailed on Tuesday.
Similarly, the subordinating conjunction "if" introduces the dependent clause "If the paperwork arrives on time."
Gerald had to begin his thesis over again when his computer crashed.
The subordinating conjunction "when" introduces the dependent clause "when his computer crashed."
Midwifery advocates argue that home births are safer because the mother and baby are exposed to fewer people and fewer germs.
In this sentence, the dependent clause "because the mother and baby are exposed to fewer people and fewer germs" is introduced by the subordinating conjunction "because."
Correlative Conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions always appear in pairs -- you use them to link equivalent sentence elements. The most common correlative conjunctions
are "both...and," "either...or," "neither...nor,", "not only...but also," "so...as," and "whether...or." (Technically correlative conjunctions consist simply of a co-ordinating conjunction linked to an adjective or adverb.)
The highlighted words in the following sentences are correlative conjunctions:
Both my grandfather and my father worked in the steel plant.
In this sentence, the correlative conjunction "both...and" is used to link the two noun phrases that act as the compound subject of the sentence: "my grandfather" and "my father".
Bring either a Jello salad or a potato scallop.
Here the correlative conjunction "either...or" links two noun phrases: "a Jello salad" and "a potato scallop."
Corinne is trying to decide whether to go to medical school or to go to law school.
Similarly, the correlative conjunction "whether ... or" links the two infinitive phrases "to go to medical school" and "to go to law school."
The explosion destroyed not only the school but also the neighbouring pub.
In this example the correlative conjunction "not only ... but also" links the two noun phrases ("the school" and "neighbouring pub") which act as direct objects.
Note: some words which appear as conjunctions can also appear as prepositions or as adverbs.
Written by Heather MacFadyen
Exercises