Conditional Sentences

*Generall y speak ing , con diti onal sentences 由以下句型組成 :

IF cla use (hypo thesis) + MAIN clause (re sul t)

如果 if-clause 是在 main clause 的前面,

兩組 clauses 由 comma ( , )來分隔.

然而, 如果 main clause 寫在 if-clause 前,

則無需以 comma ( , )分隔.

e.g.
If I see Tracy, I will give her her pen.
I will give Tracy her pen if I see Tracy.

*use un less instead of if... not in the if-clause of Type 1 cond itio nals.
(note that: the verb is always in the affirmative after unless.)

There are 4 types of conditionals sentences,

If-clause (hypothesis) Main clause (result) Use

Type 0 If + present simple Present simple Something which is always true

General If the temperature fal ls below 0°C, water tu rns int o ice.
truth
Type 1 If + present simple, present future/imperative Real – likely to happen in the present or
perfect, present continuous, can/may/might/must/should/c future
Real present perfect, present ould
present perfect continuous
+ bare infinitive

If he doesn’t pay the fine (n.罰款), he will go to prison.

If you need help, come and see me.

Type 2 If + past simple / past would / could / might 1) Imaginary situation contrary to facts
continuous in the present
Unreal + bare infinitive
present 2) Give advice
If she had time, she would help us (but she doesn’t have time – untrue in the present)

If I were you, I would not go to shopping. (giving advice)

Type 3 If + past perfect / Would/could/might 1) Imaginary situation contrary to facts
past perfect + have + past participle in the past
Unreal past continuous
2) Express regrets or criticism
If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.

http://www.xanga.com/private/home.aspx?user=class_4F5F_language_blog
Conditional Sentences

What is also worth mentioning is that,

*We can use If I were you ... to givi ng advice

*Replac ing if

The following expressions can be used instead of if

• provided
e.g. You can see Miss Leung provided you have an appointment.
• providing that
e.g. We will start our meeting providing Mary comes on time.
• as long as
• assuming (that)
• on condition (that)
• on the assumption (that)
• supposing (that)
• unless
• with the condition (that)

*Omitt ing if
當 if 在 if-clause 中被省去,
主詞(subject)及 auxiliary verb (should (Type 1), were (Type 2), had (Type 3))則應倒置.

e.g.

Should Mary arrive, tell her to hand in the homework.

(If Mary should come...)

Were I you, I would not tell him.

(If I were you...)

Had he listened to me, he would have done.

(If he had listened to me...)

http://www.xanga.com/private/home.aspx?user=class_4F5F_language_blog