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Celestina Joaquim
Frafique Trindade
Generoso Muliwa
Machel Joaoa Pedro
Wilson Azevedo Chico

English III

Honours Degree in Agro-Pecuaria -2and Year

Universidade Licungo

Quelimane
2019
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Celestina Joaquim
Frafique Trindade
Generoso Muliwa
Machel Joaoa Pedro
Wilson Azevedo Chico

Conditional Senteces

Assignment submitted to the

department of agronomical science
with evaluative purpose in
technical English subject
recommended by lecturer: Nelson
Alberto Bamusse

Universidade Licungo

Quelimane

2019
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Table of Contents

Introduction……………………………………………………………………………….….4

1.Conditional sentence or phrase..............................................................................................5

2.Types of Conditional Sentences............................................................................................6

2.1Zero conditional..................................................................................................................6

2.2First conditional or Type 1 conditional...............................................................................7

2.2.1 Tense variations:..............................................................................................................7

2.2.2 First Conditional in Modal verbs....................................................................................8

2.3 Second conditional Type 2 conditional..............................................................................9

2.3.1 Tense variations...............................................................................................................9

2.4 Third conditional..............................................................................................................10

2.4.1 Tense variations............................................................................................................11

2.5 Mix conditional................................................................................................................11

3.The uses of Wish and Unless..............................................................................................12

Conclusion..............................................................................................................................13

List of References..................................................................................................................14
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Introduction

The present work with the title Conditional Sentences, which was written and is going to be
presented by the 3dr it brings more details about this topic. It is commonly known that the
conditional sentences are sentences composed by if clause and main clause, and the conditional
sentences are divided in two parts where we have the real and unreal conditional.

By this work we are going to discuss all the tree types of conditional sentences and within this
work the reader can find what are conditional Sentences, how many are, how and when to use
them properly. In more details also the reader might find the applications of conditional in modal
verbs and furthermore the use of unless and wish in conditional sentences.
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1. Conditional sentence or phrase

The conditional sentences are also known as Conditional Clauses or If Clauses, therefore, they
are used to express that the action in the main clause (without if) can only take place if a main
clause (without if) can only take place if a certain condition (in the clause with if) is fulfilled.

According to Raymond Murphy There are two kinds of conditional sentences where we find the
real and unreal conditional.

 Real Conditional describes real life situations.

 Unreal Conditional describes unreal, imaginary situations.

Conditional sentences are formed by a main clause containing a proposition and a subordinate
clause (the if-clause) specifying the condition on which the main proposition is true. The if-
clause generally comes first and it is often separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma
but the order of the two parts can be reversed. There are five main kinds of conditional
sentences, usually called: zero, first, second, third, mixed conditional.

Commonly, the if-clause is in the present simple, the past simple and the past perfect for first,
second and third conditional respectively, while in the main clause the future simple, would +
bare infinitive and would + perfect infinitive.

HUGHES, (2001) says that conditional sentences tell us a conditional (If) and its consequence.
The tense we use depend on:

 Whether they are generally true or, liked to particular events;

 Whether the conditional and its consequence are real or imaginary;
 Often the conditional comes before the consequence, but sometimes the consequences
come first. When the conditional comes first, is followed by a (comma). When the
consequence comes first, we don’t use a comma. As we can see in the following
examples:

a) If you are in love, nothing else matters.

b) Nothing else matters if you are in love
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2. Types of Conditional Sentences

As the group mentioned before, we have five types of conditional Sentences, whereby four are
the main. As we can see now:

 Zero conditional: I take my umbrella if it rains.

 First conditional: I'll catch the bus if I’m late
 Second conditional: If the bus didn't arrive on time, I would drive you to the airport.
 Third conditional: She wouldn't have come if I hadn't invited her.

2.1 Zero conditional

Merriam Webster argues that it is a structure used for talking about general truths -- things
which always happen under certain conditions (note that most zero conditional sentences will
mean the same thing if "when" is used instead of "if"). The zero conditional is used to talk
about things which are always true -- scientific facts, general truths, and so on.

Structure

If clause+ present simple tense. Main clause+ present simple

Source: English grammar Cambridge

Example:

 If you eat fast food, you get obesity

 When you play football, you feel better.

Citing VINCE and EMERSSON (2003), they agree that in this kind of sentences, often called
zero conditional sentences, if means the same as when/whenever. Actually, so-called zero
conditional sentences are not conditional sentences at all, since the if-clause does not pose a real
condition that must exist for something else to take place:

a) If I don’t sleep at least eight hours I feel tired all day

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Though they are mostly used in the present tense, zero conditional sentences can also refer to
past events and circumstances:

a) If I went jogging in the evening, I always asked a friend to join me.

2.2 First conditional or Type 1 conditional

The first conditional or type 1 conditional is used to talk about an action that may well happen in
the future. This conditional is considered the real or possible events to happen.

E.g.: If you don’t work hard, you will be fired.

If you don’t make effort, you will fail some subject.

The first conditional can be used in offers and suggestions as well as to give warnings and
make threats:

E.g.: If you need a lift, I can give you one. if you behave like this, I’ll have to take you back
home.

2.2.1 Tense variations:

As the group stated above, the if-clause is usually in the present simple. Yet the present
continuous, present perfect simple and present perfect continuous – as well as various modal
forms:

a) If it’s been raining all night, I won’t go to school.

b) If she has received your message, she will certainly reply well.

The main clause usually has a verb in the future simple but the imperative, “be going to” future,
future continuous and future perfect can also be employed, as well as modal verbs:

a) If you see John, please give him my message.

b) If everything goes right, in two weeks I’ll be moving to Quelimane.
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c) If I pass the English test, I’ll have passed all the exams of this semester.

2.2.2 First Conditional in Modal verbs

In the subordinate clause temporal will cannot be used (the present simple being employed
instead, as we have seen), but “volitional” will (meaning “be willing to”) can: If we don’t win
the next match, we’ll be out of the tournament (temporal) If you will come with me, I’ll show
you the entrance (volitional) If they won’t negotiate, we’ll have to go on strike again
(volitional).

The use would instead of will renders requests more polite. It is also possible to use would, with
present reference, in both the main and the if-clause:

a) If you would just wait a moment, I’ll be right back.

b) We would appreciate it if you would take care of this matter as soon as possible.

In the if-clause should is used to express a tentative conditional, to suggest that something is
unlikely or not very likely to happen. This construction is rather formal. Even more formal is the
construction fronting should:

a) If they should cancel the meeting, we’ll have to rearrange our plans should they cancel
the meeting, we’ll have to rearrange our plans.

If…happen to has a similar meaning: If you happen to see William, tell him I need his help

Finally, in the if-clause it is also possible to use can and must, for instance: I’ll lend you a hand
if I can.

In addition to will, in the main clause it is also possible to use can, could, may, might,
should/ought to, must, and semi-modals such as be going to and have to. As show the followings
examples:

a) If you need any help, you should ask him.

b) If you can program a computer, you can have the job.
c) If you send them your CV, they might call you for an interview.
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d) If she gets this job, she’s going to take us all out to dinner.
e) If you want to apply for the job, you have to send them full curriculum vitae

2.3 Second conditional Type 2 conditional

Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary says that, this conditional is used to talk about
“unreal”, hypothetical situations. It can have both present and future reference. For example: If I
were rich I would donate large sums of money to non-governmental organizations.

If I had a lot of money I would be travelling around the world.

Type 2 conditional

Second conditional can be used in offers, suggestions, warnings and threats, making them less
direct and more polite than they would.

2.3.1 Tense variations

As we have seen, in Type 2 conditionals the if-clause is normally in the past simple; yet it is also
possible to use the past continuous as well as modal verbs could, should, and would: If they
were trying harder, nobody would complain. As is the case with will in Type 1 conditionals,
would can be used in hypothetical if-clauses (as well as in the main clause) expressing volitional
meaning: If the management wouldn’t negotiate we would refuse to end the strike.

If … should is used, in more formal style, to talk about unreal or imaginary situations. If …
was/were to can be used in the same way, but only with dynamic verbs: What would he do if
she should leave him? If she was/were to leave him, he would fall into depression

In formal and literary styles if can be dropped and an auxiliary verb put in initial position. This is
the case with should, were to (was to is not used in this structure) and had: Should you decide
to come … (= If you should decide …) Were he to become President, how would he try to
stimulate the economy? (= If he were to become …) Had he more authority, he would impose his
decisions (= If he had more authority …).
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The main clause usually has would + bare infinitive. Could and might are also used meaning,
respectively, “would be able” and “would perhaps” or “would possibly”, which can of course
also be found:

a) If we had more money, we could go on holiday abroad.

b) If she knew, she might behave differently

It is important to notice that should is not used in the main clause expressing obligation or
necessity: If they didn’t win the case, they would have to mortgage their house to pay the legal
costs (not: *they should have …).

The use of were instead of was

We usually use were –even if the pronoun are (I, he, she it or it) –.We don’t use was in
Conditional Sentence Type II, for example:

If I were you I would tell her If

If … was/were: were is used for all persons; yet was is acceptable, especially in informal
contexts, for the first and third person singular except for the fixed expression.

Example: If I were you, which is often used to give advice: If I were you, I wouldn’t stand this
kind of behaviour.

2.4 Third conditional

According to Raymond Murphy it is used to talk about unfulfilled conditions in the past, events
which did not take place. While in Type 1 conditional conditions are real and in Type 2
hypothetical, in Type 3 they are impossible, contrary to fact. For instance:

a) If I had had more time (but I didn’t), I would have done a better job.
b) If we hadn’t spent all our money on advertising (but we did), we would have been able
to invest on new activities.

Type 3 conditional is sometimes used to criticize people or pointing out their faults: If you had
told us you were coming, we would have reserved two more seats.
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2.4.1 Tense variations

In addition to the past perfect, in the subordinate clause it is possible to use the past perfect
continuous or could + perfect infinitive:

a) If he had been playing throughout the season, he would not have been so brilliant during
the Moçambola.
b) If I could have talked to him, I’m sure I would have convinced him to sponsor the
project.

The progressive aspect can also be found in the main clause: If we had made the wrong decision,
we would have been wasting our time on course with is not for us.

In the main clause could or might + perfect infinitive can also be used:

a) If the police had arrived sooner, the robbers might have been caught.
b) If I had known about their financial difficulties, I could have helped them.

Inversion of the subject and verb operator can occur in formal style: If had we been told about
the risks, we would not have invested our money.

2.5 Mixed conditional

Describe the events in past which have a result continuing in the present, it is possible to use the
form of a third conditional in the if-clause, and the form of a second conditional in the result
clause. We sometimes meet the sentences in which contain a mixture of second and third
conditional because of their particular context. (Murphy and Atimal, 2005).

Ex: If my boyfriend gave me diamonds like that, I’d have married him by now.

My boyfriend does not give me a diamonds like that so I haven’t married him.

In these sentence the time is past in the If clause, and the present in the main clause these refer to
an unreal conditional and its probable result.

Sometimes it is possible to say if... would, especially when you ask someone to do something in
a formal way.
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Ex: I would be very grateful if you would send me your brochure and price list as soon as
possible.

3. The uses of Wish and Unless

According to HASMIN and THOMAS (2003).We use wish to say that we regret something that
something is not as we would like it to be.

Ex: I wish I knew Paul'̕ ´s telephone number. (I don't know it.)Do you ever wish you could fly?
(You can't fly.)I wish it didn't rain so much in this city.

Unless

We use unless to show incompatibility between the clauses, in other hand unless means
negativity. Is the equivalent of if … not. Thus, unless is followed by a verb in the affirmative:

Unless = If … not

I won’t accept their offer unless they increase my salary.

 If you don’t run, you’ll miss the bus.

 Unless you run, you’ll miss the bus.
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Words other than if in Conditionals

Conditional Sentences can also be introduced by words other than if. (RICHARD and
WELLMAN,1999)

Other conditional subordinators are: as long as, on condition (that), assuming (that),
suppose/supposing (that), provided/providing (that), imagine, in case. For example:

a. You can use my car as long as you drive very carefully.

b. Imagine we didn’t have a credit card, what would we do now?
c. I’ll let you in on my secret provided that you don’t tell anyone
d. Assuming that your suggestion is accepted, what step will you take next?

In case must be distinguished from if. Actually, in case is mainly used to talk about precautions
one takes in view of something that may happen in the future.

I insured my jewellery in case it is stolen.

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Conclusion

During the written process of this work, the group could learn a lot about the Conditional
Sentences at all and we expect the same to the reader. We could see the group trying to bring
several application of conditional in many situations and also different approaches, which are
defended by many authors whereby they brought their ideas so that facilitated the collection of
the information as we can see they are well quoted. This means that the group assume that these
information were collected from some sources.
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List of References:

GERGE.Englishgrammar basic for instance leaning England commercial colour press. London
2006.

HUGHES. English grammar Cambridge University. London 2001.

HASMIN and THOMAS grammar for first certificate with answers Cambridge University press.
London 2003.

MURPHY and ATIMAL. Reference and practical for intermediate students of English
Cambridge university press. London 2005.

RICHARD and WELLMAN. Grammar and vocabulary for Cambridge advanced and
proficiency (1st ed.). London 1999.

VINCE and EMERSSON. English grammar and vocabulary Oxford University. London 2003.