Grammar-Notes and practices

PART 1: USING CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

There are 4 main types of if/conditional sentences in English, often called conditional sentences. These
sentences have two halves (clauses): the if clause and main clause.

Example: if you come earlier, we will go out for a walk. The realization of the situation in the main clause
requires the fulfillment of the condition in the if clause.

1. ZERO CONDITIONAL 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
 If you heat ice, it melts.
(it is generally true that when ice gets heat it melts or changes to water )
 If you touch fire, your finger burns.
(it is a fact that fire consumes many things)
2. 1st CONDITIONAL is a structure used for talking about possibilities in the present or in the
future. The first conditional is used to talk about things which are possible in the present or the
future -- things which may happen.
 If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
(given you study hard it is possible for you to pass the exam )
 I will introduce you to my girlfriend if she comes this weekend.
(there is a possibility for you in the near future to know my girlfriend )
3. 2nd CONDITIONAL is a structure used for talking about unreal situations in the present or in the
future. The second conditional is used to talk about things which are unreal (not true or not
possible) in the present or the future -- things which don't or won't happen.
 If I won a lottery, I would buy a car.
(it is my wish to have a car but it is very unlikely/almost impossible to win the lottery)
 If I were a bird, I would fly.
(I wish I could fly but to fly is not my nature )
4. 3rd CONDITIONAL is a structure used for talking about unreal situations in the past. The third
conditional is used to talk about things which DID NOT HAPPEN in the past. If your native
language does not have a similar construction, you may find this a little strange, but it can be very
useful. It is often used to express criticism or regret.
 She would have married me if I had asked her.
(I lost her because I did not ask her)
 He would not have died if we had taken him to hospital
(he died since we didn’t take him to hospital )
Tense revision: below is a table containing the grammatical formula of each of the four types of
conditional sentences

Type Form of the ‘if’ clause Form of the ‘main’ clause

Zero conditional If /when + present simple Present simple
1st conditional If + present simple Simple future (will, can, may + verb 1)
2nd conditional If +Simple past Present conditional (would, could, might + verb 1)
3rd. conditional If/had +Past perfect Perfect conditional (would/could + have+ past

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 participle

Activitie1:
1. Think of two scientific facts or general truths and express them using the zero conditional
2. Write two possibilities in the real life using the 1st conditional
3. Express two of your fantasies or wishes using the 2nd conditional
4. Think of an action you regret or an opportunity you missed and express it using the 3 rd
conditional
Activity 2:Put the verb in brackets in the correct form.
1. If I __________________ (be) you, I wouldn’t risk.
2. If they had waited another month, they could probably ________________ (get)a better price for
their house.
3. It's quite simple really. When it's cold, water __________________ (freeze).
4. If he decides to accept that job, he __________________ (regret) it for the rest of his life.
5. If he hadn't been driving so fast, he ___________________ (crash ).
6. If he __________________ (be) more careful, he would have spotted the mistake.
7. If she goes on passing her exams, ___________________ (be) qualified to practise as a lawyer.
8. If I pay you twice as much, will you _____________________ (able) to finish by Tuesday?
9. If only I'd invested in that company, I _____________________ (become)a millionaire by now.
Activity 4
1. If we ____ in Istanbul now, we ____ to A) realize / have gone
Sultan Ahmet Mosque together. B) have realized / went
A) were / could go C) had realized / would have gone
B) were / will be able to go D) realized / will go
C) had been / would be able to go E) will realize / go
D) had been / would go 7. If I ____ the novels during the summer
E) are / can ago holiday, I ____the lesson now.
2. If it weren't for your help, we ____ the A) read / understood
accident. B) have read / would understand
A) couldn't have survived C) read / would understand
B) were to survive D) had read / could understand
C) might have survived E) had read / could have understood
D) couldn't survive 8. I can lend you that amount of money ____
E) may not survive you pay it back to me by next month.
3. If you ____ the office early, you ____ me to A) what if
meet you earlier. B) suppose
A) left / may phone C) provided that
B) had left / can phone D) via
C) had left / should have phoned E) whetever
D) didn't leave / must have phoned 9. But for your help, I ____ painting all the
E) leave / might have phoned walls in one day.
4. If you ____ of the children more elaborately, A) am not able to finish
they ____ those pills. B) won't be able to finish
A) took care / won't swallow C) will never finish
B) take care / wouldn't swallow D) can't finish
C) took care / will swallow E) couldn't have finished
D) had taken care / wouldn't have swallowed 10. I wish I ____ my bike with me when I came
E) had taken care / would swallowed here.
5. If you ____ that oily meal you ____ ill. A) should have taken
A) had eaten / wouldn't be B) must have taken
B) hadn't eaten / would have been C) took
C) have aten / would have been D) had taken
D) ate / would have been E) have taken
E) hadn't eaten / wouldn't have been 11. Had you invited me to the picnic, I ____.
6. If I ____ how far away the concert hall was, A) would come
I ____ there by bus. B) might come
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 C) could come A) would have voted
D) might have come B) had voted
E) will come C) will vote
12. ____ they study regularly, can they succeed D) would vote
in lessons that require memorization. E) voted
A) Only when 15. If you ____ someone dear to you with such
B) Until an illness, ____ him to ask his doctor about
C) If only therapy.
D) Did A) have / encourage
E) On condition that B) have had / encouraging
13. If our possessions ____ away from us, our C) had / encourage
feelings of resentment at people's injustice D) will have / you encouraged
____ very strong. E) had had / encouraged
A) had been taken / could be 16. If they ____ the instructions in advance they
B) had been taken / were ____ that the exam would be in the other
C) were taken / may be building.
D) have been taken / would be A) read / knew
E) are taken / can be B) had read / would have known
14. If the 2004 presidential election were held C) would read / knew
today, almost twice as many people say they D) read / will know
____ for President George W. Bush as for E) have read / know
former Vice President Al Gore.

Part 2: Modal Verbs and their Uses

 Modals are helping verbs

 Used with the base form of the verb, modals create verbal phrases.
 Modals do not change form.
 Modals never end in “s” even in 3rd person singular
 Use “not” to make modal verbs negative.
 Don’t use double modals.
 Modals lack past tense forms, except could and would which serve as the past of can and will.
Can
present ability – I can ride a bike.
opportunity – She can help you learn to ride a bike, when she is finished studying.
permission –Can I try to ride the bike now?
possibility and conditional – Anyone can learn to ride a bike, if they are not afraid to try.
request –Can you teach me to ride a bike?
willingness – I can teach you.
Could
past ability – I could ride a bike when I was younger.
conditional – He could learn to ride a two wheeler, if his father removes the training wheels.
possibility – Bill could be the best bike rider with some more practice.
suggestion – Mark could ride his bike to campus, instead of driving his car.
request –Could I use your bike?
May
polite request or permission – May I borrow your bike?
possibility – He may be able to help you assemble the bike tomorrow.
Might
possibility, but not certainty – I might be able to let you borrow the bike, after I put air in the tires.
conditional – This bike might be a good choice for cross country riding, if the seat is comfortable.
suggestion – You might want to lower the seat, so that your legs reach the pedals.
Must
strong obligation – You must return the bike, if you use it.
necessity – I must ride my bike to get my exercise.
 Substitute must with “have to” – You have to return the bike, if you use it.
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Shall
formal invitation and future action. – Shall we go bike riding together tomorrow?
Should
mild obligation, recommendation, advice – You should wear a helmet when you ride a bike.
expectation – He should finish the race around noon.
Substitute should with “ought to” – You ought to wear a helmet when you ride a bike.
Will
future intent – I will go riding on Saturday.
promise – We will definitely make time to ride together next weekend.
prediction – The weatherman, however, reports that the winds will be strong.
voluntary action – I will go anyway.
Would
conditional – I would ride the bike at night, if it had a light.
past of will – He would ride his bike before he hurt his knee.
Use the base form of the word with the modal.
Modals do not change form.
 He could ride for long distances. (correct) He could rode for long distances. (incorrect)

Modals never end in “s” even in the third person singular.

 She should peddle slower. (correct) She shoulds peddles slower. ( incorrect)
Combine the base form of the verb with the modals – not with the infinitive “to.”
 He should ride with traffic. (correct) He should to ride with traffic. (incorrect)

Use “not” to make modal verbs negative.

 I cannot ride a bike.
 I could not ride a bike because I was afraid of falling.
 I may not be riding next weekend because I have to work extra hours.
 She might not have a new bike, but it gets her where she needs to go.
 Bike riders under 17 years of age must not ride without helmets in Pennsylvania.
 Riders shall not break the traffic rules that apply to cars.
 When using hand signals to indicate turning, riders should not use their right arm.
 He will not go riding when it rains.
 The bike club would not participate in the race because they objected to the high entrance fee.

To form questions:
 Can I teach you how to ride a bike?
 Should we ask your mother first?
 Might it help if I let her know that you’ll be wearing a helmet?
 Will you let me take the training wheels off?

Do not use double modals.

 He could can fix the flat tire.
 I will might enter the bicycle challenge marathon.

Activity: choose the best modal that fills the sentence correctly.
1. Sue ____ obey the rules if she wants to stay B) to take
with us. C) have taken
A) would D) to have taken
B) could E) take
C) is to be 3. You are at a close friend's house. You want to
D) used to use the phone. You say:
E) should A) Might I use your phone?
2. I can't find my sunglasses. My sister must B) Is it possible if I use your phone?
____ them with her when she went out. C) Can I use the phone?
A) has taken D) Could I use the telephone, please?
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E) Will you let me use your phone? C) Could I ask a question to you please?
4. You are at a party given by a friend. You meet D) Can you help me solve this question?
a man you have not seen before and you ask for E) May you answer this question please?
his pen.You say: 12. We had our house painted, but it looks
A) Can you give me your pen? darker now. We ____ a different colour.
B) Can I use your pen? A) must have chosen
C) Shall I use your pen? B) didn't need to choose
D) Would you lend me your pen for a minute? C) had to choose
E) Why don't you give me your pen? D) should have chosen
5. If you have an aquarium, you ____ give too E) had better choose
much food to your fish. 13. "Slower traffic keep right" means:
A) must A) You had better drive slowly.
B) have to B) You are supposed to drive on the right.
C) must not C) You are to drive on the right if you are slow.
D) don't have to D) You should drive slowly on the right.
E) have got to E) You must drive on the right side very slowly.
6. Your room is a mess, but you ____ clean it if 14. "I could not believe my eyes. He finished the
you wantto go out with your friends provided whole cake himself." "But he ____ hungry. He
that you do it when you come back. had eaten a great meal before he left!"
A) must A) may not have been
B) have to B) could not have been
C) must not C) should not have been
D) do not have to D) must not have been
E) have got to E) was not
7. Since the match is postponed, we ____ wait in 15. Donald ____ at work early in the morning
the ticket queue. because his customers usually came in the
A) needn't afternoon.
B) mustn't A) needn't be
C) shouldn't B) didn't have to be
D) shan't C) shouldn't have been
E) can't D) can't have been
8. You ____ stay up late tonight or you won't be E) mustn't have been
able to get up early for work. 16. I ____ be there at 10:00 for the meeting.
A) should not Could you please give me a lift in your car?
B) must not A) was supposed to
C) need not B) have got to
D) ought not to C) might
E) had better not D) will
9. Ann is very ill, she ____ a doctor when I told E) should
her to do so. 17. "Mary, you ____ the meat or it will spoil."
A) might have seen "You are
B) had better see right, I have completely forgotten about it."
C) must have seen A) had to cook
D) should have seen B) can cook
E) could have seen C) could cook
10. I made a mistake yesterday. I ____ the keys D) had better cook
in my car and now it is stolen. E) must have cooked
A) must not have left 18. Since his family is very rich, he ____ work
B) should not have left as we do.
C) could not have left A) should not
D) ought not to leave B) not need to
E) had better not leave C) does not have to
11. You want to ask a question about physics to D) mustn't
a friend. You say: E) had better not
A) Shall I ask a question to you? 19. "I had my bicycle stolen yesterday."
B) I am sure you can help me, can't you? "You know, you ____ have left it in the garden!"
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A) should not ____ be
B) had not right.
C) need not A) has to
D) must not B) must
E) could not C) might
20. He ____ study his lessons harder in order to D) should
get the E) ought to
grades he wants. 23. Karen ____ be a successful salesperson. The
A) had to profit of
B) should the company has increased.
C) may A) may
D) could B) could
E) had better C) has to
21. I don't know where she is exactly. She ____ D) can
be either with her friends or studying her E) must
lessons. 24. A cheetah ____ reach a speed of 96 km per
A) could hour.
B) may A) may
C) must B) can
D) shall C) might
E) can D) could
22. There is no certain information about it, he E) should

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