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Gowher Ahmad Naik, Lovely Professional University Unit 11: Conditional Sentences

Unit 11: Conditional Sentences Notes

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction

11.1 Conditional Sentences
11.2 Types of Conditional Sentences
11.3 Conditional Sentences

11.4 Conditional Sentences: Exercises
11.5 Summary
11.6 Self Assessment
11.7 Review Questions
11.8 Further Readings

Objectives

After studying this unit, you will be able to:
Explain Conditional sentences
Know about discuss types of conditional sentences
Get aware practices conditional sentences

Introduction

This unit aims to help students familiarize with form/use/meaning of conditional sentence
type 1 (the real if conditional). The lesson combines the explicit and implicit teaching of grammar
and is conducted in a meaning focused way

11.1 Conditional Sentences

Conditional sentence type I consists of two parts, the dependent/subordinate if clause and the
main will clause. The dependent if clause usually indicates a real or possible situation that can
happen in the present or in the future (I may go shopping), and the main will clause expresses
the result of the condition (I will spend some money). Conditional sentence type I is often called
the "real" conditional because it is used for real or possible situations. These situations take place
if a certain condition is met.

The problem in using conditional sentence type I comes from the incompatibility of the tenses
in dependent and result clauses. In dependent if clause, present simple tense is used to express a
present or future situation that is going to happen. However, in result clause, simple future,
indicated by will, is used to express the result of a future situation.
Conditional sentence type I varies in its structure when dependent if clause and main/result
clause exchange their positions. The sentence can be formed by the use of the present simple in
if clause followed by a comma and will + verb (base form) in the result clause. The result clause
can also be put first without using a comma between the clauses. In both conditions, the meaning
of the sentence remains the same.

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