Conditional Sentence.docx

CONDITIONAL SENTENCE

What is a Conditional Sentence? A conditional sentence is a sentence that expresses a condition. A condition is something that can only happen IF something else occurs. A conditional sentence contains an independent clause and a dependent clause that almost always begins with “if.” A conditional sentence is only a conditional sentence if it has both of these parts.

Types of Conditional Sentences There are few different kinds of conditional sentences in English. Here is a brief outline of each kind.

A. Zero Conditional

A zero conditional sentence is a sentence that expresses a fact or simple implication. The dependent clause of the zero conditional begins with “if” or “when.” The independent clause of the zero conditional begins with the simple present verb tense or the imperative verb tense. Zero conditional statements express conditions that are always true and the conclusions of which can be drawn from their premises. Examples of zero conditional: 

If it rains, things get wet.

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If you stare at the sun, your eyes damage.

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If you touch a flame, you burn yourself. 1

B. First Conditional

A first conditional sentence is a sentence that expresses an idea that might happen at some point in the future. It is something that is possible, but its certainty is unknown because it depends on another event. The dependent clause of the first conditional begins with “if” and uses the simple present tense. The independent clause of the first conditional uses “will” plus the base form of a verb. Examples of first conditional: 

If it rains, I will not play outside.

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If I am out to lunch, Maria will answer calls.

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I will wrap his present if he leaves.

First conditional sentences can refer to either present of future time. C. Second Conditional

A second conditional sentence is a sentence that can express two ideas. First, it might express things in the future that are unlikely to happen. Second, it is used to express an idea that is not true because it is impossible. The dependent clause of the second conditional begins with “if” and uses the past simple tense. The independent clause of the second conditional uses “would” plus the base form of a verb.

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Examples of second conditional: 

If I knew the answer, I would tell you.

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If I were you, I would not leave tonight.

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If I were president, I would fix the system.

Second conditional sentences refer to the present time.

D. Third Conditional

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A third conditional sentence expresses a past idea that did not occur. The third conditional sentence expresses an imagined result of that past event that did not occur. In other words, it is unreal. The dependent clause of the third conditional begins with “if” and uses the past perfect tense. The independent clause of the third conditional uses “would” have plus the past participle of a verb. Examples of third conditional: 

If I had listened, I would have not gotten lost.

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If he had gone to lunch, you would have answered his calls.

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I would have wrapped his present if he had left.

Third conditional sentences refer to the past.

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CONJUNCTION A conjunction is the glue that holds words, phrases and clauses (both dependent and independent) together. There are three different kinds of conjunctions-coordinating, subordinating, and correlative--each serving its own, distinct purpose, but all working to bring words together. What Is a Coordinating Conjunction? Coordinating conjunctions are what come to most people's minds when they hear the word "conjunction." They can join together words, phrases and independent clauses. There are seven of them, and they're easy to remember if you can just remember FAN BOYS: 

For - Explains reason or purpose (just like "because") I go to the park every Sunday, for I love to watch the ducks on the lake.

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And - Adds one thing to another I go to the park every Sunday to watch the ducks on the lake and the shirtless men playing soccer.

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Nor - Used to present an alternative negative idea to an already stated negative idea I don't go for the fresh air nor really for the ducks. Honestly, I just like the soccer.

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But - Shows contrast The soccer in the park is entertaining in the winter, but it's better in the heat of summer.

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Or - Presents an alternative or a choice The men play on teams: shirts or skins.

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Yet - Introduces a contrasting idea that follows the preceding idea logically (similar to "but") I always take a book to read, yetI never seem to turn a single page.

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So - Indicates effect, result or consequence I've started dating one of the soccer players, so now I have an excuse to watch the game each week.

What Is a Subordinating Conjunction? A subordinating conjunction always introduces a dependent clause, tying it to an independent clause. In contrast to coordinating conjunctions, a subordinate conjunction can often come first in a sentence. This is due simply to the nature of

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the relationship between the dependent and the independent clause. In English, there are lots of subordinating conjunctions, but the most common ones are "after," "although," "as," "because," "before," "how," "if," "once," "since," "than," "that," "though," "until," "when," "where," "whether," and "while." Here are a few examples of how subordinating conjunctions are used: 

"Because of you, I never stray too far from the sidewalk" (Kelly Clarkson).

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"If you leave me now, you'll take away the biggest part of me" (Peter Cetera/Chicago).

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"When I see you smile, I can face the world" (Bad English).

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"[You] don't know what you've got 'til it's gone" (Cinderella).

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"I guess I'll never be the same since I fell for you" (B.B. King).

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"As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I take a look at my life and realize there's nothing left" (Coolio).

What Are Correlative Conjunctions? Correlative conjunctions are sort of like tag-team conjunctions. They come in pairs, and you have to use both of them in different places in a sentence to make them work. They include pairs like "both/and," "whether/or," "either/or," "neither/nor," "not/but" and "not only/but also." 

I either want the cheesecake or the frozen hot chocolate.

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I'll have both the cheesecake and the frozen hot chocolate.

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I didn't know whether you'd want the cheesecake or the frozen hot chocolate, so I got you both.

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Oh, you want neither the cheesecake nor the frozen hot chocolate? No problem.

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I'll eat them both - not only the cheesecake but also the frozen hot chocolate.

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I see you're in the mood not for dessert but appetizers. I'll help you with those too.

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Degrees of Comparison

Degrees of Comparison are used when we compare one person or one thing with another. There are three Degrees of Comparison in English. They are: 1. Positive degree. 2.

Comparative degree.

3. Superlative degree. Let us see all of them one by one. 1) Positive degree. When we speak about only one person or thing, We use the Positive degree. Examples: • This house is big. In this sentence only one noun “The house" is talked about. • He is a tall student. • This flower is beautiful. • He is an intelligent boy. Each sentence mentioned above talks about only one noun. 2) Comparative degree. When we compare two persons or two things with each other, We use both the Positive degree and Comparative degree. Examples: a. This house is bigger than that one. (Comparative degree) This house is not as big as that one. (Positive degree) The term “bigger" is comparative version of the term “big". Both these sentences convey the same meaning. b. This flower is more beautiful than that. (Comparative) This flower is not as beautiful as that. (Positive) The term “more beautiful" is comparative version of the term “beautiful". Both these sentences convey the same meaning. c. He is more intelligent than this boy. (Comparative) He is not as intelligent as this boy. (Positive) 7

The term “more intelligent" is comparative version of the term “intelligent". Both these sentences convey the same meaning.

3) Superlative Degree The superlative form is used to describe one or more people, places or things within a larger group of people, places, or things, or to state that an action is performed to the highest degree within a group of actions just like it. Example :  I can't find my most comfortable jeans.  The runt of the litter is the smallest.  Jupiter is the biggest planet in our Solar System.  She is the smartest girl in our class.  This is the most interesting book I have ever read.

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