88. Concitional sentences: Introduction them and at the time it had not mattered. He had been thoroughly English, and though this was rather beautiful it was something for which she now had to pay. He must forgive her for asking for definitions. But she did not want to die of being quiet and reasonable. Did he want to see her again or not? He had said, when they parted, that he did, and he had said it with « fervour, On that fervour she had been living ever since. But had he spoken merely to smooth over a distressing parting? Now that he was back in England she would perhaps seem someone far off and unzeal. There would be perhaps girl in England, a gicl, indeed he had once hinted it, who would make him forget his Marie-Laure. Yet when she thought of their last time together she fet that there must be for them another time. She had never positively said it—but in ease he had not understood, and for fear of perishing by a mistake, let her say it now: she loved him, she wanted to marry him, she wanted to be with him forever, Allshe asked of him now was some response, ‘however vague, something quite non-committal: but which might help her to decide. (from An Unofficial Rose by Iris Murdoch) Por use ofthe past perfectin unteal conditions, see exercises 81-85, Conditional sentences Introduction 2 Ieyou heat ice, it mei 1 Ife catch the 10 o'clock train, we shal (can, may, ee.) get there by luneh-time, 2 If we caught the 10 o'clock train, we mould (cule, might, etc.) ge there bylunch-time. 3 Af we fad caught the 10 o'clock w got there by lanch-time. ‘There are many possible sequences of tense in conditional sentences, but the examples above represent perhaps the four commonest and the most 'sefal ones to learn initially. Bach ofthe sentences may be divided into two parts: 9a Ifyou heat ice 4 itmelts Ia Ifwe cateh the W0o'clock tzain 4 we shall ger there by lunchtime 2a Ifwe caught the 10 o'clock train 'b we would get there by lunch-time ia Ifwe had caught the 10 o'clock tain 4 we would bave got there by lunch-time we mould (could, might, ete.) have 70 1 2 3 4 5 6 won 10 Type 0: cause and effect 89 Part a of exch sentence {introduced by f) i called a conditional dese, It states the canditon thet must be satisfied before part bray be true, Part 5 of cach sentenceis called the main (principal) classe. The two parts ofeach sentence may bewritten in reverse order with no change in meaning, ‘though with «slight change in emphasis Ice mets ifyou heat 2 We shalfgettere by lunchtime if we catch the 10 o'clock train. 2 We mould get there by lunch-time if we caught the 10 o'clock train. 13 We would hove got there by lunchntime if we had caught the 10 o'clock leis worth aoting thatin these four sentences the wonditonal clause does not conta a conditional verb for. ‘Type 0: cause and effect 4 Ifyou feats, it melts It Tmatea promise, 1 beep it ‘These sentences are staternents of universal tuth or general validity, and in this ype of sentenee, corresponds closely in meaning to when(ae), ‘Statetents in this form commonly appear in factual discomsions or explanatory (pariularly sciemtfc and technical) material. The tenses in bath the conditional and the main clausc are the same. Sentence bmiy be ‘written in the pasttense with a similar correspondence between the verb Farms inthe twa classes © UT made a promis, Lepr it Situations Answer the ques:ions with conditional sentences like @ or be.g. What happensif'you heat ice? Ifyou heatice, it melts, ‘Note: In this exanple, you is equivalent to one. In the reply, therefore, we also use yeu, (not /). my What happens if lowers don’t get any water? What mast a motorist do if the traffic lights are at red? What materials do you need ifyou want to write a leter? (yo What do you like 6 drink if you're very thirsty? (jo = you) Who do businessmen go to see if they want o borrow money? Wat do zou expecta teacher todo ifyourmake a mistake? at nist one have if one wants to visit a foreign country? Who do people ge to seeif they fect il coun What happens if there is a power failure? How do people dress in your country if they work in an office? one)71 Soarvansens 90. Type F: open conditions ‘Type 1: open conditions 1 Te we euch the 10 clock rain, we shal (an, may et.) gertere by lnchetine § Ifyou wake up before me, giveme a cil Inthese sentences, the conditional clauses represent ‘open conditions; that is conditions that mayor may not be Filled, We make such statements shen een event choad he coda ee re owely considered or under disesion, or appear Hkey to happen Sich statements ean even be comments un decisions already taken, ‘Conditions ofthis sort are sometimes labelled ‘probable’, butts important to not that the probably ofthe condition being ffl oten exists only {a the mind ofthe spear. Ig for example, seems likely that someone is going todo something foolish or dangerous, we give a warning Tf you ‘ou that plate, you'l bem your hand ‘Only foot would ful the condition in these circumstances. “The commonest sequence of tenses in this ype of sentence is ‘G0 present tense, (Main) Future (or Modal er) or Lnperative [Note that ilfand shall are not used in a predictive sense inthe conditional clause, even though it isthe future that is referred to. Basic forms (Situations) Write conditional sentences like ¢ or b above, using the given factin ‘your conditional clause, and adding a suitable completion, e.g. He's thinking of going to England. If he gres to England, he will have to leara English. Ielooks as if those shoes in the window are my size, Don't drop that vase! Telooks like being fine tomorrow. My father has suggested that I change my job. Itscems that we'll be late forthe theatre. Don’t lose my library book! You may meet some friends of mine in London. He expects to pass his exam. ‘They're hoping it will be a baby boy. anticipate getting arise in salary next year. ‘Type 1: variations 4 IF we should ms the 10 o'clock train, we shane here til after Hanch “The introduction of should (cometimes stressed) inthe conditional dause has the effec of making it seem less ikely that the condition willbe fulfilled. It should 2nd willin conditional clauses 91 is possibte wo substitute any chance for shoul, without cha meaning: 1b any chance we mis the 10 o'hock tran, we shan’ gv there tl ace leh ‘We may cll this a codon of remote esi, an this variation can be used in any conditional clause of this st typ. Note that only shuld (never “would i used in this way 4 you will sere seats, we shall be sure ofa comfortable journey. the We sexe earlier that willis not used in a predictive sense inthe conditional clause in conditionals of Type 1, even though the sentence has 2 future time reference. Inthe above sentence, afin the conditional clause is net an ausliary indicating future; itis a modal verb, and introduces the idea of ‘your’ agreeing, or being willing, ro do wha is suggested." We cannot use this construction in the following sentenc he gets ny letter in time, he'll able to change his plans ‘We cannot say *If he wil get my etter in time’, since ‘he’ can hardly exercise any willingness or unwillingness vo get it. Students must, therefore, be carefulto use will inthis way only where the context will support the idea of co-operation, agreement, or willingness on the part of ‘the subject, should and will in conditional clauses Rewrite the sentences, substituting for the words in italics a verb form as ina above (Nos. 1-5) or as in b (Nos. 6-10). If by any chance you die before retiring age, your widow will receive your pension fora period of 7 years after your death, Ifyou should die before retiring age, your widow will receive your pension for a period of 7 years after your death, (Nos. 1-5) Pil cook the meal ifyou are prepared i do the washing up. Ti cook the meal if you"l/ do the washing up. (Nos. 6-10) If by any chance your car needs any attention during the first twelve months, take itto an authorized dealer. Fy any chance Lave litte late coming home, don’t wait up for me. I? the baby wakes up (though J doubt he will), give him some warm milk If by some unlucky chance the talks break down, there could be a serious international crisis. If by some remote chance he dares to show his face again, I shall give him a piece of my mind! " fei also posible tous che tentative or ‘polite’ form moulin this conditional clause, the res ofthe sentence being unchanged Ifyou mould reserve seats, we shallbe sure ofa comirtable journey. See also page 34 and page 9.92 Type I: open conditions 6 Ihe és willing 0 accept the nomination, alot of electors will vote for him. 7 Ifyou are prepared to ake the trouble to read his letter carefully, you will see what he means. 8 [you are agrecable to waiting a few more minutes, the doctor will see ‘you without your making an appointment. 9. If my father is willing i give me permission, I shall spend a few months abroad 10. What will you do ithe recs to give you permission? ‘Type 1: alternative forms 46 Setyour alarm clock, and you won't overtec. 4 Seryouralarm clock, oF (else) youl eerlep. In these sentences the imperasive construction is equivalent ta clause, We can rewrite the sentences, using i: 4 Ifyou setyouralarm clock, you won't vende. 4 Ifyou den setyour alarm clock, you'll overseep. ‘Note thatthe conjunction ‘and? implies a verb form inthe conditional clause of the sume sign (postive or negative) es che imperative; whereas ‘or (else) implies a verb form ofthe opposite sgn. Thus ina, ‘Set..-and...° Becomes‘If you set...'s whereas in, ‘Set. or..." becomes Ifyou don't so. 73. Rewrite the sentences, beginning with the imperative form of the verbs in italics. Ifyou give him a little encouragement, he'll work really hard. Ifyou fate a pill, you won't be seasick Ifyou don’t remember your wife's birthday, she'll be upset. Ifyou send her sonie roses, she'll forgive you. Ifyou dow’ put on some suntan oil, you'll get sunburnt you don’t tel me the truth at once, never trust you again. Ifyou just say you're sorry, we can forget the whole incident, Ifyou’ re not firm with the children, they'll misbchave. Ifyou lend me a fiver, P'l pay you back tomorrow. Ifyou don't practise speaking English regularly, you'll never become really fluent. Seorvoasens Review of Type 1 conditions TA Complete the sentences, following one of the patterns for conditionals of Type 1. 1. We'll just manage to catch the train 2 [fTsce him again, 1... ‘Type 2: tentative, hypothetical, and unreal conditions 93 Iwill accept your explanation only... 4 [my bank manager will lend me the money, 5 What will happen if. ..? 6 Ifyou don’t hear from me by next Friday, ... 7 Ifyour work continues to improve, . & only if you will promise not co tell anyone else. 9 Look up the answer in the key only if. 10 What will he sayif...? 11 Ifthe worst should come to the worst... 12 Give me time and. ‘Type 2: tentative, hypothetical and unreal conditions (present or future time reference) 4 If we caught the 10 o'clock train, we would (could, might, et.) gr there bylunch-time, 4&6 Mi came into a fortune, would give up working. 6 If Lina how it worked, I nuld tell you what todo, In these sentences, the concitional clauses represent what is « possible, hhypothetial/imaginary, or econtrary to present fact. The verb form in the conditional clause represents the attitude ofthe speaker towards the ‘condition; it des net represen ime, which is indicated (i ata) by other clements in the context or situation, Sentence ais analogous t0 Type 1 (Uwe catch...» we shall gt. ), but it ‘more suppostional. The speaker either regards catching that train as improbable, or he wishes to pat forward in a more tentative or ‘polite’ way suggestion of catching it Itdoes not necessary follow that the condition isin fact unlikely o be fulfilled. ‘Sentence b, on he other hand, is much more hypothetical: itis «form of ostion or a tentative suggestion of hat cnld happen at some ime inthe ‘uture. The tenses do not ehange in reported speech, since the meaning wuld change if we reported T thought that if we had cueght the early train, we'd have gor there by fanch-time ‘This reported version gives the impression that we dda’, in fact, etch the carly trai, and that we didn’t get there by lunch-time. We ean say only | sugested that if we anu the eary train, we'd get thereby unch-time, or Tstsgaested that if we mere ocuch the early train, we'd get there by Junch-time, 2b ‘eameinto a fortune, Va give xp working.” Again, the sentence is concerned with what could concvivably happen st some time inthe future, andthe tenses would remain unchanged in reported speech He said that ithe came into a fortune he'd sve up working. 2e ‘TEL bnew how it worked, I cold tll you what to do.” Aswe have already scen, this sentence differs from 2a and 2hinthatit represents present unreality, (page 93). and in this ase the tenses may change in eeported spesch I said that iP brown how it worked ould have tld him what to do. ‘Such changes are not essential, however, end in some cases would be ‘IF knee the answer to all your quesions, dea genius.” Alvhough this sentence, lke 2, presents us with an imaginary (or unreal) situation, the situation in this ease is conceived in general ters (ue. without reference toa particular moment). [deas ofthis nature cannot be expressed in any other form, whether r-ported or not. 3 “Tfwe'd caugh the early tain, we's have gor thereby lunch-time” Ina ope of sentence the tenses necessary remaln the sae in repared speech. ‘Note: ‘Are you willing to help xe do this obi? ‘This na simple question, and should wot be confused with a conditional sentence when, in reported speech itis introduced by if{ = whether 1 asked him ihe mes wiling to help me do the ob, ‘The subjunctive ‘if he wer willing’ is not required, and would be incorrect if used here.