Alternative of If clause - Unless = If … not … Ex: Unless you study hard, you will fail the exam.. I couldn’t have made it if you didn’t help me.. - She didn’t stop her car because she d
Trang 1CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
I Structure
Function If- clause Main clause
1 Probability Simple Present
Verb: V1/s/es/ don’t/
doesn’t Be: am/ is/ are (not) + …
Simple Future Verb: will (not) + V1
Be: will (not) be +
(don’t) V1
2 Unreal
present
Past Subjunctive Verb: V2/ed / didn’t V1
Be: were/ weren’t
…
Future in the past Verb: would (not)
V1
Be: would (not)
be
3 Unreal
past
Past Perfect Subjunctive Verb: had (not) + V3/
ed
Be: had (not) been
…
Verb: would(n’t) have V3
Be: would not have been
Ex:
- If it (not rain) , we will have a picnic
- If you heat ice, it (melt) _
- If she comes, please (let) me know
- If I were in your shoes, I (not, do) _ that
- If I (water) _ the plants, they wouldn’t have
died
*Note:
1 Adv of time
- Present: now, today, right now, at the moment,… Type 2
- Past: last, ago, yesterday,… Type 3
- Future: next week, tomorrow Type 1 Ex:
- If you (be) busy tomorrow, can you let me know ?
- If she (study) hard yesterday, she (pass) _ the exam
2 Mix type:
- Usually mix between type 2 and 3 Ex:
- If she (eat) _ something last night, she (not, be) hungry now
- If I (take) _ the train last night, I (be) here with you now
- If it (rain) _ an hour ago, the streets (be) wet now
- If the students (know) _ that is not good for them, they (do) that yesterday
- If she (finish) _ the job earlier, she (be) _ going to the party tonight
3 Special types
If + S + should (not) + be/ V 1 , S + will (not) + be/ V 1 + …
Unexpected things
Ex: If she should come, please tell me immediately so I can prepare something for her.
If + S + will + V 1 , S + will (not) + be
Trang 2+ V 1 + …
Polite request (for type 1)
Ex: If you will just wait a moment, I will find someone to help
you
= Please wait a moment, I will find someone to help you.
If + S + should (not) / were to + V 1 , S + would +
(not) be/ V 1 + …
Unsure things
Ex: If she were to see you here, she would very surprised.
If + S + would + V 1 , S + would (not) +
be + V 1 + …
Polite request (for type 2)
Ex: If you would come this way, the doctor would see you
now
4 Continuous tense in conditional sentences
Ex:
- If you are waiting for the bus, please join the line
- If we were going by boat, we would feel more relaxed
- If I hadn’t been wearing seatbelt at that moment, I would
have been seriously injured
Emphasize the continuance
5 Alternative modal verb
- Instead of will/ would in main clause, we can use:
+ must/ have to obligation
+ may/ might probability
+ can/ could ability
Ex:
- If it rains, we are going to stay at home
- If you were in Britain, you had to drive on the left side
- If Mary jogs regularly, she may lose weight
II Alternative of If clause
- Unless = If … not … Ex: Unless you study hard, you will fail the exam
(= If you don’t study hard)
- Provided/ Providing that/ As soon as/ On condition (that): miễn là
Ex: You can use my car, provided that you drive carefully
- Suppose/ Supposing that: giả sử là … (NOT with type 1) Ex: Suppose the meeting is put off, what will we do?
- In case = in the event that: trong trường hợp Ex: In case it rains, please bring along a raincoat
- Even if: ngay cả khi Ex: Even if we are poor, we will always help other people
- But for = Without: nếu không có
If it weren’t for = Were it not for
If it hadn’t been for = Had it not been for + N phrase ,
S + would V 1
V 3
Without
Ex: But for your help, I couldn’t have passed the exam
- or/ or else/ ortherwise
S + (don’t/ doesn’t) V 1/s-es + or/ or else + S + will (not) +
V 1
S + (don’t/ doesn’t) V 1/s-es Otherwise, S + will (not) +
V 1
Ex: Hurry up or you will miss the train!
III Inversion of If – clause
Trang 3If + S + should V 1 = Should
+ S + V 1
- If they should do _
If + S + was/ were + O = Were + S
+ (not) + O
_
If + S + were to + V 1 = Were +
S + to V 1
If + S + V 2/ed + … = Did + S +
(not) + V 1
Ex: If she watered the plants
If + S + had V 3/ed = Had + S +
(not) + V 3
III Transformation
- A so/ therefore/ that’s why B If (A), M (B)
- A because B If (B), M (A)
- Prepositions: and/ or/ or else If 1
- Because/ So/ That’s why/ therefore If 2 or 3 or mix
(based on Adverb of time in each clause)
Ex:
- Peter gets bad marks because he doesn’t prepare his lessons well
If Peter
- Mary doesn’t have enough money She can’t buy a new car
If Mary
- Go right now or you’ll be late for the train
If you
- He doesn’t apply for the job because he doesn’t have enough time
If he
- Hurry up, or we will be late for the exam
If we
- I didn’t do the homework last night, so I am punished today
If you
- Because you speak English unnaturally, they do not understand you
If you
- “I couldn’t have made it without your help” means
A I couldn’t have made it if you helped me
B I couldn’t have made it if you had helped me
Trang 4C I couldn’t have made it if you hadn’t helped me.
D I couldn’t have made it if you didn’t help me
- She didn’t stop her car because she didn’t see the signal
A If she saw the signal, she would stop her car
B If she had seen the signal, she would stop her car
C If she had seen the signal, she would have stopped her
car
D If she saw the signal, she would have stopped her car
- His flight was delayed so he couldn’t be here on time
A He would be here in time if his flight were not delayed
B He would have been here in time if his flight hadn’t been
delayed
C He would be here in time if his flight hadn’t been
delayed
D He would have been here in time if his flight weren’t
delayed
EXERCISES
A Put the verb in brackets into the correct form.
1 If the earth suddenly (stop) _spinning we all (fly)
_ off it
_
2 If you (smoke) _ in a non-smoking compartment the
other passengers (object) _
_
3 (your parents / not / be) _ proud if they could see you
now?
_
4 I’m broke, but I (have) _ plenty of money now if I (not / spend) so much yesterday
_
5 If we (work) _all right, we (finish) _ in time; but
we have no intention of doing it _
6 If we (have) _ a submarine now, we (use) _ it to investigate the seabed
_
7 Were he ten years younger, he (take) _ part in the voyage around the world
_
8 Should you come late, they (not let) _ you in
_
9 He might get rid of his cough if he (not smoke) _ so much
_
10 If someone (give) _ you a boat what you (do) _ ?
_
11 Water (freeze) _ if the temperature falls below zero
_
12 I (warn) _ you if I had seen you last week
_
13 He always says hello if he (see) _ you
_
14 What would you do if he (resign) _ tomorrow?
_
15 I wouldn’t have been so upset if Judy (write) _ to
me earlier
_
16 Shout if you (see) _ anything unusually
_
Trang 517 The engine starts if you (turn) _ this key
_
18 If he weren’t so bad-temperature, his wife (not leave)
_ him so soon after the marriage
_
19 What (you / say) _ if I offered you a job?
_
20 The children always (get) _frightened if they
watch horror films _
21 If I (take) _ your advice yesterday, I (punish) _
now
22 I think it stands still If it (fall) , tell me immediately
B Complete each of the following sentences so that it
means the same as the sentence before i.t
1 She doesn’t live in London because she doesn’t know
anyone there
She’d
_
_
2 I can’t live in the country because I can’t find a job there
I’d
_
_
3 I don’t have a spare ticket I can’t take you to the concert
If I
_
_
4 The schoolchildren sowed some seeds, but they forgot to
water them so they didn’t grow
If the children
5 They don’t understand the problem They won’t find a solution
If they _ _
6 He sits around too much He isn’t fit
If he _ _
7 Carol didn’t answer the phone because she was studying
If Carol
8 Rita is exhausted today because she didn’t get any sleep last night
Had _ _
9 She’s very thin; perhaps that’s why she feels cold so much
If she _ _
10 He never polishes his shoes, so he never looks smart
If he _ _
11 He can’t park near his office; that’s why he doesn’t come by car
If he _ _
12 My house is guarded by two big dogs That’s the only reason it isn’t broken into every night
Trang 6 If my house
_
13 The flats are not clearly numbered, so it is very difficult
to find anyone
If the flats
_
14 I don’t know her e-mail address, so I can’t tell you
If I
_
_
15 She works in the evening She has no time to play with
her children
If she
_
_
16 Do the homework now Otherwise, you will be punish
If
17 They didn’t have enough money, so they didn’t buy the
house
Had
_
18 I advised you to take that job
Were
19 He wasn’t paying attention, so he didn’t see the tree
Had
_
C Choose the best answer among A, B, C or D to
complete each sentence
1 I would have visited you before if there _ quite a lot of people in your house
A hadn't B hadn't been C wouldn't be D wasn't
2 If you had caught the bus, you _ late for work
A wouldn't have been B would have been
3 If I _, I would express my feelings
D asked
4 If _ as I told her, she would have succeeded
A she has done B she had done C she does
D she did
5 Will you be angry if I _ your pocket dictionary?
A stole B have stolen C were to steal D steal
6 You made a mistake by telling her a lie It _ better if you _ to her
A would have been / hadn't lied B would be / didn't lie
C will be / don't lie D would be / hadn't lied
7 John would be taking a great risk if he _ his money in that business
A would invest B invested C had invested D invests
8 She wouldn't have given them all that money if we _ her to
A wouldn’t advise B won't advise C hadn't advised D didn't advise
9 If the tree hadn't been so high, he _ it up to take his kite down
A could have climbed B climb C is climbing D climbed
10 If the wall weren't so high, he _ it up to take his ball down
Trang 7A climbed B could climb C is climbing D
climb
11 If I _ her phone number, I _ her last night
A had known / could have phoned B knew / would have
phoned
C know / can phone D knew / could phone
12 If he the truth, the police wouldn’t arrest him
would tell
13 If you press that button what _?
A would happen B would have happened
C will happenD happen
14 She says if she _ that the traffic lights were red she
_
A had realized / would stop B realized / could have
stopped
C has realized / stopped D had realized / would have
stopped
15 I am very thin I think, if I _ smoking, I might get fat
A stop B had stopped C will stop D
stopped
16 If I _ that yesterday, I _ them
A had discovered / would inform B had discovered / would
have informed
C had discovered / could inform D discovered / can
inform
17 If you _ to the course regularly, they a
certificate last year
C had gone / would have given D went / would give
18 I think he is not at home If he _ in, he the
phone
C were / would have answered D.had been / would have answered
19 If I in London now, I could visit British Museum
would be
20 If Columbus _ money from Queen Isabella, he _ across the Atlantic
A do not receive / could not sail
B had not received / might not have sailed
C did not receive / might not have sailed
D would not receive / might not sail
21 If you didn't wear shabby clothes, you _ more good-looking
D can be
22 If your hair _ grey now, what you ?
A went / would / do B goes / would /do
have / done
23 If you be someone, who you ?
A could / would / have been B could / would / be
C can / will / be D are able to / will / be
24 If I an Angel, I would try to make happy all the children
been
25 John would be taking a great risk if he _ his money
in that business
A would invest B invested C had invested D invests
26 It if nobody had reminded them
Trang 8A would have be forgot B would have been forgot
C would have forget D would have been forget
27 The car if somebody takes it there
C will been repaired D is repair
28 You to prison if you did that
29 You would study Italian if it _ here
A was teaching B were taught C would be taught
D is taught
30 It _ if nobody reminded them
A was forgotten B would be forget C would be forgot D would forgot