UNIT 5

DESCRIBING THINGS

Lesson B Grammar UNIT 5: DESCRIBING THINGS

Conditional SentencesA conditional sentence is a proposition expressing

a result expected from a condition, proviso, or requirement.

There are many ways of construction for a conditional sentence. Each condition is stated in a clause beginning with the word “if”.

We can talk about general facts or things that are always true or we believe that the proposition is possible or is likely to be fulfilled. We will use an if-clause. This kind of sentence has the present tense in both parts.

Lesson B Grammar UNIT 5: DESCRIBING THINGS

Pattern 1 : real, presentCondition ResultIf + Present Tense, Present Tense

a. If interest rates fall, company profits rise.b. If the manager asks you tell him the truth.

Notice that the verb in the result may be present, future or imperative.

If + Present Tense will + bare infinitiveIf the meeting finishes late, I will spend the night in the

café.If the government raises the VAT, consumer spending will fall.If you hear from Suda today, tell her to ring me.

Lesson B Grammar UNIT 5: DESCRIBING THINGS

Conditional Sentences Note : We don’t use “will” in the “if” part of the

sentence. Example:Wrong : If the product will arrive tomorrow, I will

inform you by return of post.Right : If the product arrives tomorrow, I will

inform you by return of post.In a sentence with an if-clause we can also use the

imperative, or other modal verbs, instead of “will + infinitive”

Lesson B Grammar UNIT 5: DESCRIBING THINGS

Examples: If you meet Somsak today, give him this ring. If the traffic is congested, I may get home late. If the director comes, you must ask him

to sign this contract.

Lesson B Grammar UNIT 5: DESCRIBING THINGS If and Unless

Unless means the same as if…not. It always refers to the conditional part of the sentence and not the result part of the sentence.

Condition Result

•If nothing goes wrong. We will sign the deal tomorrow

= We will sign the deal tomorrow unless something goes wrong.

We often use “not + unless”, which means “only…if” when we want to emphasize a condition. We can also use “provided that, providing, as long as” and “so long as” when we want to

emphasize a condition. Examples:

I will agree to work here provided that you increase my salary by 10%. The work will be successful as long as we all join hands together.

Lesson B Grammar UNIT 5: DESCRIBING THINGS

Pattern 2 : unreal, presentCondition Result

a. If the fridge was not so expensive. I would buy it.b. If I were rich I would travel around the world.

We can use the pattern 2 or the second conditional to refer to an action or state we imagine. In other words, we use this pattern when we feel that the preposition is not possible or is not likely to be fulfilled. We make it clear that we do not think it will happen.

- Notice that “would” is used in the result and the simple-past

verb form is used in the if-clause.

It is also possible to use “might” and “could” instead of “would”. Example: - If we had a chance, we could make fortune from this company. - If he worked harder, he might pass the exam.

Lesson B Grammar UNIT 5: DESCRIBING THINGS

Pattern 3 : unreal, pastCondition Result

If + had + V3 would have + V.3a. If we had had the right figures, we could have avoided a costly

error.b. If they had offered a 15% pay rise, they could have prevented the strike.

When we use the third conditional we want to express a proposition that was not real in the past. When the pattern 3 is used, we are imagining the opposite situation.

We can used “could” or “might” instead of “would”. Example:

- If we had followed his advice, we could have lost a great deal of money. - If you had treated her well, you might have won her heart.

Lesson B Grammar UNIT 5: DESCRIBING THINGSPractice Complete the following sentences.

1. What would this woman (do) ____ if she (know) ______ the boy was there?

2. If I (have) ____ a lot of money, I (travel) _______ around the world.

3. If we (run) _____ out of oil, we (need) _______ other kinds of energy.

4. If pollution (increase) _________ more and more trees (die) ______ .

5. You can go now if you (finish) ___________ your assignment.6. The climate (change) ________ if more trees (die) ____ .7. If she (know)______ he was there, she (tell) _________ him to go

away.8. Perhaps he (run) ____away if he (see) _____ them.9. If the weather (be) _________nice yesterday, I (go) _____________

to the beach.10. If you hadn’t missed your bus, you (be) ________________ late for

school.

do knew

had ‘d travel

run ‘ll need

increases

‘ll die

have finished

‘ll change die

knew would tell

ran saw

had been would have gone

wouldn’t have been

Lesson B Grammar UNIT 5: DESCRIBING THINGS11. If I (not help) ____________you, what would you have done?

12. If I’d studied hard, I (pass) _________________ the exam.13. If you (take) _________ the exam, you might have passed it.14. I (can repair) _________________ the car, if I’d had the right tools.15. She would have spoken to you if she (see) ________ you.16. If he had been more careful, he (not have) ________________ an

accident.17. If I’d had time, I (go) _______________ shopping.18. I’d be better-looking, if I (not have) ___________ such a big nose.19. If you can get a ticket, I (go) _______ to the concert next week.20. If it hadn’t rained all morning, we (go)_______________ out.

hadn’t helped

would have passed

had taken

could have repaired

had seen

wouldn’t have had

would have gone

didn’t have

will go

would have gone

Lesson B Grammar UNIT 5: DESCRIBING THINGS21. If I have a big lunch, it (make) _______ me sleepy.

22. If I (get) _____ a headache, I usually take some paracetamal .23. If I (be) _____ you, I’d apply for the job.24. If I (win) _____ a lot of money, I might stop working.25. Provided that you (promise) ________ to do my homework, I

will go.26. If he (be) _____ a bird, he’d (fly) ___ all over the world.27. Unless you are dishonest, we (not keep) ___________ you long.28. Only phone me if it is an emergency. Please don’t phone me.

(Rewrite the sentence using unless) ___________________________29. She will accept the job if we (give) _____ her the salary she

wants.30. If we (pay) ____ them immediately, they (not take) ___________

legal action.

makes

get

were

won

promise

were fly

won’t keep

unless it’s an emergency

give

pay will not take

Lesson B Grammar UNIT 5: DESCRIBING THINGS31. Unless sales (improve) ________ dramatically, we will make a

loss this year.32. I (send) __________ her a fax if I knew her number.33. If we had the finance, we (expand)_____________ much more

rapidly.34. If the terms of the contract (be) ____ different, we might accept

it.35. If the investment grows at 6% a year, it (be) _______ worth B 2

million in ten years.

improve

would send

could expand

were

will be