Syntactically, the condition is the subordinate clause, and the consequence is the main clause. However, the properties of the entire sentence are primarily
determined by the properties of the protasis condition its tense and degree of factualness.
4 The Usages of Conditional Sentences
Conditional sentence may be used in three kinds of types; therefore it must be appropriate in meaning and form that is explained by a table below:
Table 2.7 The Brief Explanation of Usages of Conditional Sentences
Meaning of the if clause
Verb Form in
the if
clause Verb form
in the “Result
Clause” a.
If I have enough time, I write
to my parents every week. b.
If I have enough time tomorrow, I will write to my
parents. True in the
presentfuture Simple
Present Simple
Present Simple
Future
Meaning of the if clause
Verb Form in
the if
clause Verb form
in the “Result
Clause” a.
If I had enough time, I would write
to my parents. the truth is that I do not have enough
time, so I will not write to them.
Untrue in the presentfuture
Simple Past
Would +
simple form Untrue in the
past Past
Perfect
Would have
+ past participle
a. If I had had enough time, I
would have written to my
parents yesterday. the truth is that I did not have enough
time, so I did not write to my parents.
E. Type Two of Conditional Sentences
This kind of conditional sentence describes a situaation which does not exist or is unreal.
44
Type two of conditional sentences are sometimes called the’second’.’hypothetical’ or ‘unreal’ conditional. We actually use them to refer
to or speculate about something that is or that we perceive to be impossible or ‘contrary to fact’.
45
The verb in the if clause is in the past tense; the verb in the main clause is in the conditional sentences.
For example: - If I had a map, I would lend it to you.
- If someone tried to blackmail me, I would tell the police. There is no difference in time between the first and second types of
conditional sentences. Type two, like type one, refers to the present or future, and the past tense in the if clause is not a true past but a subjunctive, which indicates
unreality as in the first example above or improbability as in the second example above.
46
In this type of conditional sentences, the subjunctive “were” is used for all persons: if I were instead of If I was, if he were, if we were, if you
were, etc.
47
1. The Form of Type Two of Conditional Sentences
The form of type two of conditional sentences will be explained by the following table below:
44
Marcella Frank, Modern English New Jersey: Prentice Hall: 1972, p. 33.
45
Martin Parrot, Grammar for English Language Teachers London: Cambridge University Press, 2000, pp. 233
–234.
46
A.J Thompson and A.V Martinet, A Practical English Grammar, New York: Oxford University Press, 1986, p. 198.
47
George E. Wishon and Julia M. Burks, Let’s write English Grammar, New York:
Oxford University Press, 1986, p. 198.
Table 2.8 The Brief Explanation of Affirmative Statements in Type Two of
Conditional Sentences
Affirmative Statements If clause:
Simple Past Result Clause: Would + Base Form of Verb
If
he loved
her,
he would get married.
he were
in love,
he would get married.
Table 2.9 The Brief Explanation of Short Answer in Type Two of Conditional
Sentences
Short Answer Affirmative
Negative Yes, I would
No, I would not.
Table 2.10 The Brief Explanation of WH-Questions in Type Two of Conditional
Sentences
WH-Questions Result Clause
If Clause What would you do
If You loved her?
You were in live?
Table 2.11 The Brief Explanation of Negative Statements in Type Two of
Conditional Sentences Negative Statements
If Clause: Simple Past Result Clause: Would
+ Base Form of Verb
If
he did not love
her,
he were not in
love,
he would not get
married.
he would not get
married.
Table 2.12 The Brief Explanation of YesNo Questions in Type Two of Conditional
Sentences YesNo Questions
Result Clause If Clause
Would I get married
If I loved her
I were in love?
Look at the explanations below, possible variation of the basic form of type two of conditional sentences:
a. Variation of the main clause
1 Might or could may be used instead of would:
If you tried again, you would succeed certain result. If you tried again, you might succeed possible result.
If I knew her number, I could ring her up ability. If he had a permit, he could get a job ability or permission.
2 The continuous conditional form may be used instead of the simple
conditional form: Tom: Peter is on holiday; he is touring Italy.
Ann: If I were on holiday, I wouldmight be touring Italy too.
