10 learners’ errors are generally viewed as ‘unwanted forms’.” Therefore, in this
study any wrong answers are included as errors.
11
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This chapter presents two sub-chapters of discussion. The first is the discussion on the theories related to this study, which is presented in theoretical
description. The second part is theoretical framework which summarizes and synthesizes the relevant theories to the study.
A. Theoretical Description
In this theoretical description, there are four things which are elaborated. They are the theories of conditional sentences, error, and error analysis. These
theories will be the basic of the discussion and construction of the instruments.
1. Conditional Sentences
Thomson and Martinet 1986: 196 said that “conditional sentences have two parts: the if-clause and the main clause.” It means that conditional sentences
are complex sentences that consist of two clauses which are a main clause and a subordinate clause. The subordinate clause latter typically begins with the
adverbial subordinator if.
a. Types of Conditional Sentences
Thompson and Martinet 1986: 197 said that conditional sentences have three types. Each type contains a different pair of tenses. There are three types of
conditional sentences and each type has different pattern and meaning. Besides, there are other types of conditional sentences. Graver 1984: 88 stated that there
12 are four commonest and the most useful types of conditional sentences and those
are types 0, 1, 2, and 3. Furthermore, Alexander 1994: 212 also stated that there is another type of conditional sentences beside those four types of conditional
sentences. He said that “we do not always have to stick rigidly to the ‘three types of conditional sentences’ because there are occasions when we can use any tenses
in if clauses, depending on the context.” 1
Conditional sentences type 0 Conditional sentences type 0 is used in “factual discussions or explanatory
particular scientific and technical material” Graver, 1984: 82. The fact of this type is true because it talks about the factual condition. The tenses used in both
conditional and main clauses are the same. It can use simple present tense and also simple past tense.
2 Conditional Sentences type 1
Conditional sentences type 1 expresses something which can be true in present or future. There is possibility to be truth in the future if in the present it is
not true. Azar 1989: 347 also gives the pattern of the conditional sentences type 1.
3 Conditional sentences type 2
Conditional sentences type 2 expresses something which is untrue in present or future. It means that the sentences in this type show the action which
happen at that time, but they are only imagination. The real condition is contradictory with the expected condition, so the sentences are impossible. In this
study, the “to be” used in this type is “were” because “was” is used in very
13 informal speech but it is not generally considered grammatically acceptable Azar,
1989: 348. 4
Conditional sentences type 3 Conditional sentences type 3 expresses something which has happened in
the past and it is not true or it does not happen in the past. In this type, the sentences show that the action happened in the past and the “if clause” shows the
impossible things in the past. 5
Mixed conditionals Beside those three types which are usually used, there is mixed
conditionals. It is called mixed conditional because it uses mixed tenses in conditional sentences. Alexander 1994: 212 stated that “we do not always have
to rigidly to the three types of conditional sentences because there are occasions when we can use any tenses in “if clauses”, depending on the context.”
b. Grammatical Changes
This part discusses the grammatical changes in conditional sentences. This part will be divided into three such as tense, modal auxiliary, general truth, and
connectors. Those parts will discuss clearly and specifically about the tenses, modal auxiliary and the general truth in conditional sentences which are discussed
in this study.
1 Tense
In conditional sentence type 1, there is no change. All the sentences use the simple form, both the main clause and the “if clause.” On the other hand, there
14 are changes in types 2 and 3 of conditional sentences. The changes in types 2 and
3 follow these rules. a
Type 0 Conditional sentence type 0 shows the factual conditions which means that
the fact is true. The tenses used in this type both in the conditional and main clauses are the same Graver, 1994: 212. The tenses used in this type can be in
simple present tense and simple past tense. b
Type 1 Conditional sentence type 1 shows the actions which happen at that time
and the “if clause” show the possible thing which happen or will happen. Moreover, the tense which is used in this type is simple form. When the if-clause
uses the simple present, the main clause uses the simple present future Azar, 1989: 347.
c Type 2
Conditional sentence type 2 shows the actions which happen at that time, but it tells about the impossible things in the present or future. In type 2, the tenses
which are used in the main clause and in the if-clause are different. When the “if- clause” uses the simple past, the main clause uses simple past future.
d Type 3
Conditional sentences type 3 shows the action which happened in the past and also tells about the impossible things in the past. In this type the tenses which
are used in the main clause and in the “if clause” are also different. When the “if- clause” uses past perfect, the main clause uses past future perfect.
15 Azar summarized those types and the short explanations about their pattern
and meaning in Table 2.1.
Table 2.1: Summary of Basic Verb Form Usage in Conditional Sentences Azar, 1989: 347
MEANING OF THE “IF
CLAUSE ”
VERB FORM IN THE “IF
CLAUSE ”
VERB FORM IN THE “RESULT CLAUSE”
EXAMPLES True in the
presentfuture Simple present
Simple present Simple future
a If I have enough
time, I write to may parents every week.
b If I have enough time
tomorrow, I
will write to may parents.
Untrue in the presentfuture
Simple past Would + simple form
c If I had enough time now, I would write to
may parents.
In truth, I do not have
enough time, so I will not write to them.
Untrue in the past
Past perfect Would have + past participle
d If I had had enough time, I would have
written to my parents. In truth, I did not
have enough time, so I did not write to
them.
e Mixed type
Mixed conditional shows the action based on the context. This type uses mixed type of conditional sentences. Therefore, the pattern depends on the
conditional sentences used in the sentences. We can see the examples as follow. 1
If I am as clever as you say I am, I would have been rich by now. Type 1+3 2
If you knew me better, you wouldn’t have said that. Type 2+3
3 If I had had your advantages, I’d be better off now.
Type 3+2
