3 Noun clause, e.g. I can’t understand why you did such a thing.
d. Compound complex sentence contains two or more independent clauses and
one or more dependent clauses. All classes were canceled because the weather was bad, and students were
told to listen to the radio to find out when classes would begin again.
21
D. The Conditional Sentences
A conditional sentence is used to express something expected or unexpected which may or may not be occured. It consists of two clauses, a dependent clause
beginning with if – clause or another conjunction performing the general
function, and a main clause which gives the result of the if clause.
22
Martin Parott wrote that “conditional sentences consist of two clauses a main – ‘conditional’
clause containing a verb in a form with will or would, and a subordinate clause that is introduced by if
”.
23
1. The Definition of Conditional Sentences
According to Longman Dictionary, conditionl sentence is “one that begin with ‘if’ or ‘unless’ expressing something that must be true or happen before
something else can be true or happen”.
24
Pamela J. Sharpe d efines “conditional as
statement with ‘if’ or ‘unless’, they are opinions about the conditional influence result and opinions about the result”.
25
In the writer’s opinion, it can be concluded that conditional sentences are sentences with “if” or “unless” expressing situation
or condition that might come true or happen before something else may happen. For more details, there are some explanation below:
I will help you if you want; He would come if you called.
21
Marcella Frank, Modern English, Exercise for Non –native Speakers Part II: Sentences
and Complex Structures, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1972, p. 1.
22
George E. Wishon and Julia Burks, Let’s Write English, New York: American Book
Company, 1980, p. 249.
23
Martin Parott, Grammar for English Language Teachers, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2000, p. 231.
24
Longman Dictionary of contemporary English, England: New Delhi: Gobsons Paper Limited.
25
Pamela J. Sharpe, How to Prepare for the TOEFL, Jakarta: Binarupa Aksara, 2000, p. 106.
What expressed in the main clause, it depends – or is conditional – on what
expressed in the subordinate if clause; I will turn on the heating if it gets colder.
The if clause can come first or last in the sentence with no change in meaning. Notice that when the if clause comes first, it is followed by a comma;
If we did not have to study, we could go out tonight or we could go out tonight if we did not have to study.
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Here are alternates to if stating sort of conditions in
conditional sentences: a.
Negatives Conditions We often use unless to express a negative conditions. It is similar to if ... not
or only if: 1
Unless you have got a doctor’s note to say you have passed the medicine, they
will not allow you to go on the activity holiday.
If you do not have
a doctor’s note ..., they will not allow you ... 2
I would not be willing to help you out again unless you paid me.
I would help you only if you paid me.
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b. Necessary Conditions
We use the conjunctions providedproviding that, soas long as and on the condition that to emphasize that the condition is necessary to the result. They all
mean only if: 1
The system will not have to be drained provided that antifreeze has been
added. 2
Expenses will be reimbursed on the condition that all receipts are submitted.
To express a necessary condition for something to have happened in the past, we use but for + noun phrase:
3
They would have all perished, but for the quick thiniking of the driver.
... if it had not been for the quick thinking of the driver.
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26
Michael A. Ple and Mar Munoz Page, TOEFL Preparation Guide, New Jersey: Cliffs Publishers, 1994, p. 115.
27
Mark Foley and Diane Hall, Longman Advanced Learner;’s Grammar....p. 123.
28
Mark Foley and Diane Hall, Longman Advanced Learners ’ Grammar, .… p. 124.
