Conditional sentences (câu điều kiện)

In term of English grammar, from my point of view, English conditional sentence is one of the most difficult problem for learners, because of some reasons: - English conditional sentence

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1 Rationales for the study

Nowadays, English has been spoken all over the world as an international language It is widely used in many fields of life such as science, technology, tourism, business, education and so on Moreover, English enables us to communicate with people from different countries and learn more about their life and culture In Vietnam, it is now a great demand to learn English for the process

of integrating into international economic and diplomatic development However,

it is not easy for Vietnamese to learn English as a second language and grammar

is a typical problem for this

In term of English grammar, from my point of view, English conditional sentence is one of the most difficult problem for learners, because of some reasons:

- English conditional sentences consist of two clauses and the structures of each

clause are relatively complicated

- There are many types of conditional sentences that can easily confuse both

English and Vietnamese while using them

- Great differences appear between English and Vietnamese conditional

sentences

For all of the reasons above, I have chosen “Conditional sentences” as my graduation paper I also hope that it will be the useful references for both English and Vietnamese learners

2 Aims of the study

The study on conditional sentences aims at:

- Giving the definition of conditional sentences and its structures and uses

- Clarifying and describing different types of conditional sentences

- Comparing between English and Vietnamese conditional sentences and giving

suggestion for learners

- Providing some translation ways of conditional sentences

3 Research questions

What is conditional sentence?

What are the types of conditional sentences? What are their formation, use, inversion and possible variation?

What are the related forms of conditional sentences?

What are the similarities and differences between English and Vietnamese conditional sentences?

How to translate English unreal conditional sentences to Vietnamese?

4 Scope of the study

Firstly, conditional sentences in English are very complicated so I can’t present a full description of it Therefore, this study will focus mainly on describing and analyzing common structures and uses of conditional sentences

Secondly, more attention will be paid to the classification of English conditional sentences to make my study more helpful and practical for the English learner

Finally, because of the limitation of time, for the comparison between English and Vietnamese conditional sentences, I will only try to bring out the most typical and striking differences to help learner to avoid mistakes while using conditional sentences

5 Design of the study

This study consists of five main chapters:

Chapter 1 is the introduction giving out the reasons for choosing the topic of this

graduation paper, pointing out the aims, research questions, scope and design of the study

Chapter 2 is a brief review of previous studies and theoretical background of

conditional sentences

Chapter 3 is methodology pointing out a system of ways of researching

conditional sentences

Chapter 4 clarifies the definiton of English conditional sentences, the types of

conditional sentences and their formation, function, inversion, variations and related forms This chapter also provide a comparision between English and Vietnamese conditional sentences

Chapter 5 is the conclusion presenting a review of the study, its limitation and

suggestion for further study

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Review of previous studies

Conditional sentences have been extensively noted as one of the difficult parts of English to acquire and researches have been done from various angles to help learners more comfortalbe with them For example, Cuvalay (1996) and Dik (1990) analysed them in linguistics from a functional grammar viewpoint Semantic and pragmatic viewpoints have also been analysed by Beck (1997) and Fintel (1997) In the early grammar method, conditional sentences were analysed within the mood term simultaneously with the imperative and indicative under the

subjunctive Conditionals are occasionally examined within the area of tenses or under modals

2.2 Review of theoretical background

Before discussing about conditional sentences, let’s start from the definition

of a sentence A sentence is a set of words that is complete in itself, typically containing a subject and predicate, conveying a statement, question, exclamation,

or command, and consisting of a main clause and sometimes one or more subordinate clauses There are four types of sentences: simple sentence, compound sentence, complex sentence and compound-complex sentence

Simple sentence is the one that consist of one independent clause

For example:

The child laughed

Mary is in the house

She is a nurse

Compound sentence is a sentence contains at least two independent

clauses, often joined by a coordinating conjunction The conjunctions are as follows: but, and, or, either, so, not only… but also… Except for very short sentences, coordinating conjunctions are always preceded by a comma

For example:

I tried to speak Spanish, and my friend tried to speak English

I played badminton, so you went shopping

I played badminton, for she went shopping

Complex sentence is a sentence contains more than one clause of which

one clause is the main clause, the others are subordinate clauses being part of the main clause The subordinate clauses and the main clause are joined together by subordinate conjunctions

The main clause is a clause which has a meaningful unit by an independent clause but it also needs one or more subordinate clause complementing for it

The subordinate clause is a clause which has to depend on the main clause For example:

I don’t know when she will come

This is the magazine which you ordered

Shut the door when you leave

He couldn’t join the trip because he was late

Compound-complex sentence is the combination of two or more

independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses

For example:

I will come and I will bring some of my friends if they have a day off Among the four types of sentences, a complex sentence is a sentence that contains an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses An independent clause can stand alone as a sentence, but a dependent clause even though it has a subject and a verb cannot stand alone

Conditional sentence is one kind of complex sentences Conditional

sentence has at least two clauses (the result clause and the if-clause) used to express the dependence of one circumstance or set of circumstances on another In other words, the if-clause sets up the condition for the main clause to produce the result

Mood is the form which shows the relation between the action expressed

by the predicate verb and reality This relation is established by the speaker to present an action as a real fact or as a command (request) or as something unreal, something that does not exist in reality

There are a lot of opinions about types of moods but the most common view

is that in modern English, there are three moods: indicative, imperative mood and subjunctive mood

Indicative mood is used by speakers to present the real action Most of what

we says or writes is in indicative mood As a result, this is the most common mood

in any language We can use indicative mood to give information

For example:

I like reading books

We had dinner at six

Indicative mood can be used to express opinions

For example:

I think she is a good student

It can also be used to make promises

For example:

I shall do anything I can to help you

Imperative mood is the plain stem of the verb It may be used in the

affirmative and the negative form

For example:

Affirmative form: Sit down!

Negative form: Don’t go out!

If we want to make a command or request more expressive, we use the emphatic form

Subjunctive mood, in contrast to indicative mood, usually refers to

non-factual or hypothetical situation There are two types of subjunctive: the present subjunctive and the past subjunctive

The present subjunctive is identical with the simple present tense indicative, except the third person singular form is the same as in all other cases The present subjunctive form of “to be” is “be” for all cases

Mandative subjunctive:

My father suggested that my cousin stay with us

My only concern is that you be here

Formulaic subjunctive:

God saves the queen!

Come what may, we will go ahead

The past subjunctive in English consists of the past subjunctive which is identical with the past tense indicative, except that the verb “to be” is “were” for all cases and the past perfect subjunctive which is identical in form with the past perfect indicative The past subjunctive is used in conditional sentences implying

a negative, or in a clauses in which the condition is combined with improbability

or unreality

For example:

If I were you, I would accept the offer

If I had worked harder, I wouldn’t have failed the exam

Besides, the past subjunctive is also used after such expressions

For example:

I wish he visited us more often

Suppose that the teacher caught us wasting time, it would be bad

I had rather that you told him that I did

He talked to me as if he knew everything

It is high time we went home

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research questions

This study is set to answer the main questions about conditional sentence and its types Moreover, it also provides a comparision between English and Vietnamese conditional sentences

3.2 Methods

My strategies for completion of this study is collecting references from different sources inside and outside university Next, I analyze the collected materials and references to find out the similarities and differences between English and Vietnamese conditional sentences

3.3 Research settings

This research is completed in the length of a semester It is mainly done at home and sometimes at the library of the university by myself with the support of

my supervisor and my classmates

3.4 Data collection instruments

The materials for this research is mainly collected from the internet and

sometimes from textbooks, documents and previous researches

3.5 Data analysis

The kind of analysis in this study is qualitative analysis After data materials

is collected, I will categorize them into different fields Next, the data is identified and developed and finally summarized and demonstrated in my study

CHAPTER 4: FINDING AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Findings

4.1.1 An overview of conditional sentences

When you want to talk about a possible situation and its consequence, you use a conditional clause Randolph Quirk (1972) suggested that “conditional clauses state the dependence of one circumstance or set of circumstances on another” Collin Cobuild (1990) also pointed out that “Sentences containing conditional clauses are called conditional sentences” Basically, conditional sentences are used to talk about:

- A situation which sometimes exists or existed

- A situation which you know does not exist

- A situation when you don’t know whether it exists or not

- A situation which may exist in the future

According to Wikipedia, conditional sentences consist of two clauses:

- The “if-clause” expressing the condition, called the protasis

- The main clause expressing the consequence, called the apodosis

An example of conditional sentence is: “If it rains, the picnic will be cancelled”

Here the condition is expressed by the clause “If it rains”, while the consequence

is expressed by “the picnic will be cancelled”

Normally, there are two clauses in conditional sentences and the if-clause

is most frequently in initial position If the “if-clause” comes first, then a comma

is usually used If the “if-clause” comes second, there is no need for a comma If-clause occurs most frequently in the initial position in the following cases:

- Sarcastic speech

For example:

If he is intelligent, then I am Albert Einstein

If you have a brain, you would be dangerous

- Tautologisms

For example:

If Tim is a liar, then Tim is a liar

Tautologisms are more likely to be found in speech than in writing

- Strong deduction

For example:

A: Linda sat up late last night

B: If Linda sat up late last night, she heard the explosion

“If” does not mean on condition that, but on the assumption that, given that… It implies that on the basic of a stated fact, a deduction is about to be mad

When you are using a conditional clause, you can use a modal in the main clause A modal in the main clause is used to talk about a situation which does not exist

For example:

If you weren’t here, she would get rid of me in no time

If anybody had asked me, I could have told them what happened

As usual, we don’t use “would” in the if-clause However, in some cases,

“if…would” can be used when we ask somebody to do something

For example:

I would be grateful if you would send me your brochure as soon as possible

Shall I close the door?

Yes, please, if you would

Beside the most common conditional conjunction “if”, we can use other conjunctions: unless, providing/provided (that), as, so long as, on condition

that, even if, supposing, whether…or, if only, as if, in case, otherwise…

The conjunction “when” is only used for things that will definitely happen

For example:

When I die, I will leave all my money to charity

English conditional sentences express three kinds of sentences about semantic relationship: factual conditional relationship, predictive conditional relationship, hypothetical conditional relationship

- Factual conditional sentences often appear in everyday English language

and ESL/ EFL textbooks It consists of four kinds: generic, habitual, implicit inference and explicit inference

Generic conditional sentence express relationships that are true and unchanging

For example:

If oil is mixed with water, it floats

It you boil water, it vaporizes

Habitual factual conditional sentences resemble generic factual in that they also express a relationship that is not bounded in time; however, the relationship is based on habit instead of physical law Habitual factual expresses either past or present relationships that are typically or habitually true

For example:

Present: If I wash the dishes, Sally dries them

Past: If Nancy said ‘Jump!’, Bob jumped

This type of conditional sentences is frequent in conversation Both clauses usually have the same tense It should be noted that for both generic and habitual conditionals it is possible to subtitute when or whenever for it and still express more or less the same idea

For example:

When (ever) you boil water, it vaporizes

When (ever) I wash the dishes, Sally dries them

Implicit inference factual conditional sentences express inferences about specific time-bound relationships As such, they make use of a much wider range of tense and aspect markers and they also occur with certain modal auxiliaries

For example:

If it is raining out there, my motorbike is getting wet

If smog can be licked in L.A., it can be liked anywhere

If there was a happy man in the world that night, it was Jon Turney

If you will bring some more wine, I will bring some beer and potato chips

If it’s Tuesday, it’s Sam’s birthday

Like generic and habitual factual, implicit inference factual tend to maintain the same tense and aspect or the same modal in both clauses

However, in implicit inference factual, “when” or “whenever” cannot subtitute for “if” without changing the meaning and often making the sentence ungrammatical or awkward

The explicit inference conditional is the only case where there is no strict parallelism of tense, aspect or modal in both clauses This is because the condition is used as the basis for making an explicit inference

For example:

If someone’s at the door, it must be Peter

If anyone has the answer, it should be Rod

Implicit inference: If it’s raining out there, my car is getting wet

Explicit inference: If it’s raining out there, my car must be getting wet Past implicit inference: If he was there, he saw the painting

Past explicit inference: If he was there, he must have seen the painting

- Future (predictive) conditional sentences express future plans or

contigencies The normal pattern for this type of conditional is simple present tense in the if-clause and some explicit indication of future time (will or be going to) in the result clause

For example:

If it rains, I will stay home

If you finish your vegetables, I’m going to buy you an ice-cream cone

If Steve comes to class, he will get the answers to the quiz

Sometimes, the future outcome expressed in the consequence clause (main clause) is not sufficiently certain to warrant use of will or be going to, in which case a weaker modal of prediction such as may, should, or might can

be used

For example:

If you finish your vegetables, I may buy you an ice-cream cone

If Steven comes to class, he should get the answers to the quiz

- Imaginative conditional sentences contain hypotheticals and counterfactuals

Hypothetical conditionals express unlikely yet possible events or states in the if-clause

For example:

If I had enough money, I would buy a car

(There is not a strong negation here There is an outside chance that the speaker has – or will have – enough money)

Counterfactual conditionals, however, express impossible events or states For example:

If I were the Prime Minister, I would make some changes

Counterfactual conditionals refer to the present or the past

For example:

Present: If I were the Prime Minister, I would make some changes

Past: If I had been the Prime Minister, I wouldn’t have made that decision Sometimes, the difference between using a future conditional and a hypothetical conditional sentence is a matter of speaker choice

For example:

Future: If it rains, I will stay home

Hypothetical: If it were to rain/should rain, I would stay home

The choice reflects the confidence in the speaker’s mind concerning the fullfilment of the condition: the future conditional expresses a greater confidence that the condition is a real possibility than the hypothetical conditional

4.1.2 Classification of conditional sentences

4.1.2.1 The type 0 conditional sentence

 Definition

Type 0 conditional sentence refers to conditional sentences expressing a factual implication It essentially states that if one fact holds, then so does another

 Formation of type 0 conditional sentence

Type 0 conditional sentence is very easy to form because both main clause and “if – clause” are often in present simple tense The formation should be:

If + Present Simple, … Present Simple

For example:

If you freeze water, it turns into ice

If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils

 Use of type 0 conditional sentence

- Habits

In English, the present simple tense is often used to talk about habits and daily routines

For example:

I walk the dog everyday

I call my mother once a week

The type 0 conditional sentence also has the same use It can be used to talk about your habits or things that you always do in certain situations

For example:

If I miss the train, I drive to work

If it is cold, I will stay home

For example:

Ice melts if you heat it

Oil floats if you put it in water

- General truths and facts

These things are not scientific facts but they are things that we generally believe are true

For example:

If the banana is yellow, it is ready to eat

If you make more money, you pay more income tax

- Instructions and rules

The imperative in the main clause of type 0 conditional sentence can be used to give instructions, advices or explain rules

For example:

If you drink alcohol, don’t drive

If you want to lose weight, eat less and exercise more

4.1.2.2 The type 1 of conditional sentence

 Formation of type 1 conditional sentence

Like a type 0 conditional sentence, a type 1 conditional sentence consist of two clause However, we use different verb form in each clause of this conditional

Base form: If + Present Simple, Subject + will/won’t/shall + verb

For example:

If it rains, I will stay at home

If I wake up late, I will miss the bus

We also use ‘’may’’ or ‘’might’’ in the main clause to say that the future event is possible, but not definite

For example:

If it is a sunny day tomorrow, we might have a pool party

Sometimes, we use “be going to” instead of “will’’ in the main clause This

is done to emphasize a certain result

For example:

I’m going to give you twenty pounds if you fix my computer for me

If you are not ready, I’m going to go out without you

 Uses of the type 1 conditional sentence

Type 1 conditional sentence is used to talk about circumstances that can arise due to a condition that is likely to be met

For example:

If she comes home late, she will get in trouble

If you buy it now, you will save a lot of money

Type 1 conditional sentence can also function as an advice or instruction

In these cases, the imperative mood is employed

For example:

If you don’t like it, don’t eat it

Listen carefully if you don’t want to miss anything

 The inversion in type 1 conditional sentence

Inversion happens when we invert the normal order of a sentence, mostly the form of the subject-verb Inversion is used in conditional sentences to emphasize the condition and to make them more formal

To make an inversion in type 1 conditional sentence, we use the formation below:

Should + Subject + to + Verb, Subject + will + Verb…

For example:

If he has free time, he will play tennis

The inversion: Should he have free time, he will play tennis

 Possible variation of the type 1 conditional sentence

- Variation of the main clause

When you want to emphasize the possibilities, you can use this form:

If + S + V (Present Simple), S +may/might +V-inf

For example: If the weather gets worse, the flight might be delayed

To show the agreement, this structure can be used:

If + S + V (Present Simple), S +may/can + V-inf

For example:

If it stops raining, we can go out

To give advice but emphasize the action:

If + S + V (Present Simple), S + would like to/must/have to/should +V-inf

For example:

If you go to the library today, I would like to go with you

To show the inevitable consequence of a condition which is from a regulation or habit:

If + S + V (Present Simple), S + V (Present Simple)

For example:

If you eat this poisonous fruit, you die at once

To show possibility of an action in the future and emphasize the state of the action:

If + S + V (Present Simple), S + V (Future Continuous/ Future Perfect)

For example:

If we leave Hanoi for Hue today, we shall be staying in Hue tomorrow

To use as imperatives (in the main clause, the subject is hidden):

If + S + V (Present Simple), S + (don’t) V-inf

For example:

If you are hungry, go to a restaurant

- Variation of the If – clause

When the action is happening at the moment:

If + S + V (Present Continuous), S + V (Future Simple)

For example:

If he is working, I won’t disturb him

When the condition is not certain:

If + S + V (Present Perfect), S + V (Future Simple)

For example:

If you have finished your homework, I shall ask for your help

To show suggestion but emphasize the condition:

If + S + would like to + V-inf, S + will/can/must +V-inf

For example:

If you would like to go to the library today, I will go with you

4.1.2.3 The type 2 conditional sentence

 Formation of the type 2 conditional sentence

In the normal form of type 2 conditional sentence, the condition clause is in past tense and the consequence is expressed using the conditional construction with the auxiliary “would”

If + Simple Past, S + Would + V-inf

For example:

If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world

If I didn’t have a headache, I would go to the party

‘Could’ can be used instead of ‘Would’ to make the hypothetical present or future more likely

For example:

If he trained everyday, he could represent his country

If I have a little more money, I could buy a car

In the type 2 conditional sentence, when the verb in the if-clause is a form

of “be”, we use “were” instead of “was” Note that this use of “were” is possible with all subjects

For example:

If I were you, I wouldn’t trust him

 Uses of the type 2 conditional sentence

These conditional sentences can be used to predict the results of unlikely future conditions

For example:

I wouldn’t recognize him if I saw him

It can be used to make contingency plans for unlikely future events

For example:

What would you do if you lost your job?

It can also be used to suggest improvements

For example:

If you hung up your trouser, they wouldn’t get creased

 The inversion of the type 2 conditional sentence

While the type 2 conditional sentence is used to describe unreal actions at the present, the inversion of this conditional sentence creates a lighter hypothesis

As a result, this inversion is often used when you want to give a gentle and delicate advice

As mentioned earlier, we only use “were” in the type 2 conditional sentence

It is the same in the inversion of this conditional sentence

When there is a form of “be” in the if-clause, we invert “were” to the place infront of the subject

Were + S…., S + would/could/might + V

For example:

If I were a bird, I would fly

Were I a bird, I would fly

When there is no form of “be” in the if-clause, we do the same and then add

“to + V”

Were + S + to V, S + would/could/might… + V

For example:

If you knew Japanese, you would understand what I mean

Were you to know Japanese, you would understand what I mean

 Possible variation of the type 2 conditional sentence

- Variation of the main clause

If + S + V (Past Simple), S + would/could/might/had to… + be + V-ing

For example: If I stayed at home, I would be lying on my bed now

If + S + V (Past Simple), S + V(Past Simple)

For example:

If the goal keeper didn’t catch the ball, they lost

If he were rich, he bought this car

If + S + V (Past Simple), S + would be + V-ing

For example:

If I were on holiday with him, I would be touring Italy now

- Variation of the if-clause

If + S + V (Past Continuous), S + would/could + V-inf

For example:

If we were studying in London now, we could speak English much better

If + S + V (Past Perfect), S + would/could + V-inf

For example:

If you had taken my advice, you would be a millionaire now

4.1.2.4 The type 3 conditional sentence

 Definition

Michael A Pyle and Mary Ellen Munoz (1995) said “The unreal conditional expresses a situation that would take place or would have taken place if the circumstances expressed were or had been different now or in the past” As a result, type 3 conditional sentence is conditional sentence used to describe hypothetical, counterfactual (or believed likely to be counterfactual) situations in the past

 Formation of the type 3 conditional sentence

In the type 3 conditional sentence, the tense of the if-clause is the past

perfect and the main clause is expressed using the conditional perfect

Conditional perfect is a grammatical construction that combines the conditional mood with perfect aspect The conditional perfect is formed using “would have” together with the past participle of the verb It is also possible for the auxiliary

would to be replaced by the modal should, could or might to express appropriate

modality in addition to conditionality

If + S + had + V (Past Participle) S + would + have + V (Past Participle)

 Use of the type 3 conditional sentence

Like the type 2 conditional sentence, the type 3 conditional sentence is imaginative condition However, it is used to refer to a time that is in the past and the situation is contrary to reality Type 3 conditional sentence is truly hypothetical

or unreal because it is now too late for the condition or its result to exist There is always an unspoken “but…” phrase

For example:

If I had worked harder, I would have passed the exam

(But I didn’t work hard, and I didn’t pass the exam)

 The inversion of the type 3 conditional sentence

The structure of type 3 conditional sentence inversion is very easy You only have to omit “if” and move the verb “had” before the subject This kind of inversion emphasizes more about the idea of the conditional clause

Had + S + V (Past Participle), S + would/could/might + have + V (Past Participle)

For example:

If you trained harder, you would have won the game

The inversion: Had you trained harder, you would have won the game

 Possible variation of the type 3 conditional sentence

- Variation of the main clause

If + S + V (Past Perfect), S + could/might + V (Present Perfect)

For example:

If we had found him earlier, we could have saved his life

If + S + V (Past Perfect), S + V (Past Perfect Continuous)

For example:

If you had left Hanoi for Haiphong last Saturday, you would have been swimming

in DoSon last Sunday

If + S + V (Past Perfect), S + would + V-inf

For example:

If she had followed my advice, she would be rich now

- Variation of the if-clause

If + S + V (Past Perfect Continuous), S + would + V (Present Perfect)

For example:

If it hadn’t been raining the whole week, I would have finished the laundry

4.1.2.5 Mixed tense sequences in the conditional sentences and related forms

of the conditional sentences

 Mixed tense sequences in the conditional sentences

We often hear about 4 basic types of conditional sentences in English: zero, first, second and third However, it is possible to mix the structures to form a mixed conditional sentence When we talk about mixed conditionals, we are referring to conditional sentences that combine two different types of conditional patterns These combinations are not that frequent, but the most common combinations are:

- Mixed third/second conditionals

This is the combination of type 3 and type 2 conditional sentences We have

a type 3 conditional pattern in the if-clause followed by a type 2 conditional in the main clause

If + S + V (Past Participle), S + would + V-inf

For example:

If he had worked harder at school, he would be better now

If I had taken his advice, I would become a rich man now

This type of mixed conditionals used to describe a past hypothetical situation with a present hypothetical result To put it simply, the condition in theif-clause is unreal in the past and the result in the main clause is unreal in the present For example:

If we had found the map, we wouldn’t be lost

That means we didn’t have the map, and the action “wouldn’t be lost” in the example is also unreal

- Mixed second/third conditionals

In this combination, however, we have a type 2 conditional pattern in the if-clause followed by a type 3 conditional in the main clause

If + S + V (Past Simple), S + would have + V (Past Participle)

For example:

If I were you, I would have learned English earlier

If he didn’t love her, he wouldn’t have married her

This combination is used to describe a present hypothetical situation with a past hypothetical result In simpler terms, the condition in the if-clause is unreal at the present and the result in the main clause is unreal in the past

For example:

If his English was better, he would have been able to translate the letter

Infact, his English is not good at the present, so the action “translate the letter” is unreal in the past because it is impossible

 Related forms of conditional sentences

- Hope and wish

Although these two verbs are similar in meaning, they are not the same grammatically

The verb ‘hope’ is often used to indicate something that possibly happened or will possibly happen It is similar to future or predictive conditionals

For example:

We hope that they will come (We don’t know if they are coming)

We hope that they came yesterday (We don’’t know if they came)

The verb “wish” is often used to indicate something that definitely didn’t happen or definitely will not happen

For example:

We wish that they could come (they are not coming)

We wish that they had come yesterday (they didn’t come)

The verb “wish” is very similar to unreal conditionals

For example:

Present unreal condition:

If I were rich, I would be very happy

Present wish:

I wish I were rich

Past unreal condition:

If you had told me about that, I wouldn’t have made the mistake

Past wish:

I wish that you told me about that

Wherever they go, they help people

In this example, the conjunctions whoever, whatever… can be replaced by an adverbial clause “no matter wh-“

For example:

No matter where they go, they help people

- However / no matter how

This subordinator is also one of the conditional link word

For example:

I am not going to miss the chance of seeing them however late they are

“However” as a conditional link word must be distinguished from the adverb

“however” The adverb “however” is always used with commas

For example:

I will help him However, I would like him to try doing it himself first

- Otherwise

“Otherwise” is equivalent to a negative condition

For example:

He must work harder Otherwise, he will fail the exam again

In this case, “otherwise” can be interpreted as “if he does not work much harder…”

- As if / as though

These conjunctions indicate something unreal or contrary to fact, so they are similar to conditional sentences The verb which follows these conjunctions

is often in the past simple or past perfect

S + V (present) + as if/ as though + S + V (past)

For example:

The old lady dresses as if it were winter even in the summer (but it is not winter)

S + V (past) + as if/as though + S + V (past perfect)

in the first clause and the expected consequence in the second clause

For the conditional implication, it is often that the second clause has a modal auxiliary and the verb of the first clause is an imperative or contains a modal auxiliary

For example:

Give me some money and I will help you escape

The implication is shown by paraphrase “give me some money” If you give

me some money I will help you escape In this case, the first clause is a condition of the second clause

- Or

“Or” may imply a negative condition but also in certain situations

For example:

Give me the money or I will kill you

The implication can be paraphrased by the negative conditional clause: “If you don’t give me money I will kill you”