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Home -
Grammar - Everyday Grammar - 'If You Learn Conditionals, You'll Be
Glad' |
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| 'If You Learn Conditionals, You'll Be Glad' |
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 'If
You Learn Conditionals, You'll Be Glad'
The lesson includes a video program, an audio program
explaining this grammar topic, the script for the audio
program, a words in this story section,
and other important information. |
Video Program
Watch the video program explaining this grammar topic.
Then listen to the audio program explaining this grammar topic. |
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this grammar
topic. Then read the following written information. |
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'If You Learn Conditionals,
You'll Be Glad' |
In this week's episode of Everyday Grammar, we are going
to talk about conditionals. We use conditionals to show
that something is true only when something else is true.
Conditionals offer endless possibilities for creative
and imaginative expression.
Present real conditional
The present real conditional is the most basic kind of
conditional. Basically, when A happens, B happens.
Here's an example of a present real conditional:
"If it rains, I bring an umbrella."
Conditionals have two parts: the if clause: "if it
rains," and the result clause: "I bring an umbrella."
You could also say "I bring an umbrella if it rains."
Poets and songwriters often use conditionals in their
work. Listen for the present real conditional in this
song by American songwriter Bob Dylan.
"If you see her, say hello. She might be in Tangier ..."
Notice that the verbs see and say are both in the
present tense for the present real conditional.
Present unreal conditional
The next conditional that we're going to talk about is
the present unreal conditional. Use the present unreal
conditional to talk about what you would do in an
unreal, or imaginary situation: If A happened, B would
happen.
For example, "If I were you, I would take the job." The
key word is would; it makes the conditional unreal.
Would can only be used in the result clause of the
sentence. Here's an example from American singer Johnny
Cash.
"If I were a carpenter
And you were a lady
Would you marry me anyway?
Would you have my baby?"
To form a present unreal conditional, use a simple past
verb in the if clause. In the result clause, use would
followed by a simple present verb.
Use the verb were for all nouns in the if clause of the
sentence. For example, "If she were an animal, she would
be a cat." In informal speech, people might say, "If she
was an animal, she would be a cat." But you should avoid
this in formal writing.
Future real conditional
Now let's talk about the future real conditional: If A
happens, B will happen.
To make a future real conditional, use will in the
result clause. For example, "If your plane is late, I
will wait in the car." Use the future real conditional
to talk about possible situations in the future.
Speakers sometimes use the future real conditional to
threaten others. Listen to actor Liam Neeson in the 2013
movie "Taken." In this scene of the movie, Neeson's
character is on the phone threatening the man who
kidnapped his daughter.
"If you let my daughter go now, that'll be the end of
it. I will not look for you. I will not pursue you. But
if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and
I will kill you."
This is only a quick introduction to conditionals. In a
future episode of Everyday Grammar, we will talk about
past and mixed conditionals. Until then, we will leave
you with country music stars Johnny Cash and June
Carter.
"If you were a carpenter
And I were a lady
I'd marry you anyway
I'd have your baby"
I'm Jonathan Evans.
Adam Brock wrote this story for VOA Learning English.
Jill Robbins and Ashley Thompson were the editors. |
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Words in This Story |
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conditional - n.
a word, clause, or sentence that shows that
something is true or happens only if something else
is true or happens
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imaginative - adj.
having or showing an ability to think of new and
interesting ideas : having or showing imagination
- basic
– adj. forming or
relating to the first or easiest part of something
- clause
- n. grammar : a part
of a sentence that has its own subject and verb
- tense
- n. a form of a verb
that is used to show when an action happened
- unreal
- adj. not real; not
true
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Additional Information |
| REFERENCE – Three
common conditionals (incomplete list) |
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If clause |
Result clause |
| Present Real |
If you see her,
Simple present |
say hello.
Simple present |
| Present Unreal |
If I were you,
Simple past |
I would leave.
Would + simple present |
| Future Real |
If your plane is late,
Simple present |
I will wait for you.
Simple future |
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Now it's your turn. Write about conditionals in the
Facebook comments section below. |
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Source: Voice of America |
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Grammar Tips |
Can You Catch These Native Speaker Mistakes?
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of common mistakes. The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part One
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part One
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words. The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part Two
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part Two
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words. The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program. |
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