Sentence Complexity and Embedding

Adverb Clauses

Activity 14.6: Understanding Conditionals

What does it mean to say that there is a condition for something? Define condition in the text box, then click on Solution for the preferred definition.

What kind of sentence would you say to express a condition required for something else to happen?

Compare the sentences below and explain what difference in meaning they have. Then explain what in the sentences shows that difference.

1. If it rains, the river rises.
2. If it rains tomorrow, the river will rise.
3. If it were raining right now, the river would be rising.
4. If it had rained last week, the river would have risen then.

We have already looked at conditional sentences before, and the examples in Activity 14.6 should be familiar.  In this review, the main goal is to highlight the fact that conditional sentences use adverb clauses in them to express the condition under which the main action takes place.

As an adverb clause, the conditional clause in a conditional sentence follows the regular rules for adverb clauses.  That is, it acts in an adverbial function to the main clause, and it can be placed either in front of or after the main clause.  Conditionals have their own sequence of tenses, however, depending upon whether they express factual, predictive, or imaginative conditions, whether they are timeless or timebound, and when the time of the real events takes place.  Modal verbs play a strong role in conditionals, too, because there is a great deal of uncertainty and unreality surrounding these situations.

Factual timeless conditionals generally use the simple present tense in both the conditional clause and the main clause, as in example 1 in Activity 14.6.  Future predictive conditionals typically use the simple present in the conditional clause and the simple future in the main clause, although many other modals can show up in the main clause and even in the conditional clause to show weakened levels of certainty about the prediction.  For example, Example 2 above is a strong prediction about the future: If it rains tomorrow, the river will rise.  We can show weaker levels of certainty in the following ways:

If it rains tomorrow, the river might rise;
If it rains tomorrow, the river could rise;
If it should rain tomorrow, the river could rise.

The sequence of tenses in imaginative conditionals is particularly difficult.  Because these conditionals refer to unreal situations, especially those that are contrary to fact, the verb forms in them are also contrary to real verb meanings.  In imaginative conditionals, the past tense refers to present time, and only the past perfect can refer to past time. 

For example, we say, “We are very comfortable right now.  If we were cold, we would put on our jackets.”  The time under discussion is right now, the present, and the real situation, being comfortable, is discussed with regular verbs forms: the simple present tense of the stative verb BE is used.  In the conditional sentence, a situation contrary to these facts is discussed, and the verbs forms are contrary to reality, too.  The conditional clause uses the simple past form of the verb BE to refer to present time, and the modal would is used in the main clause.

To discuss unreal events that could have taken place in the past, we use past perfect in the conditional clause and the perfect model would have in the main clause: If it had rained last week, the river would have risen.

In addition, the one remaining vestige of the subjunctive shows up; in standard usage, only were (not was) can be used in imaginative present conditionals.  This is why the lyrics of the song from the musical Fiddler on the Roof say, If I were a rich man instead of If I was a rich man.  Many native speakers use the simple past was instead of the subjunctive were in informal speech, however, so it is grammatical, but it is not acceptable in standard usage.  The subjunctive is rarely used in Modern English, but this is one place we see it.

Activity 14.7: Understanding Conditionals

Identify the types of conditional sentences below.

Type or copy/paste the appropriate terms to identify the tense and reality of these sentences. Click on "Check" to assess your answers.

Conditional Adverb Clauses

There are great difficulties with adverb clauses for ESL students.  First, the verb system is very difficult, and it is a key feature of the relationship between the action in the adverb clause and the one in the main clause.   Second, the set of subordinating conjunctions that open adverb clauses overlaps with both adverbs and prepositions, but is not equal to either one.  Finally, the conditionals create additional difficulties as they hold to a different sequence of tenses than regular adverb clauses.  Clearly, students need many opportunities to work with these types of sentences.

End of Lesson