 Re: Conditional Sentences
Hi, Marian. Goodness!! That's quite a task you've set . . . someone. You're lucky. I'm a newbie, learning how to navigate this system; so I will afford you a couple of minutes. You may ask me further questions later.
Barron's TOEFL preparation texts have, from memory, a good introduction to conditionals.
Most TOEFL teachers start with what are termed the first, second, and third conditionals. Then, when students have just about choked trying to learn the complexities of these three, teachers start teaching the less common forms.
First conditional: I will pay Bruce if I see Bruce.
Second conditional: I would fly if I had wings.
Third conditional: I would have given her some money if I had known if she needed some money.
You need to learn (a) the pairs of tenses that mark each of the three (and the other) types, and the distinctions in their meaning. For example, first conditionals are about real possibilities -- I might see Bruce, and I'll pay him if I do see him. Second conditionals (which are [obvious] subjunctives -- and that's a whole new can of worms) are about things are 'unreal,' like growing wings and flying. Third conditionals are the something-didn't-happen-at-some-time-in-the-past-but-if-the-thing-had-happened-I-would-have . . .
Mark in Perth  |