PH LuzernSemester-Vorbereitungskurs

Englisch

Grammatik

Thema 1

Conditionals : Bedingungssätze

1Jaroslaw Kilian

2Jaroslaw Kilian

When do we use conditionals?

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We need conditional sentences to express a dependency between two actions.

then B

Let‘s have a look at the main types of conditional sentences.

A

CONDITION RESULT

If you follow this presentation carefully,

you will be able to use conditionals correctly.

ZERO CONDITIONAL

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We use the Zero Conditional when the condition ALWAYS gets fulfilled –when something is always true.

A happens -> B always happensCONDITION RESULT

If you heat water to 100 degrees,it boils.

+ A:Present Simple +B: Present Simple

In the Zero conditional you can replace IF with WHEN or WHENEVER.

WHENEVER/WHEN you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.

Let‘s have a look at the main types of situations in which something is always true.

ZERO CONDITIONAL

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A happens -> B always happensCONDITION RESULT

IF + A:Present Simple +B: Present Simple

Type 2. To expresses regulations, rules, instructions:

Type 1. To expresses general or scientific truths, facts and natural laws:

If (whenever, when) you heat water to 100 degrees,it boils.

If (whenever, when) the traffic light changes to red,the drivers have to stop.

Type 3. To express habits, routines, customs or traditions:

If (whenever, when) she is in town,she visits her sister.

There are mainly 3 types of situations in which we use the Zero Conditional:

ZERO CONDITIONAL

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Water boils if you heat it to 100 degrees.

A happens ->B happens

means of course exactly the same as

B happens A happens

You can start your conditional sentences either with the CONDITION or with the RESULT.THIS IS TRUE FOR ALL TYPES OF CONDITIONALS

The drivers have to stop if the traffic light changes to red.

ZERO CONDITIONAL

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A happens -> B always happens

1. Search the web in order to find 3 examples of the Zero conditional expressing:- a general truth or a rule- a scientific law- a habit or a routine

2. Place them on our Wiki Conditionals. Under each sentence write its German translation.

Do not repeat the examples of your class mates –the faster you are, the less searching you will have to do.

ACTIVITY 1

FIRST CONDITIONAL

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OnlyAhappens B will happen

The First Conditional refers to the present and to the future.The condition expresses a real possibility, something that is likely to happen.

If the weather is fine tomorrow,we will have dinner in the garden.

Ifwe are lazyand don’t practiceour golf,we won’t get any better at it.

IF+ A : Present Simple +B: Future Simple (WILL + infinitive)

Muster: Wenn das Wetter morgen schön ist, werden wir im See baden gehen.

In the examples above there is a real possibility of the weather being fine tomorrow or of someone being too lazy to practice his golf.

FIRST CONDITIONAL 1.1

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If you’ve finishedwith the computer,I will use it.

Ifhe’s expectingvisitors,he will have to clean his flat.

IF+ A:Present Perfect or Present Continuous +B: Future Simple

A has happened / is happeningCONDITION

B will happenRESULT

Muster: Wenn du fertig gespielt hast, werde ich an den Computer rangehen.

Muster: Wenn er Gäste erwartet, wird er aufräumen müssen.

FIRST CONDITIONAL 1.2

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A has happened / is happening / happens

SHOULD, CAN, MAY, MIGHT,MUSThave no future forms.That’s why we use them in the Present Simple Tense.

B should / can / may / might / must happen

If he’s expecting visitors, he should clean his flat.

If you need a pen, you can/may/might have mine.

If they want to study at this school,they must do the entrance exam.

IF+ A :Present Simple, Continuous or Perfect +B: should, can, may, might, must

If you have finished this exercise, you can/may/might watch a movie.

Muster: Wenn du nach Hause kommst, musst/sollst/kannst du dein Zimmer aufräumen.

FIRST CONDITIONAL 1.3

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Please do the exercise COND1

A has happened / is happening / happens

B The Imperative (Befehlsform)

If you’re expecting visitors, clean your flat.

If you want to be good at it,do your exercises.

IF +A:Present Simple, Continuous or Perfect +B: Present Simple

If you’ve never be to New York, go there as soon as you can!

Muster: Wenn du nach Hause kommst, räume dein Zimmer auf!

SECOND CONDITIONAL

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IF +A:Past Simple + B: WOULD + Infinitive

A happened

CONDITION

B would happen.

RESULT

The condition (If wehadthe money now) cannot be fulfilled at the moment of speaking (We don’t have money now.) : it is an imaginary situation.

If wehad the money,we would buy a bigger house.

IFIwereyou,I would marry him immediately.

Muster : Wenn ich nur ... könnte, ... hätte, ... wäre (dann) würde ich !

The condition (IfIwereyou) can NEVER be fulfilled = I can never be someone else.) : it is an impossible situation.

SECOND CONDITIONAL

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A happened

CONDITION

B would happen.

RESULT

1. Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNLhSz81zoY

2. Listen to the songs and do the Exercise Cond.2 in Moodle.

ACTIVITY 2

FIRST versus SECOND CONDITIONAL

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Please do the exercise COND-2

CONDITION RESULT

Note that the choice between the first and the second conditional is often a question of the speaker's attitude rather than of facts. Compare these examples.

Otto thinks these things are possible, Peter doesn’t:

Otto: – If I win the lottery, I'll buy a big house.

Peter: – If I won the lottery, I'd buy a big house.

FIRST Conditional

SECOND Conditional

THIRD CONDITIONAL

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Please do the exercise COND-3

IF + A:Past Perfect +B: Would + have + Past Participle

A had happenedCONDITION in the past

B would have happened.RESULT in the past

If we had had the money then... = We didn’t have it.If he had known that his wife ... = He didn’t know.

If we had had the money, we would have bought a bigger house. If he had known that his wife had a lover,whatwould he have done ?

The Third Conditional refers to the PAST.It expresses a past condition that could not be fulfilled.

Wenn ich damals nicht so blöd gewesen wäre, hätte ich sie geheiratet!

THIRD versus SECOND CONDITIONAL

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Please do the exercise COND-3

IF + A:Past Perfect +B: Would + Infinitive

A had happenedCONDITION in the past

Bwould happen.RESULT in the present

If wehadn’t spent the money on cars, we would live in a big house today.

If he had known that his wife had a lover,theywouldn’t be married any longer ?

TheCONDITIONrefers to the PAST.But the RESULT isNOW in the present.

Muster: Wenn ich gestern nicht so viel Wein getrunken hätte,hätte ich jetzt nicht so starke Kopfschmerzen..

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