SUMMARY OF BASIC VERB FORM USAGE IN CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

MEANING OF THE “IF CLAUSE”

VERB FORM IN THE “IF CLAUSE”

VERB FORM IN THE RESULT CLAUSE

(a) If I have enough time, I write to my parents every week.

(b) If I have enough time tomorrow, I will write to my parents.

True in the present/future

Simple present Simple presentSimple future

Untrue in the present/future

Simple past Would + simple form (c) If I had enough time now, I would write to my parents (in truth, I do not have enough time, so I will not write to them).

Untrue in the past Past perfect Would have + past participle (d) If I had had enough time, I would have written to my parents yesterday. (in truth, I did not have enough time, so I did not write to them.)

TRUE IN THE PRESENT OR FUTURE

(e) If I don’t eat breakfast, I always get hungry during class.(f) Water freezes (will freeze) if the temperature goes below

00 C.(g) If I don’t eat breakfast tomorrow morning, I will get

hungry during class.(h) If the weather is nice tomorrow, we will go on a picnic.

In (e): The simple present in used in the result clause to express a habitual activity or situation.In (f): Either the simple present or the simple future is used in the result clause to express an established, predictable fact.In (g) and (h): The simple future is used in the result clause when the sentence concerns a particular activity or situation in the future.Note: The simple present, not the simple future, is used in the “if clause”.

UNTRUE (CONTRARY TO FACT) IN THE PRESENT/FUTURE

(i) If I taught this class, I wouldn’t give tests.(j) If he were here right now, he would help us.(k) If I were you, I would accept their invitation.

In (i): In truth, I don’t teach this class.In (j): In truth, he is not here right now.In (k): In truth, I am not you.Note: Were used for both singular and plural subjects. Was (with I, he, she, it) is sometimes used in very informal speech but is not generally considered grammatically acceptable.

UNTRUE (CONTRARY TO FACT) IN THE PAST

(l) If you had told me about the problem, I would have helped you.

(m) If they had studied, they would have passed the exam.(n) If I hadn’t slipped on the ice, I wouldn’t have broken

my arm.

In (l): In truth, you did not tell me about it.In (m) In truth, they did not study. They failed the exam.In (n): In truth, I slipped on the ice. I broke my arm.Note: The auxiliary verbs are almost always contracted in speech. “If you’d told me, I would’ve helped you (or: I’d’ve helped you)”.

USNG PROGRESSIVE VERB FORM

Notice the use of progressive verb forms in the following examples. Even in conditional sentences, progressive verb forms are used in progressive situations.

(a) TRUE: It is raining right now, so I will not go for a walk.(b) CONDITIONAL: If it were not raining right now, I would go for a walk.(c) TRUE: I am not living in Chile. I m not working at a bank..(d) CONDITIONAL: If I were living in Chile, I would be working at a bank.(e) TRUE: It was raining yesterday afternoon, so I did not go for a walk.(f) CONDITIONAL: If it had not been raining, I would have gone for a walk.(g) TRUE: I was not living in Chile last year. I was not working at a bank.(h) CONDITIONAL: If I had been living in Chile last year, I would have been working at a bank.

USING “MIXED TIME” IN CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

Frequently the time in the “if clause” and the time in the :result clause” are different: One clause may be in the present and the other in the past. Notice that past and present times are mixed in the sentences in the following examples.

(a) TRUE: I did not eat breakfast several hours ago, so I am hungry now.(b) CONDITIONAL: If I had eaten (past) breakfast several hours ago, I would not be (present) hungry now.(c) TRUE: He is not a good student. He did not study for the test yesterday.(d) CONDITIONAL: If he were (past) a good student, he would have studied (present ) for the test.

USING COULD, MIGHT AND SHOULD

(a) If I were a bird, I could fly home(b) If I could sing as well as you, I would join the opera.(c) If I’d had enough money, I could have gone to Florida for

vacation.

In (a): could fly = would be able to flyIn (b): could sing = were able to singIn (c) could have gone = would have been able to go

(d) If I don’t get a scholarship, I might get a job instead of going to graduate school nest fall.

(e) If you were a better student, you might get better grades.(f) If you had told me about your problem, I might have

been able to help you.

In (d): I might get = maybe I will get

In (e): you might get – maybe you would getIn (f): I might have been = maybe I would have been

(g) If John should call, tell him I’ll be back around five.(h) If there should be another world war, the continued

existence of the human race would be in jeopardy.

In (g): If John should call indicates a little more uncertainty or doubt than If John calls, but the meaning of the two is basically the same.In (h): If there should be indicates more uncertainty or doubt than If there were.

OMITTING IF

(a)Were I you, I wouldn’t do that.(b) Had I known, I would have told you.(c) Should anyone call, please take a message.

With were, had (past perfect), and should, sometimes if is omitted and the subject and verb are inverted.In (a): Were I you -= If I were youIn (b): Had if known = If I had knownIn (c): Should anyone call = If anyone should call

IMPLIED CONDITIONS

(a) I would have gone with you, but I had to study.(Implied condition: … if I hadn’t to study)

(b) I never would have succeeded without your help.(Implied condition: … if you hadn’t helped me)

Often the “if clause: is implied, not stated. Conditional verbs are still used in the “result clause”

(c) She ran; otherwise, she would have missed her bus. Conditional verbs are frequently used following otherwise. In (c), the implied “if clause” is: If she had not run…

VERB FORMS FOLLOWING WISH

VERB FORM VERB FORMIN “TRUE’ SENTENCE FOLLOWING WISH

A wish about the future

(a) She will not tell me. I wish (that) she would tell me.(b) He isn’t going to be here. I wish he were going to be here.(c) She can’t come tomorrow I wish she could come tomorrow

Wish is used when the speaker wants reality to be different, to be exactly the opposite. Verb forms similar to those in conditional sentences are used. Notice the examples.Wish is followed by a noun clause. The use of that is optional.Usually it is omitted in speaking.

A wish about the present

(d) I don’t know French. I wish I knew French.(e) It is raining right now. I wish it weren’t raining right now.(f) I can’t speak Japanese. I wish I could speak Japanese.

A wish about the past

(g) John didn’t come. I wish John had come. *(h) Mary couldn’t come. I wish Mary could have come.

* Sometimes in very informal speaking: I wish John would have come.

USING WOULD TO MAKE WISHES ABOUT THE FUTURE

(a) It is raining. I wish would stop. (I want it to stop raining).

(b) (b) I’m expecting a call. I wish the phone would ring. (I want the phone to ring).

Would is usually used to indicate that the speaker wants something to happen in the future. The wish may or may not come true (be realized).

(c) It’s going to be a good party. I wish you would come. (I want you to come).

(d) We’re going to be late. I wish you would hurry. (I want you to hurry)

In (c) and (d): I wish you would … is often used to make a request.

USING AS IF/AS THOUGH

(a) It looks like rain.(b) It looks as if it is going to rain.(c) It looks as though it is going to rain.(d) It looks like it is going to rain. (informal)

Notice in (a): like is followed by a noun object.Notice in (b) and (c): as if and as though are followed by a clause.Notice in (d): like is followed by a clause. This use of like is common in informal English but is not generally considered appropriate in formal English. As if or as though is preferred. (a), (b), (c) and (d) all have the same meaning.

“TRUE” STATEMENT VERB FORM AFTER AS IF/AS THOUGH

Usually the idea following as if/as though is “untrue”. In this case, verb usage is similar to that in conditional sentences. Notice the examples.

(e) He is not a child. She talked to him as if he were a child.(f) She did not take a shower When she came in form the rainstorm, she with her clothes on looked as if she had taken a shower with her clothes on.(g) He has met her. He acted as though he had never met her.(h) She will be here. She spoke as if she wouldn’t be here.

SIMPLE FUTURE/BE GOING TO

He will finish his work tomorrow Will or be going to is used to express future time*He is going to finish his work tomorrow In speech, going to is often pronounced “gonna”

The use of shall with I or we to express future time is possible but uncommon in American English. Shall is used much more frequently in British than in American English

Sue is talking to Helen:A: Let’s have a partyB: That’s a great ides. We’ll invite lots of peopleWe use will when we decide to do something at the time of speaking. The speaker has not decided before. The party is a new idea.

decision now

past now future

Later that day, Helen meets Dave:A: Sue and I have decided to have a party. We’re going to invite lots of people.We use (be) going to when we have already decided to do something. Helen had already decided to invite lots of people before she spoke to Dave.

decisionbefore

past now future

I’ll

I’m going to …

We often use I think I’ll … and I don’t think I’ll …In spoken English the negative of will is usually won’t (= will not)Do not use will to talk about what you have already decided or arranged to do.We often use will in these situation: offering to do something (I’ll help you…); agreeing to do something (I’ll give it to you…); promising to do something (I won’t tell.., I’ll pay you back…); asking somebody to do something (will you…). You can use won’t to say that somebody refuses to do something.Shall is used mostly in the question shall I…? /shall we….?We often use will with: probably, I expect; (I’m) sure, (I) think, (I) don’t think, I wonder; after I hope we generally use the present (I hope Carol phones this evening).Normally we use shall only with I and we. The negative of shall is shall not or shan’t. do not use shall with he/she/it/you/they.

WILL VERSUS BE GOING TO

To express a PREDICTION – either WILL or BE GOING TO is used:(a) According to the weather report, it will be cloudy tomorrow.(b) According to the weather report, it is going to cloudy tomorrow.(c) Be careful! You’ll hurt yourself!(d) Watch out! You’re going to hurt yourself!

When the speaker is making a prediction (a statement about something s/he thinks will be true or will occur in the future), either will or be going to is possible.There is no difference in meaning between (a) and (b).There is no difference in meaning between (c) and (d)

To express a PRIORI PLAN – only BE GOING TO is used:(e) A: Why did you buy this paint?B: I’m going to paint my bedroom tomorrow

I talked to Bob yesterday. He is tired of taking the bus to work. He’s going to buy a car. That’s what he told me.

When the speaker is expressing a priori plan (something the speaker intends to do in the future because in the past s/he has made a plan or decision to do it), only be going to is used.*In (e): Speaker B has made a priori plan. She decided to paint her bedroom last week. She intends to paint her bedroom tomorrow.In (f): The speaker knows Bob’s intention to buy a car. Bob made the decision in the past and he intends to act on this decision in the future. Will is not appropriate in (e0 and (f).

To express WILLINGNESS – only WILL is used:(g) A: The phone’s ringingB: I’ll get it

(h) A: I don’t understand this problem.B: Ask your teacher about it. She’ll help you.

In (g): Speakers B is saying: “I am willing, I am happy to get the phone.” He is not making a prediction. He has made no prior plan to answer the phone. He is, instead, volunteering to answer the phone and uses will to show his willingness.In (h): Speaker B feels sure about the teacher’s willingness to help.Be going to is not appropriate in (g) and (h).

SUBJECT BE (NOT) GOING TO BASE FORM OF VERB

I am/‘m (not) going toleave soonHe/She/It is/’s (not) going to

We/You*/They are/’re (not) going to*You is both singular and plural

YES/NO QUESTIONS: BE GOING TOBE SUBJECT GOING TO BASE FORMAm I

going to leave soon?Is heAre youWH- QUESTION: BE GOING TOWH-WORD BE SUBJECT GONG TO BASE FORM

WhenWhy

am I

going to leave?is he

are you

SUBJECT WILL (NOT) BASE FORM OF VERB

I/You/He/She/It/We/They will (not)won’t

leave soon

YES/NO QUESTIONS: WILLWILL SUBJECT BASE FORMWill he leave soon?WH- QUESTION: WILLWH-WORD WILL SUBJECT BASE FORMWhen will he leave?

Grammar explanationsYou can use be going to to talk about future plans and intentions.You can use will to say what you think or guess will happen in the future.

Use be going to when something in the present leads you to predict something in the future.Use will to give information about the future.Use will when you decide something at the moment of speaking.

EXPRESSING THE FUTURE IN TIME CLAUSES

(a) Bob will come soon. When Bob comes, we will see him.(b) Linda is going to leave soon. Before she leaves, she is going to finish her work.(c) I will get home at 5:30. After I get home, I will eat dinner.(d) The taxi will arrive soon. As son as it arrives, we’ll able to leave for the airport.(e)They are going to come soon. I’ll wait here until they come.

In (a): “When Bob comes” is a time clause.* when + subject + verb = a time clauseWill or be going to in NOT used in a time clause. The meaning of the clause is future, but the simple present tense is used.A time clause begins with such words as when, before, after, as soon as, until and includes a subject and a verb. The time clause can come either at the beginning of the sentence or in the second part of the sentence:When he comes, we’ll see him./ or:We’ll see him when he comes.

(f) I will go to bed after I finish my work.(g) I will go to bed after I have finished my work.

Occasionally, the present perfect is used in a time clause, as in (g). Examples (f) and (g) have the same meaning. The present perfect stresses the completion of the act in the time clause before the other act occurs in the future.

A “time clause” is an adverb clause.

MAIN CLAUSE TIME CLAUSEI’m going to be a ballet dancer when I grow up.She’ll join a ballet company after she leaves school.

YES/NO QUESTIONSMAIN CLAUSE TIME CLAUSEAre you going to be a ballet dancer when I grow up?Will she join a ballet company after she leaves school?

WH- QUESTIONSMAIN CLAUSE TIME CLAUSEWhat are you going to be when you grow up?

will she do after she leaves school?

Grammar explanations

When a sentence about future time has two clauses, the verb in the main clause is often in the future (will or be going to). He verb in the time clause is often in the present.BE CAREFUL! Do not use will or be going to in a future time clause.The time clause can come at the beginning or the end of the sentence. The meaning is the same. Use a comma after the time clause when it comes at the beginning. Do not use a comma when it comes at the end.

Here are some common time expressions you can use to begin future time clauses.

a When, after and as soon as often introduce the even that happens first.Now When I leave school, I’ll look for a job

After I leave school, I’ll look for a jobAs soon as I leave school, I’ll look for a job

leave look for a job (First I’m going to leave school. Then I’ll look for a job)Past Future

b Before, until and by the time often introduce the event that happens second

Now Before I get a job, I’ll finish schoolUntil I get a job, I’ll stay at school

finish a school get a job By the time I get a job, I’ll be out of school Past Future (First I’ll finish school. Then I’ll get a job)

c While introduces an event that will happen at the same times as another event Now While I look for a job, I’ll continue to study

(I will look for a job and study during The same time period)

Past Future

USING THE PRESENT PROGRESSIVE AND THE SIMPLE PRESENT TO EXPRESS FUTURE TIME

PRESENT PROGRESSIVEMy wife has an appointment with a doctor.She is seeing Dr. North next Tuesday.Sam has already made his plans. He is leaving at noon tomorrow.A: what are you going to do this afternoon?B: After lunch I am meeting a friend of mine.We are going shopping. Would you like to come along?

The present progressive may be used to express future time when the idea of the sentence concerns a planned event or definite intention. (Compare: A verb such as rain is not used in the present progressive to indicate future time because rain is not a planned event.)A future meaning for the present progressive tense is indicated either by future time words in the sentence or by the context.

SIMPLE PRESENTThe museum opens at ten tomorrow morning.Classes begin next week.John’s plane arrives at 6:05 p.m. next Monday.

The simple present can also be used to express future time in sentences that concern events that are on a definite schedule or timetable.These sentences usually contain future time words. Only a few verbs are used in this way: e.g., open, close, begin, end, start, finish, arrive, leave, come, return.

look for a job

continue to study

FUTURE PROGESSIVE

SUBJECT WILL (NOT) BE BASE FORM + -INGI/You/He/She/It/We/They will (not)

won’tbe working

comingtomorrow

(a) I will begin to study at seven .You will come at eight.I will be studying when you come.(b) Right now I am sitting in class.At this time same time tomorrow, I will be sitting in class.

The future progressive expressive an activity that will be in progress at a time in the future.

(c) Don’t call me at nine because I won’t be home. I am going to be studying at the library.

The progressive form of be going to:be going to + be + -ing

(d) Don’t get impatient. She will be coming soon.(e) Don’t get impatient. She will come soon.

Sometimes there is little or no difference between the future progressive and the simple future, especially when the future event will occur at an indefinite time in the future, as in (d) and (e).

Grammar Explanations

1. Use the future continuous with will (not) and won’t to talk about thinks that will be in progress at a specific time in the future.Ex.: Robe will be taking the dog for a walk at noon/ He won’t be cleaning the house.

NowRobo will be taking the dog for a walk at noonHe won’t be cleaning the house

12:00Past Future

2. Usage note: we also use (not) be going to + be + base form + -ing but the structure with will is more common.Remember! Stative verbs are not usually used in the continuous form.Ex.: Robe is going to be taking the dog for a walk at noon./ He isn’t going to be cleaning the house.I’ll know my test results next week/ NOT I’ll be knowing my test results next week

3. Remember that if the sentence has a time clause, use the present simple or present continuous in the time clause, not the future or future continuous.Ex.: I’ll be cooking while the robot is cleaning/ NOT I’ll be cooking while the robot will be cleaning.

FUTURE PERFECT

(a) I will graduate in June. I will see you in July. By the next time I see you, I will have graduated.(b) I will have finished my homework by the time I go out on a date tonight.

The future perfect expresses an activity that will be completed before another time or event in the future.(Notice in the examples: by the time introduces a time clause; the simple present is used in a time clause.)

FUTURE PERFECT STATEMENTSSUBJECT WILL (NOT) HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

I/ He/She/It/We/ You*/They will (not)won’t

have saved enough money by then

*You is both singular and plural

FUTURE PERFECT YES/NO QUESTIONS SHORT ANSWERSWILL SUBJECT HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE

Will he have saved enough by then? Yes, he will No, he won’t

FUTURE PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

(c) I will go to bed at ten p.m.He will get home at midnight. At midnight I will be sleeping. I will have been sleeping for two hours by the time he gets home.

The future progressive emphasizes the duration of an activity that will be in progress before another time se event in the future.

(d) When Professor Jones retires next month, he will have taught for 45 years.(e)When Professor Jones retires next month, he will have been teaching for 45 years.

Sometimes the future perfect and the future perfect progressive give the same meaning, as in (d) and (e). Also, notice that the activity expressed by either of these two tenses may begin in the past.

I will be doing something (future continuous) = I will be in the middle of doing somethingWe also use will be doing in a different way: to talk about complete actions in the future. You can use will you be – ing…? To ask somebody’s plans, especially if you want something or want them to do something. We use will have (done) (future perfect) to say that something will already be complete.

FUTURE PERFECT PROGRESSIVE STATEMENTSSUBJECT WILL (NOT) HAVE BEEN + BASE FORM + -ING

I/ He/She/It/We/ You/They will (not)won’t

have been saving for three years

FUTURE PERFECT CONTIUNOUS YES/NO QUESTIONS SHORT ANSWERSWILL SUBJECT HAVE BEEN + BASE FORM+-ING AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE

Will he have been saving for long? Yes, he will No, he won’t

Grammar explanations

a. When we use future perfect, we imagine a certain point of time in the future, By June, he will have paid his debt. and we look back at events that will be completed by that time We won’t have saved enough by then.

Now

Past Future

paid Junedebt

Use by + time expression to identify the point in time in the future By June, she’ll have bought a carUse already to emphasise that an event will have happened by a point in time

She’ll have looked at a lot of cars by then.By May, he’ll have already saved £1000

b. When we use the future continuous, we imagine a certain point in the future We moved here in 1998. By next December we and we look back on things already in progress. will have been living here for several years.

We’re moving to Paris next year. By 2009, we will have been living there for several years and it should feel like home

Now

1998 DecemberPast Future

………….. living

The future perfect continuous focuses on how long and often includes the length of time You’ll have been speaking French for ten years by then.

Remember! Stative verbs are not usually used in the progressive By Mary, he’ll have owned his car for a yearNOT he’ll have been owning his car

c. Use the future perfect or the future perfect continuous with the By the time you arrive, I’ll have finished dinner. present simple to show the order of events: NOT By the time you will arrive, I’ll have finished dinner

FIRST EVENT: future perfect (continuous) By the time you arrive, I’ll have been reading for an hour

SECOND EVENT: present simple

Now

finish start dinner to read arrivePast Future