CONDITIONALS : ZERO, FIRST , SECOND, UNLESS & IF (UNIT 8 - FORM 5)

 

COnditions… If/When	If clause (subordinate or dependent clause)	Main Clause
Zero conditional	If you go,	, they ask you questions.
First conditional	If they hire you,	, you will earn a great salary.
Second conditional	If I were you,	, I would hire him.

Further examples,

Conditions… If/When	If clause	Main Clause	Usage
Zero conditional	If you go,	, they ask you questions.	Talk about things that are always or generally true.
First conditional	If they hire you,	, you will earn a great salary.	Talk about something that is possible now or in the future.
Second conditional	If I were you,	, I would hire him.	Talk about something that is impossible or unlikely in the present or the future. To give advice
Third conditional	I I had known about the job, I hadn’t been late every morning,	I could have told you about it. I wouldn’t have lost my job.	Talk about things in the past that were possible, but did not happen.

Conditions… If/When	Forms	If clause	Main Clause
Zero conditional	(If + present simple) + present simple	If you go,	, they ask you questions.
First conditional	(if + present simple) + future simple/ imperative/can/ must/ should	If they hire you,	, you will earn a great salary.
Second conditional	(if + past simple)  + would / could/ might + bare infinitive	If I were you,	, I would hire him.
Third conditional	(if + past perfect)  + would/could/might  + have  + past participle	I I had known about the job, I hadn’t been late every morning,	I could have told you about it. I wouldn’t have lost my job.

More exercise/ explanation

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What Is a Subordinate Clause? (with Examples)

A subordinate clause (or dependent clause) is a clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it does not express a complete thought.

if you go,

if I were you, 

Like all clauses, a subordinate clause has a subject and verb.

Examples of Subordinate Clauses

Here are some examples of subordinate clauses (shaded). You will notice that none of the shaded clauses could stand alone as a sentence. This is how a subordinate clause (or a dependent clause) is different from an independent clause.

• She had a pretty gift for quotation, which is a serviceable substitute for wit. (W Somerset Maugham, 1874-1965)
• A musicologist is a man who can read music but can't hear it. (Sir Thomas Beecham, 1879-1961)