UNIT 36: Conditional sentences (câu điều kiện)

Topic 22: Politics

I. 1^st conditional sentence: Present real conditional (điều kiện có thật ở hiện tại)

1. Usage

Talking about what normally do in real-life situations (nói vể những thứ thường làm trong cuộc sống thực)

2. Form

Use the simple present in the if-clause and the simple future/present in the main clause (dùng thì hiện tại đơn trong mệnh đề if- và thì tương lai đơn/hiện tại đơn trong mệnh đề chính)

When I have a day off from work, I often go to the beach.

The voters will vote for the new prime minister if he makes sure to do a good job.

1. “If” and “When”

Both “if” and “when” are used in the present real conditional. (cả “if” và “when” đều dùng được trong câu điều kiện có thực ở hiện tại)

• Using “if” suggests that something happens less frequently. (dùng “if” ngụ ý rằng việc gì đó xảy ra ít thường xuyên hơn)
• Using “when” suggests that something happens regularly (dùng “when” ngụ ý rằng việc gì đó xảy ra thường xuyên hơn)
•      Examples:
• When I have a day off from work, I usually go to the beach.
• If the new policy does not work well, the president should resign.

4. Exercises:Complete the following sentences using present real conditional. (hoàn thành các câu sau với câu điều kiện có thật ở hiện tại)

1. If the weather (be) nice, we usually (go) swimming.
2. If I (buy) a lottery ticket, I might win the lottery.
3. My brother usually (drive) to school if he (have) gas in his car.
4. What you (do) when you (not can) sleep?
5. If the phone (not ring) this afternoon, I can take a nap.

II.  2^nd conditional sentence: present unreal conditional (câu điều kiện loại 2: không có thật ở hiện tại)

1.  Usage

Talking about what you will regularly do in imaginary situations at the moment (nói về những thứ thường làm trong những tình huống tưởng tượng ở hiện tại)

2.  Form

Use simple past in the if-clause and would + verb in the main clause (dùng thì quá khứ đơn ở mệnh đề if- và would + verb ở mệnh đề chính)

• Examples:
• I would read more if I didn't watch so much TV.
• If the chairman didn’t sign that agreement, the military would beat public.
• A: What would you do if you won the lottery? B: I would buy a house.
• A: Where would you live if you moved to the U.S.? B: I would live in Seattle.

3.  “If I were ...”

“was”, often used in conversations, is not considered grammatically correct. In written English or in testing situations, you should always use „were” (“was” thường được dùng trong các câu chuyện, dược coi là không đúng ngữ pháp. Trong văn viết Tiếng Anh hoặc trong các tình huống thử nghiệm, nên dùng “were”)

• Examples:
• If he were French, he would live in Paris.
• If she were rich, she would buy a house.
• I would buy that computer if it were cheaper.

4.  Only use “if” (chỉ dùng “if”)

Use „if” with the present unreal conditional because you are discussing imaginary situations. „When” can’t be used. (dùng “if” với câu điều kiện không có thật ở hiện tại vì đang nói đến các tình huống không có thật)

• Examples: I would buy that computer when it were cheaper. Not Correct

               I would buy that computer if it were cheaper. Correct

5.  Conditional with modal verbs (câu diều kiện với động từ quyết thiếu)

There are some special conditional forms for modal verbs in English (có một số dạng đặc biệt cho động từ quyết thiếu trong Tiếng Anh)

would + can = could

would + shall = should

would + may = might

• Examples:
• If I went to Egypt, I would can learn Arabic. Not Correct
• If I went to Egypt, I could learn Arabic. Correct
• If she had time, she would may go to the party. Not Correct
• If she had time, she might go to the party. Correct
• Exercise:Put the verbs in brackets in the present unreal conditional. (chia động từ trong ngoặc ở câu điều kiện không có thật ở hiện tại)

Did you hear about that guy who won 180 million dollars in the lottery? If I (win) that much money, I (quit) my job the next day. I (travel) around the world and (stay) in the most luxurious hotels. If I (want) anything, I (buy) it. If I (see) a beautiful car that I wanted, I (buy) it. I (can) do anything in the world if I had 180 million dollars. I (do) good things with the money as well. If anybody (need) help, I (give) them some money to help them out. I (donate) money to charities. I (give) money to help support the arts. If I (win) that much money, I (not keep) it all for myself. I (help) as many people as possible.

III. 3^rd conditional sentence: past unreal conditional (câu điều kiện loại 3: không có thật trong quá khứ)

1.  Usage

Talking about imaginary situations in the past. (nói về những tình huống tưởng tượng trong quá khứ)

2.  Form

Use the past perfect in the if-clause and „would have + past participle of the verb” in the main clause (dùng thì quá khứ hoàn thành trong mệnh đề if- và “would have + động từ quá   khứ)

• Examples:
• If I had had my diploma, I would have gone to Japan.
• If we had been told about this, we would have watched the firework.

3. Exercise:Put the verbs in brackets in the past unreal conditional. (chia động từ trong ngoặc ở câu điều kiện không có thật trong quá khứ)

After I graduated from university, I applied for a marketing position. I didn't get the job because they wanted someone who spoke Spanish fluently. I (could, take) Spanish in high school, but I didn't. I took an acting class instead. If I (take) Spanish, I (get) the job. I (move) to Spain. My entire life (could, go) in a totally different direction. If I had accepted the job and moved to Spain, I (might, meet) a Spanish woman and (get) married. If that had actually happened, I probably (stay) in Spain. We (might, have) children. Unfortunately, I didn't get the job and I didn't go to Spain. I got a boring job and I live alone. If I had just taken Spanish, my life (be) much more interesting.