Chapters 2 & 8, Book 6A New Welcome to English (Second Edition) If… (Part I)

We need to bring in plants if there’s a number 3 signal. If there’s a Black Rainstorm Warning, we need to stay inside. What do we need to do during bad weather?

HWe use if-sentences to talk about something that must happen first before another thing happens. HMade up of an if-clause and a main clause. If-clauseMain clause If it rains, I wear a raincoat. If… This happens first. Then this happens.

HThe if-clause can come at the beginning or end of a sentence. If… e.g. We need to bring in plants if there’s a number 3 signal. If there’s a number 3 signal, we need to bring in plants.

If a sign is hanging dangerously from a building, we need to take it down. We need to take a sign down if it is hanging dangerously from a building. Look and say. Example: (sign / hanging dangerously / from a building / take it down)

Now you try. (a flood / clear the drains) We need to clear the drains if there’s a flood.If there’s a flood, we need to clear the drains.

(landslide / leave home quickly) If there’s a landslide, we need to leave home quickly. We need to leave home quickly if there’s a landslide.

(boat /sinking / send a rescue team) We need to send a rescue team if a boat is sinking. If a boat is sinking, we need to send a rescue team.

(homeless / open a shelter) We need to open a shelter if people are homeless. If people are homeless, we need to open a shelter.

What should we do if we want to ride a bicycle? If we want to ride a bicycle, we should ride it on a cycle path.

If… HWe can use should or should not in the main clause when we are giving suggestions or advice. e.g. If we want to ride a bicycle, we should ride it on a cycle path.

(cross the road / use a pedestrian crossing) If we want to cross the road, we should use a pedestrian crossing. Look and say. Example:

(cross the road / use a footbridge) Now you try. If we want to cross the road, we should use a footbridge.

(a stranger / talk to us / not talk to him or her) If a stranger talks to us, we should not talk to him or her.

(want to buy a snack after school / not buy food from a hawker) If we want to buy a snack after school, we should not buy food from a hawker.

Practice 1 If I am tired, I _________. (go / bed) 2 If you want to get fitter, you ________ ____________. (do / exercise) 3 If you have a fever, you ____________ __________. (go / doctor) 4 If you drop an egg, it _______. (break) 5 If you want to have good results in exams, you _______________. (work hard) 6 If she is happy, she ______. (laugh) go to bed breaks should work hard laughs more exercise should do should go to the doctor