Passive vs. Active voice Taller de inglés científico para publicaciones académicas Mexico City, México August – September 2014 CONDITIONAL SENTENCES Grammar Review for Academic Purposes

Conditional Sentences Conditional sentences have two parts that express two things: ▫If-clause: expresses the condition  If the temperature is 0°C, ▫Result clause: expresses the result  water freezes. If the temperature is 0°C, water freezes. Water freezes if the temperature is 0°C.

There are three basic kinds of conditional sentences that will be useful in your papers: True in the present/future: If the temperature is 0°C, water freezes. Untrue in the present/future: If I had $1,000,000, I would upgrade my lab. Untrue in the past: If I had studied another species, I would have found the same results.

True in the Present or Future: This conditional describes the result under a certain condition. ▫If water comes in contact with copper, the copper will turn green. The “if-clause” uses a simple present verb: ▫If water comes in contact with copper, The “result clause” uses either a simple present verb or a future verb: ▫it will turn green. OR it turns green.

Modals can be used in this conditional to show a level of uncertainty. ▫If I put my shirt in the dryer, it might shrink. Use:should, could, can, may, might

Untrue in the Present or Future: This conditional describes a condition that does not exist in this moment and the result that could be expected. ▫If I had a million dollars, I would update my lab. The “if-clause” uses a simple past verb: ▫If I had a million dollars, The “result clause” uses would+base verb: ▫I would update my lab.

“Were” is used for singular and plural subjects in this conditional. ▫If he were here, he would be angry. The modal “could” is used in the “result clause” to show a choice. ▫If I had a bicycle, I could ride it to work. (or I could take the bus)

Untrue in the Past: This conditional is used to show the result if a different condition was true in a past event. ▫If I hadn’t broken my foot, I would have attended the conference. ▫(In reality, I did break my foot and I did not attend the conference.) The “if-clause” uses a past perfect verb: ▫If I hadn’t broken my foot, The “result clause” uses would+present perfect verb: ▫I would have attended the conference.

The modal “could” is used to show a choice: ▫If I hadn’t broken my foot, I could have attended the conference.

Punctuation Rules: When the “if-clause” comes first, use a comma to separate it from the “result clause”. ▫If heat is applied, a solid becomes a liquid. When the “result clause” comes first, do not use a comma between the clauses: ▫A solid becomes a liquid if heat is applied.