'if-clauses'

موضوع: 'if-clauses' الخميس أبريل 15, 2010 6:08 pm

Type I.
if-clause + main clause
If / Unless / If .......not + future I
+ present tense + shall / will / can / may / might + verb
If I learn my vocabulary, I'll get a good mark
or the other way round:
main clause + if-clause
shall / will / can / may / might + verb + present tense simple present
I'll get a good mark. if I learn my vocabulary

Function open condition:
Probable action/result in the future according to a real condition
You'll catch the train if you leave before ten.
Curriculum Lehrplan:
Type I and II in form 7 and 8
if vs. when
Lehrbuch:
previously done:
future I
present tense

Difficulties 1. form:
if - plays, - main clause -future I
if - unless
2. function
open conditions
What's condition - what's consequence?
3. interlingual interferences
No future tense in if-clauses
if vs. when
unless
4. other difficulties
position of the if-clause

Situations operating instructions
making appointments
warnings or possible rewards
suggestions

Type II
Form Type II:
if-clause
+ main clause
If / Unless / If .......not past tense, + conditional I:+ should / would / could / 'd / might + verb
If I learnt my vocabulary, I'd get a good mark.
or the other way round:
main clause + if-clause
I'd get a good mark if I learnt my vocabulary

If-clauses in front position are more emphatic.
If-clauses in front position get a comma.

Function Hypothetical statements
Possible action/result according to a less probable condition in the future
We'd have enough money for a new car if you found a good job.
Fantasized result or action according to an unreal (untrue) condition in the present
We'd buy a Rolls Royce if we were rich.

Curriculum Lehrplan:
Type II in form 7 or 8
if I were you,
Lehrbuch:
previously done:
past tense
if-clause type I

Difficulties 1. form:
if - played, - conditional I
if - unless
2. function
Possible action/result according to a less probable condition in the future
Fantasized result or action according to an unreal (untrue) condition in the present: "virtual reality"
no time indicated by past tense = today or tomorrow
3. interlingual interferences
No conditional tense in if-clauses
if vs. when
unless
4. other difficulties
'were' instead of 'was' (rest of old conjunctive)
position of the if-clause

Situations dreams and nightmares
mock examinations: testing a person
exaggerated timidity (But if the bridge fell down....)
reproaches

Type III

Form Type III:
if-clause
+ main clause
If / Unless / If .......not + past perfect, + conditional II
If I had + -ed or 3rd form, + should / would/ could / might + have + verb+ed or 3rd form
If I had learnt my vocabulary, I would have got a good mark.
or the other way round: .
main clause + if-clause
should / would/ could / might + have + verb -ed or 3rd form if I had + -ed or 3rd form
I would have got a good mark if I had learnt my vocabulary

Function If- clause: unreal condition: the condition can't be fulfilled any longer, because it should have happened in the past, but didn't.
main clause: the consequence can't take place any more, because the condition couldn't be fulfilled.
If I had learnt more (but I didn't learn=unreal condition), I would have got a better mark. (So I didn't get a better mark= impossible consequence)
or the other way round:
I would have got a better mark (So I didn't get a better mark= impossible consequence) if I had learnt more (but I didn't learn=unreal condition)

Curriculum Lehrplan:
form 9 + 10 (repetition)
Lehrbuch:
Type I and II in form 7 and 8
if vs. when

Difficulties 1. interlingual interferences
No conditional tense in if-clauses
if vs. when
unless

2. other difficulties

position of the if-clause

Situations dreams and nightmares about the past
castles in the air in the past
reproaches
self-blaming