Make Your Way 7, Schulbuch mit Audio-CD und CD-ROM

Grammar station: Conditionals The following three types of conditionals serve as a basic framework. These three types are all you need to be able to use, but you will frequently hear native speakers using other kinds of combinations as well. Basic types of conditional 11 Examples: If the government doesn’t deal with the problem of social inequality today, we will see a more violent society in the future. If he’ s carrying a gun, he’ ll probably use it. If they’ ve started fighting again, I’ ll be really angry. Note: The if-clause does not always have to come first. Examples: I’ ll be really angry if they’ ve started fighting again. Violence will always be with us if it is an instinct. Examples: If you knew you would go to prison, you would think twice before selling alcohol to a teenager. If you watched less television, you wouldn’t be so nervous. They would be safer if they had a guard dog. Examples: If there had been a better educational system at the time, I’m sure those boys’ violent behaviour would have been noticed . The police would have arrested him if they had recognised him. If he hadn’t laughed at them, they wouldn’t have hit him. Use of modal verbs in conditional sentences Examples: Type 1: if + all present tenses (including the present perfect)  “shall/will” future This type of conditional is used when talking or writing about something that is quite possible or probable . Type 2: if + past  would + base form This type of conditional is used when talking or writing about something which is improbable or hypothetical . It is also often used to make a suggestion – see second and third example below. Type 3: if + past perfect  would have + 3 rd form (past participle) This type of conditional is used when talking or writing about hypothetical events in the past. (The conse­ quences of these events did not and could not ever happen because the events themselves never took place.) In all three types of conditionals modal verbs can be used to qualify the outcome. If you’re arrested you contact a lawyer. can (are free to) could (would be able to) may (it’s possible) might (it’s possible) should (it’s advisable) ought to (it’s advisable) must (it’s necessary) 34 Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv