6.1 Conditional Sentences

Day 2: Type 1 and Type 2

Revision: Type 1 Possible Situations (可能發生的情況)

Type 1 conditionals are used when action B is likely to happen if action A has happened. This is the most commonly used type of conditional sentence.

The tenses that should be used are:

If-clause: simple present (即使說的是將來發生的事，也要用simple present)

Main clause: simple future

Examples:

(1)   If the weather is (simple present tense) fine, we will go on a picnic (simple future).

Explanation: It is just a possibility, it is not a fact.

(2)   If you go to classroom 3A, you will see her.

Explanation: Again, it is just a possibility, it is not a fact and it is not necessarily true – you might not be able to see her!

Type 2: Imaginary Situations in the Present(想像的情況)

We will move on and study Type 2 conditional sentences today.  This type is quite interesting. It is a good opportunity for you to develop your imagination.  Can you guess in what situations Type 2 conditionals are used?

They are used for imaginary situations, for things that are not very likely to happen.  You cannot say the result is impossible, but it is very unlikely.

他們用于想像中的情形, 用在那些 ‘不太可能’發生的事情　.

你不能說結果是 ‘不可能’, 只是它是 ‘不太可能’ 發生罷了.

The tenses that should be used:

If-clause: simple past

Main clause: “would” + bare infinitive (the basic form of a verb)

Examples:

(1)   If I had a pair of wings (simple past tense), I would fly to the moon (“would” + bare infinitive). / I would fly to the moon if I had a pair of wings.

(2) If I were an empress, I would bring prosperity to my people.

Compare:

Type 1: If I have a computer at home, I will access i-Learner every day. (如果我家有電腦的話, 那我每天也會上i-Learner。) (有可能的事)

Type 2: If I had a computer at home, I would access i-Learner every day. (如果我家有電腦的話，那我便可以每天也上i-Learner。) (不太可能，只是想像中的事)

Remark: Usually we use “I was” in simple past tense.  However, “I were” should be used in Type 2 conditional sentences.  This is an exception that you must bear in mind! This is because you don’t actually use simple past tense in these sentences, but the subjunctive voice

標注:通常我們用I was 在一般過去時態中.然而,I were應該用于Type2條件句型中.這是一個你必須要記住的特例.這是因爲實際上你不是用一般現在式,而是用虛擬語氣.