Understanding Conditional Sentences: Hypotheses and Cause-and-Effect Structures in English
This resource explores two distinct types of sentences that can be constructed using "if": hypotheses and cause-and-effect statements. It provides examples of future, present, and past hypotheses, along with the associated tense rules. Learn how to interpret reported speech related to these conditions and how to rearrange causal statements. The guide includes exercises to distinguish between hypothesis and cause-and-effect constructs, with practical examples illustrating each rule. Enhance your understanding of English grammar with this comprehensive overview.
Understanding Conditional Sentences: Hypotheses and Cause-and-Effect Structures in English
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Presentation Transcript
EfS Grammar VIII:If… Two very different types of sentences that can be made with "if":hypotheses, andcauses-and-effects.
Hypotheticals H1 (future): "If the deal goes through, Dr Smith will step down."H2 (present): "If a nuclear accident occurred [i.e. now], millions of people would die." H3 (past): "If it had not rained, we would have gone out." Tense RulesT1: If present tense, will-futureT2: If past simple, would+ infinitiveT3: If past perfect, would have + past participle
Reported Speech "If the deal goes through, he will…"He said if the deal went through, he would…Present hypothetical (H2/T2) "If an accident occurred, it would…"He said if an accident had occurred, it would have…Past hypothetical (H3/T3)
Causals (present) "W. would be in office if he was white."= W. is not white. He is not electible.= He is not electible because he is not white. Rearrangement Rule RAny sentence of the formA because B (present)can be rearranged to formIf not B (then) not A (C1)with the tenses according to T2 (past simple, would + infintive)
Causals (past) "If the goods had been delivered, they would have been sold."The goods were not delivered. They were not sold. (Because…) R applies:A because B (past) ≡If not B (then) not A (C2)Tenses follow T3
Exercise Rules Hypothesis or Cause-and-Effect? If hypothesisH1 (T1), H2 (T2), H3 (T3) If cause-and-effect make a sentence with "because"; rearrange according to R; check tenses C1 (T2), C2 (T3).
Ambiguous Interpretations "There would be a better balance if the pound joined the EMS."Hypothetical (H1):The pound could join the EMS and then…Causal (C1):The balance is not good because… "If we knew the trios better, we could understand the quartetts."
Corpus These examples and more in full and in their original context: http://englishforscience.shorturl.comClick on "Preliminary If-Corpus" (General Resources and Investigations for Technical English)