Conditional clauses - Easy Learning Grammar

Conditional sentences consist of a main clause and a conditional clause (sometimes called an if-
clause). The conditional clause usually begins with if or unless. The conditional clause can come
before or after the main clause.
 We’ll be late if we don’t leave now.
 We’ll be late unless we leave now.
 If we don’t leave now, we’ll be late.
 Unless we leave now, we’ll be late.
There are three main types of conditional sentence.Type 1The main clause uses will, can, may,
or might + the base form of a main verb. The if-clause uses the present simple tense.
 If you take the first bus, you’ll get there on time.
 She’ll be cold if she doesn’t wear a coat.
 If you need more helpers, I can try and get some time off work.
Type 1 sentences refer to the future. They suggest that the action in the main clause is quite
likely to happen.
 They will not finish their homework unless they start now.
 If you book early, you will get a seat.
The use of the modal verb may or might in the main clause suggests that there is some doubt
whether the main verb action will be achieved.
 If you book early, you may get a seat.
 Mary might deliver your parcel, if you ask her.
Type 2The main clause uses would, could, or might + the base form of a main verb. The if-
clause uses the past simple tense
 If Jim lent us his car, we could go to the party.
 We would save £3.50 a day if we didn’t eat any lunch.
 If burglars broke into my house, they wouldn’t find any money.
 Would you be very angry if I failed my exam?
or the past subjunctive.
 If I were you, I’d phone her straight away.
Type 2 sentences refer to an imaginary situation. They imply that the action in the if-clause will
probably not happen.
 If I won the lottery, I would buy a house in France.
(…but I don’t think I’ll win the lottery.)
 If you didn’t spend all your money on lottery tickets, you could afford a holiday.
(…but you do spend all your money on lottery tickets.)
The past subjunctive is often used when giving advice to someone, especially about what the
person should do.
 If I were you, I’d tell them the truth.
Type 3The main clause uses would, could, or might + have + the past participle of a main verb.
The if-clause uses the past perfect tense.
 We could have had a longer holiday, if we hadn’t spent so much money on the house.
 If I had known about the exam, I would have paid more attention in class.
In Type 3 sentences the speaker is looking back from the present to a past time and event. The
speaker is talking about what might have happened but did not, either because the wrong thing
was done or because nothing was done. This type of sentence is used when making excuses,
showing regret, blaming, or giving an explanation.Conditional clauses can also be used to talk
about consequences, or to give an opinion about a situation in the following ways:
 The if-clause uses the present simple tense and the main clause uses the present simple
tense. This is used to refer to universal truths.
 If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.
 Plants die if they don’t get enough water.
 The if-clause uses the present simple tense and the main clause is in the imperative. This
is used to give advice or orders for particular situations or sets of circumstances.
 If the alarm goes off, make your way outside to the car park.
 If a red light shows here, switch off the machine.
 The if-clause uses the present continuous or present simple tense and the main clause
uses a modal verb. This is used to make suggestions and give advice.
 If you’re thinking of buying a lawnmower, you could try mine first.
 You should turn down his radio if you don’t want the neighbours
 to complain.
 The if-clause uses will/would and the main clause uses a modal verb.
This is used to make a request or to give a polite order.
 If you’ll wait a minute, the doctor can see you.
 If you would sign here, please, I’ll be able to send you the books.
Tense (Noun): a verb-based method used to indicate the time, and sometimes the continuation or
completeness, of an action or state in relation to the time of speaking. ORIGIN Latin tempus
"time"

The concept of tense in English is a method that we use to refer to time - past, present and future.
Many languages use tense to talk about time. Other languages have no concept of tense at all, but
of course they can still talk about time, using different methods.

So, we talk about time in English with tense. But, and this is a very big but:

 we can also talk about time without using tense (for example, going to is a special
construction to talk about the future, it is not a tense)
 one tense does not always talk about one time (for example, we can use the present tense,
or even the past tense, to talk about the future - see tense and time for more about this)

Note that many grammarians take the view that there are only two tenses in English: present
tense and past tense. That is because we make those two tenses with the verb alone - he walks,
he walked. They do not consider that he will walk, he is walking or he has walked (for example)
are tenses because they are not formed solely from the verb "walk". For English learners, most
EFL teachers and books treat all these constructions as tenses. On these pages we do the same.

We cannot talk of tenses without considering two components of many English tenses: time and
aspect. In simple terms...

Time expresses:

 past - before now

 present - now, or any time that includes now
 future - after now

Aspect can be:

 progressive - uncompleted action

 perfective - completed action or state

The following table shows how these components work together to create some basic tenses.

time
past present future
simple (no aspect) sang sings will sing
aspect progressive was singing is singing will be singing
perfective had sung has sung will have sung

(Some say that simple tenses have "simple aspect", but strictly speaking simple tenses are simply
unmarked for aspect.)

The progressive aspect produces progressive or "continuous" tenses: past continuous, present
continuous, future continuous.
 KINDS OF TEXT
NARRATIVE
Purpose: To amuse/entertain the readers and to tell a story
Generic Structure:
1. Orientation
2. Complication
3. Resolution
4. Reorientation (optional)
Dominant Language Features:
1. Using Past Tense
2. Using action verb
3. Chronologically arranged
RECOUNT
Purpose: To retell something that happened in the past and to tell a series of past event
Generic Structure:
1. Orientation
2. Event(s)
3. Reorientation
Dominant Language Features:
1. Using Past Tense
2. Using action verb
3. Using adjectives
Narrative and recount in some ways are similar. Both are telling something in the past so
narrative and recount usually apply PAST TENSE; whether Simple Past Tense, Simple Past
Continuous Tense, or Past Perfect Tense. The ways narrative and recount told are in
chronological order using time or place. Commonly narrative text is found in story book; myth,
fable, folklore, etc while recount text is found in biography.
The thing that makes narrative and recount different is the structure in which they are
constructed. Narrative uses conflicts among the participants whether natural conflict, social
conflict or psychological conflict. In some ways narrative text combines all these conflicts. In the
contrary, we do not find these conflicts inside recount text. Recount applies series of event as the
basic structure
DESCRIPTIVE
Purpose: To describe a particular person, place or thing in detail.
Dominant Generic Structure:
1. Identification
2. Description
Language Features:
1. Using Simple Present Tense
2. Using action verb
3. Using adverb
4. Using special technical terms
Text Types 4: REPORT
Purpose: To presents information about something, as it is.
Generic Structure:
1. General classification
2. Description
Dominant Language Feature:
1. Introducing group or general aspect
2. Using conditional logical connection
3. Using Simple Present Tense
EXPLANATION
Purpose: To explain the processes involved in the formation or working of natural or socio-
cultural phenomena.
Generic Structure:
1. General statement
2. Explanation
3. Closing
Dominant Language Features:
1. Using Simple Present Tense
2. Using action verbs
3. Using passive voice
4. Using noun phrase
5. Using adverbial phrase
6. Using technical terms
7. Using general and abstract noun
8. Using conjunction of time and cause-effect
For more study on explanation text, you can read:
ANALYTICAL EXPOSITION
Purpose: To reveal the readers that something is the important case
Generic Structure:
1. Thesis
2. Arguments
3. Reiteration/Conclusion
Dominant Language Features:
1. Using modals
2. Using action verbs
3. Using thinking verbs
4. Using adverbs
5. Using adjective
6. Using technical terms
7. Using general and abstract noun
8. Using connectives/transition
 PERSONAL LETTER

Pengertian Personal Letter

Surat dalam bahasa Inggris disebut dengan Letter. Personal Letter merupakan surat tidak resmi
yang ditulis untuk perseorangan, biasanya yang terlibat hanyalah dua orang yang saling
mengenal.

Struktur dari Personal Letter

 Date (Tanggal) = Biasanya tanggal ini ditulis pada kiri paling atas. Tanggal ini
menunjukkan kapan waktu surat ditulis.
 Address (Alamat) = Bagian ini adalah tempat dimana kamu menulis surat atau alamat
asal si pengirim tinggal. Alamat ditulis pada bagian kanan atas.
 Salutation & Name (Salam & Nama) = Bagian ini menuliskan salam pembuka dan
nama penerima surat. Contohnya "Dear...", "Dearest...", "Sweetheart", "Darling", "My
love" dan lain-lain.
 Introduction (Pembukaan) = Pembukaan dari surat biasanya dimulai dengan sebuah
pembukaan seperti tanggapan dari surat sebelumnya atau bisa juga awal perkenalan diri
jika kalian baru memulai surat-menyurat.
 Body (Isi Surat) = Bagian ini merupakan isi atau inti dari surat. Pada bagian Body ini
kalian menceritakan semua isi surat yang ingin kita ceritakan.
 Closure (Penutup) Bagian ini menunjukkan bahwa surat akan segera berakhir.
 Complimentary close (Salam Penutup) = Bagian ini merupakan ungkapan penutup
pendek seperti, "With love". "Sincerely yours", "With love", and so on.
 Signature (Tanda tangan) = Bagian ini berada di bawah complementary close, kalian
bisa membubuhkan tanda tangan atau bisa juga hanya inisial nama kalian saja.
Contoh ungkapan yang digunakan pada personal letters
Starting the letter
 How are you?
 Hope this letter finds you...
 Thank you for your last letter.
 It was so good to hear from you.
 Sorry for answering late
 I am sorry I should have written earlier...
 Haven't heard from you in a while so I thought...
 I am sorry to inform you that...
Conclusion
 I am looking forward to seeing you soon.
 I am looking forward to hear from you soon.
 My best wishes for the coming test.
 See you.
 I will write soon.
 I will have to stop now.
 I am waiting for a quick reply.
 Looking forward to see you again.
 Bye.