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In this unit it is written about conditionals & reported speech. These are sentences containing 'if' (or similar expressions such as 'when') which refer to past, present and future possibilities. There are two clauses, the 'if' clause and the main clause, and either can come in the first part of a conditional sentence.
For example:
If I found her address, I would send her an invitation. I would send her an invitation if I found her address.
The five main conditionals are as follows:
Zero conditional if/when + present tense, present tense
First conditional
if + present simple, will
('will' can be replaced by a modal verb. E.g. may, might, can, should, must)
This talks about a 'real' situation in the future that is possible, probable or even certain, once the condition has been satisfied.
If he studies hard, he will pass the exam.
(Condition: hard study; certain consequence: passing the exam)
Second conditional
if + past simple, would/could/might + base form
Communicates a present or future 'unreal', hypothetical situation that is presently not true and is unlikely ever to be true.
If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.
Third conditional
if + past perfect, would/could/might + have + past participle.
Refers to a hypothetical past action (or non-action) and the hypothetical past consequence/result. As the 'action' was purely hypothetical, the condition could never have been satisfied, and subsequently the consequence is or was impossible.
If I had practiced the piano, I would have been better. (but I didn't practice the piano!)
She would have been angry if she had seen me. (but she didn't see me!)
We sometimes combine a second conditional clause with a third conditional clause. This is most commonly formed as follows:
If + past perfect, would + base form
If I had listened to him, I would be in serious trouble now.
(I didn't listen to him, so I'm not in trouble!)
This mix refers to a hypothetical past action or state, and the hypothetical present consequence. Many other mixes, though not so common, are possible.
Consider the problems that may arise from past tenses being used in the second conditional when it refers to the future (as it always does) along with the complex structures and you have the basis for endless mistakes with conditionals.
Many students find it quite difficult to see the difference in usage between the 1st and 2nd conditionals. Similar problems can arise with 3rd and mixed conditionals.
When we report someone’s words we can do it in two ways. We can use direct speech with quotation marks (“I work in a bank”), or we can use reported speech (He said he worked in a bank.)
In reported speech the tenses, word-order and pronouns may be different from those in the original sentence.
Present simple and present continuous tenses
Direct speech: “I travel a lot in my job” Reported speech: He said that he traveled a lot in his job.
The present simple tense (I travel) usually changes to the past simple (he traveled) in reported speech and etc.
I have learnt teaching ideas from this unit and common mistakes of students.
