Mastering Conditionals, Temporal Clauses, Wishes, and Prefixes in English
Unit 4: Conditionals, Wishes, and Prefixes
Zero Conditional: If/Unless + Present Simple + Present Simple
Example: If you recycle materials, you help the environment. We use if + present simple in the condition and present simple in the result. It expresses situations that always repeat when a certain condition is met.
First Conditional: If/Unless + Present Simple + Future Simple/Imperative/Modal + Base Form
Example: If people pollute the oceans, many fish will die. Call me immediately if you have a problem. If you don’t speak clearly, people might misunderstand you.
We use if + present simple in the condition and future simple in the result. It expresses what will happen if the stated condition is met. In addition to the future simple, modal verbs or imperatives can also be used in the result.
Second Conditional: If/Unless + Past Simple + Would/Could/Might + Base Form
Example: My brother would buy an electric car if it were cheaper. If governments banned hunting, we could protect wildlife.
We use if + past simple in the condition and would + the base verb in the result. It expresses hypothetical conditions referring to the present, which are unlikely to happen. To give advice, If I were you is used.
Third Conditional: If + Past Perfect Simple + Would Have/Could Have/Might Have + Past Participle
Example: If activists hadn’t taken action, the forest would have been destroyed. If they had cut down the rainforest, many animals could/might have died.
It is formed with if + past perfect simple in the condition and would have + participle in the result. In this case, the condition is impossible, as it refers to the past and can no longer be realized.
Temporal Clauses
Sentences that refer to the future are formed with the first conditional: present simple in the subordinate clause and future simple in the main clause. What changes are the conjunctions: as soon as, by the time, the moment (that), as long as, until, when, before, after.
Example: He will forgive you as long as you are honest. The situation will not improve until the government decides to act.
Wish Clauses
Wish/If Only + Past Simple
Refers to a current situation that the speaker is not satisfied with. Example: He wishes the power station were far from the city. If only you were more outspoken.
Wish/If Only + Past Perfect Simple
Expresses past regret or a past situation. Example: Sam wishes he had replaced his old computer.
Wish/If Only + Could/Would + Base Form
Expresses the desire for something to happen in the future. Example: I wish I could live near the sea. If only Jen wouldn’t be so underweight.
Prefixes
The prefixes un-, dis-, im-, in-, and il- are added to some adjectives to express the opposite.
- Believable – Unbelievable
- Honest – Dishonest
- Polite – Impolite
- Active – Inactive
- Legal – Illegal
Important! il- is used before adjectives that begin with l. im- is used before adjectives that begin with m or p. ir- is used before adjectives that begin with r.
Other Prefixes
inter-, over-, under-, re-, mis-, anti-, and multi-
- National – International
- Populated – Overpopulated
- Paid – Underpaid
- Build – Rebuild
- Behave – Misbehave
- Nuclear – Anti-nuclear
- Cultural – Multicultural