Mastering English Grammar: Conditionals, Active & Passive Voice

Posted on Jan 17, 2025 in Medicine & Health

Understanding Conditional Sentences

Zero Conditional

Structure: If/When/Unless + Present Simple, Present Simple/Modal + Base Form

Examples:

  • If/When you study harder, you get better marks.
  • I can’t drive unless I’ve got my glasses.

First Conditional

Structure: If/Unless + Present Simple, Future Simple/Imperative/Modal + Base Form

Examples:

  • If she cracks the code, she’ll understand the message.
  • If the website isn’t reliable, don’t buy anything.

Second Conditional

Structure: If/Unless + Past Simple, Would/Could/Might + Base Form

Examples:

  • If I had more time, I would crack this code.
  • If he applied for the job, he might get it.

Third Conditional

Structure: If + Past Perfect Simple, Would Have/Could Have/Might Have + Past Participle

Examples:

  • If he had worn a disguise, the enemy wouldn’t have recognized him.
  • If I had taken the underground, I might have arrived on time.

Active and Passive Voice

Active Voice

  • Present Simple: The doctor examines the patient.
  • Present Continuous: The doctor is examining the patient.
  • Past Simple: The doctor examined the patient.
  • Past Continuous: The doctor was examining the patient.
  • Present Perfect Simple: The doctor has examined the patient.
  • Future Simple: The doctor will examine the patient.
  • Modals: The doctor should examine the patient.
  • Modal Perfects: The doctor must have examined the patient.
  • Have to: The doctor has to examine the patient.
  • Be Going to: The doctor is going to examine the patient.

Passive Voice

  • The patient is examined by the doctor.
  • The patient is being examined by the doctor.
  • The patient was examined by the doctor.
  • The patient was being examined by the doctor.
  • The patient has been examined by the doctor.
  • The patient had been examined by the doctor.
  • The patient will be examined by the doctor.
  • The patient should be examined by the doctor.
  • The patient must have been examined by the doctor.
  • The patient has to be examined by the doctor.
  • The patient is going to be examined by the doctor.

Functional Language

  • Absolutely: Per descomptat.
  • Exactly!: Exactament.
  • I agree: Hi estic d’acord.
  • I disagree: No hi estic d’acord.
  • I suppose you’re right, but: Suposo que tens raó, però…
  • That’s not how I see it: Jo no ho veig així.
  • That’s true, but: Això és cert, però…
  • You’ve got a point: Tens raó.

Useful Expressions

  • Has/Have become very popular/common: S’han posat molt de moda.
  • Is this a good idea?: És una bona idea?
  • It’s a legitimate/an effective way to: És una manera efectiva de.
  • It’s worth/not worth…in order to: Val/No val la pena…per (tal de).
  • Many people feel that…: Molta gent creu que…
  • Most people believe that: La majoria (de la gent) creu que.
  • The question is…: La qüestió és…
  • To sum up,…: En resum.

Functional Language II

  • Another difference is that…: Una altra diferència és que…
  • I think that…: Crec que…
  • In picture A we can see: A la fotografia A podem veure.
  • The pictures are different because: Les fotografies són diferents perquè.
  • The pictures are similar because…: Les fotografies són semblants perquè.
  • They both show: Ambdós mostren.
  • While in picture B we can see: Mentre que a la fotografia B podem veure…
  • While picture B shows: Mentre que la fotografia B mostra.

Useful Expressions II

  • It can be done by/is suitable for…: Pot fer-ho…/És adequat/ada per (a).
  • It can help with: Pot ajudar amb.
  • It develops: Desenvolupa.
  • It is highly/not recommended: És molt recomanable/No és recomanable.
  • It is popular because: Està de moda perquè.
  • It’s great for…: És fantàstic/a per…
  • This type of exercise began in/was invented by: Aquest tipus d’exercici va començar/va ser inventat per.