{"id":138,"date":"2018-06-19T19:02:37","date_gmt":"2018-06-19T19:02:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jasminearch.com\/?p=138"},"modified":"2018-07-06T19:44:46","modified_gmt":"2018-07-06T19:44:46","slug":"dont-be-dense-use-the-right-tense-part-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/jasminearch.com\/index.php\/2018\/06\/19\/dont-be-dense-use-the-right-tense-part-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t be Dense. Use the Right Tense. Part 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Part 1 of this article, we compared writing to painting. We discussed the basic tenses you\u2019ll work with. Your primary colours, if you will. In Part 2, we mixed things up, creating a richer palette, with lots of subtle shades at our disposal.<\/p>\n

Today, let\u2019s expand our palette even more. We\u2019re going to have a look at conditional tenses. When using a conditional tense, your sentence will have two clauses: a main clause and an if clause, separated by a comma.<\/p>\n

If you boil an egg, it becomes solid.<\/p>\n

If my neighbour isn\u2019t careful, my cat will steal her dinner.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll turn blue if you keep holding your breath.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The if clause<\/em>\u00a0contains a condition that needs to be fulfilled for the *main clause* to be possible.<\/p>\n


\n\"\"<\/center>There are different degrees, depending on the probability of the if clause.<\/p>\n

If You tickle me, I scream.<\/h4>\n

This is called the zero conditional<\/em>.<\/p>\n

There is no question about it. This is just always true. And yes, I\u2019m that ticklish.<\/p>\n

If you add honey to your tea, it tastes sweeter.<\/p>\n

If you look at rain in the distance with the sun at your back, you see a rainbow.<\/p>\n

If you turn that switch, the light comes on.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In many cases, the if\u00a0<\/em>in the zero conditional can be replaced by when<\/em>. It doesn\u2019t pertain to a specific situation. You use it when talking about general subjects. If it rains, water hits the ground.<\/p>\n

When the sun sets, it gets dark.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The zero conditional utilises the present tense in both the main and if clause.<\/p>\n

If my neighbour doesn\u2019t keep her dinner safe, my cat will steal it.<\/h4>\n

Is she at it again? My cat really is a naughty little beast. However, she did show us the first conditional<\/em>.<\/p>\n

If clause = present tense; main clause = infinitive.<\/p>\n

Like we discussed in the previous article, an infinitive is the verb in its unconjugated state. So it will need a sidekick. For the first conditional, that\u2019s will<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The first conditional is a combination of present and future tense. If the right thing happens now, that will have a consequence in the future.<\/p>\n

If I remember to set my alarm clock, I will wake up on time.<\/p>\n

If my cat steals one more meal, I\u2019ll take my neighbour grocery shopping.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The first conditional discusses particular situations, rather than generally applicable facts. It signifies a likely outcome, since the condition in the if clause is very realistic.<\/p>\n

If my neighbour were more careful, my cat wouldn\u2019t steal her food.<\/h4>\n

The second conditional<\/em>\u00a0shows an unlikely outcome. I\u2019m not saying my cat isn\u2019t to blame, but if my neighbour were more careful about her dinner, she might be able to save it from the gluttonous beast.<\/p>\n

However, being the careless person that she is, I find that rather unlikely. Hence my use of the second conditional.<\/p>\n

If clause = simple past tense; main clause = another infinitive, this time with would<\/em> as the sidekick or auxiliary verb.<\/p>\n

You can use this for two different types of situations:<\/p>\n