Present & Past Real Situations
Habits and customs under specific conditions
Present vs. Past Real Conditional Statements
| PRESENT | |
|---|---|
A present tense conditional statement expresses an effect that happens under a specific condition. A present tense verb form is used in the If-clause and the effect-clause (result-clause). |
|
| PRESENT CONDITION | FACTUAL EFFECT |
If we go shopping, |
we take cloth bags. |
If we want vegetables, |
we look for local produce. |
If we find fresh greens, |
we buy them. |
If we are lucky, |
we find fresh fish. |
| PAST | |
|---|---|
A past tense conditional statement expresses an effect that happened under a specific condition. A past tense (preterit) verb form is used in the If-clause and the effect-clause (result-clause). |
|
| PAST CONDITION | FACTUAL EFFECT |
If we went shopping, |
we took a cloth bag. |
If we wanted vegetables, |
we looked for local produce. |
If we found fresh greens, |
we bought them. |
If we were lucky, |
we found fresh fish. |
greens(n.) – green leafy vegetables, such as, spinach
See Grammar Notes (present conditional) for terms.
Real Conditionals
Other Words for If
Other Words for Conditional Habits
| IF | |
|---|---|
A conditional sentence that expresses a true condition (fact, general truth) includes an if-clause with a present tense verb form. |
|
| IF CLAUSE | FACTUAL EFFECT |
If we need light bulbs, |
we buy CFL bulbs. |
If we buy cleaning products, |
we look for less-toxic products. |
If we can, |
we walk or bike to the store. |
Ifwe buy a product, |
we consider whether it is recyclable. |
| OTHER WORDING | |
|---|---|
When, whenever, anytime, or each time can be used in place of If for conditional statements about habits and customs. |
|
| WHEN CLAUSE | FACTUAL EFFECT |
When we need light bulbs, |
we buy CFL bulbs. (present) |
Wheneverwe buy cleaning products, |
we look for less-toxic products. |
Anytime we can, |
we walk or bike to the store. |
Each time we buy a product, |
we consider whether it is recyclable. |
whenever (prep.) – anytime
CFL – compact fluorescent light bulb
toxic (adj.) –
having a poisonous, harmful effect
recyclable (adj.) – can be treated (reprocessed) and reused
Conditional Clauses
Clause Position
Commas – Clause Position
| INITIAL-POSITION | |
|---|---|
|
|
| IF CLAUSE | EFFECT CLAUSE |
If I went shopping, |
I took a cloth bag. |
If have time, |
I visit my friends. |
When the | FINAL -POSITION | |
|---|---|
|
|
| EFFECT CLAUSE | IF CLAUSE |
I took a cloth bag |
if I went shopping. |
I visit my friends |
if I have time. |
When the
Common Mistakes
Error and Solution
| ERROR | SOLUTION |
|---|---|
If I went shopping, I was taking a cloth bag. |
If I went shopping, I took a cloth bag (1 event or multiple events, customary) |
|
If I went shopping, *I would take a cloth bag (multiple events, customary, 'used to') |
*Would – Three Meanings
| #1 WOULD | #2 WOULD | #3 WOULD |
|---|---|---|
Would can be used to indicate a former habit. |
Would can be used to make a request or invite. |
Would can indicate something hypothetical or imaginary. |
| FORMER HABIT | REQUEST / INVITATION | HYPOTHETICAL |
During the summers, I would go to my grandparents house. (custom or habit) |
Would you like a cookie? |
How would you like it if I did that to you? |
See Grammar Notes (present conditional) for terms.
Practice
Energy Conservation
Coordinate the present and past real-conditional verb forms
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- After you finish, click the "check all" button at the bottom of the practice to reveal the answers; or
click the individual "check" buttons #1-16 to compare responses as you go.
- Then – refers to a time in the past (before we were concerned about conservation.)
- Now – refers to the present.