First and Second Conditionals What does the if-clause mean? Write a sentence with is not or might.
*If this room was tidy, I could find things.
*If we're late tonight, we can geht s taxi.
1 If the phone was working, I could call you.
2 If it rains, can you bring the washing in?
3 If Mike was by here, he'd know what to do.
4 If this spoon was silver, it would be worth a lot.
5 If Sarah calls, can you say I'll ring back?
The if-clause in a conditional sentence expresses a condition that needs to be fulfilled for the main clause to happen. It shows a cause-and-effect relationship between the condition and the result.
Let's analyze each sentence to understand the meaning of the if-clause and rewrite the sentences with "is not" or "might":
1. If the phone was working, I could call you.
- The if-clause suggests a hypothetical situation where the phone is not working. In this case, the result in the main clause, which is "I could call you," cannot happen because of the phone's condition.
- Rewritten sentence: If the phone is not working, I cannot call you.
2. If it rains, can you bring the washing in?
- The if-clause suggests a condition where it is raining. Following this condition, the main clause asks if the person can bring the washing in.
- Rewritten sentence: If it does not rain, can you bring the washing in?
3. If Mike was by here, he'd know what to do.
- The if-clause suggests a hypothetical situation where Mike is not present or near the speaker's location. In this situation, the main clause states that if Mike were here, he would know what to do.
- Rewritten sentence: If Mike is not here, he might not know what to do.
4. If this spoon was silver, it would be worth a lot.
- The if-clause suggests a hypothetical situation where the spoon is not made of silver. In this case, the main clause states that if the spoon were silver, it would have a higher value.
- Rewritten sentence: If this spoon is not silver, it might not be worth a lot.
5. If Sarah calls, can you say I'll ring back?
- The if-clause suggests a condition where Sarah calls. In this case, the main clause asks if the person can deliver a message to Sarah to tell her that the speaker will return the call.
- Rewritten sentence: If Sarah does not call, can you say I'll ring back?
Remember, the if-clause in conditional sentences expresses a condition, and the main clause states the result or consequence that depends on that condition. By analyzing the if-clause and rewriting the sentences, we can better understand the meaning and possible outcomes in different situations."