Welcome to my blog!

Various Tenses in the Conditional

The following tables divide the uses of the conditional into three types, according to the time expressed in the if clause: (1) true in the present or future or possibly true in the future; (2) untrue or contrary to fact in the present; or (3) untrue or contrary to fact in the past. Notice the one step backward in time in the condition clause.

Use of Passive

Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known, however, who or what is performing the action.

Example: My bike was stolen.

In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know, however, who did it.

Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following example shows:

Example: A mistake was made.

In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not blame anyone (e.g. You have made a mistake.).

Form of Passive

Subject + finite form of to be ...

Past perfect and simple past compared

It is easier to understand the past perfect tense if you think of it as an earlier past tense.

1996 was a date in the past

·   The fall to 51% occurred before 1996.

·   It was completed by 1996.

1991 was a date in the past

·   The increase to 40% occurred before 1991.

The present perfect tense links the past and the present. It can be contrasted with the past simple tense.

1.     Whole class is reading the poem.

The poem is being read by the class.

2.     A Businessman donated $2000 to the Save the Children Fund.

The Save the children Fund was donated $200 by a businessman.

3.     Our parents gave us these presents.

These presents were given us by7 our parents.

4.     I did not paint this picture.

This picture was not painted by me.

5.      The neighbor’s dog crumpled my homework.

My homework was crumpled by the neighbor’s dog.

6.     We have invited all the students in the school.

All the students in the school have been invited.

7.     Someone wi...

The first conditional (also called conditional type 1) is a structure used for talking about possibilities in the present or in the future. This page will explain how the first conditional is formed, and when to use it.

A first conditional sentence consists of two clauses, an "if" clause and a main clause:

If the "if" clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the "if" clause comes second, there is no need fo...