Friday, April 8, 2016

ACTIVE-PASSIVE SENTENCE, RELATIVE/ADJECTIVE CLAUSES, AND CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

A.      ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SENTENCE
1.       Active Sentence
In active sentences, the thing doing the action is the subject of the sentence and the thing receiving the action is the object. Most sentences are active.
[Thing doing action] + [verb] + [thing receiving action]
Examples:
1.       Once a week, Tom cleans the house.
2.       Right now, Sarah is writing the letter.
3.       Sam repaired the car.
4.       The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the store.
5.       Many tourists have visited that castle.

2.       Passive Sentence

In passive sentences, the thing receiving the action is the subject of the sentence and the thing doing the action is optionally included near the end of the sentence. You can use the passive form if you think that the thing receiving the action is more important or should be emphasized. You can also use the passive form if you do not know who is doing the action or if you do not want to mention who is doing the action.
[Thing receiving action] + [be] + [past participle of verb] + [by] + [thing doing action]
Examples:
1.       Once a week, the house is cleaned by Tom.
2.       Right now, the letter is being written by Sarah.
3.       The car was repaired by Sam.
4.       The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came into the store.
5.       That castle has been visited by many tourists.

B.      RELATIVE CLAUSES / ADJECTIVE CLAUSES
An adjective clause is used to describe a noun. A relative pronoun is usually used to introduce an adjective clause. An adjective clause—also called an adjectival or relative clause will meet three requirements:
1.       First, it will contain a subject and verb.
2.       Next, it will begin with a relative pronoun [who, whom, whose, that, or which] or a relative adverb [when, where, or why].
3.       Finally, it will function as an adjective, answering the questions What kind? How many? or Which one?
The adjective clause will follow one of these two patterns:
1.       Relative Pronoun or Adverb + Subject + Verb
2.       Relative Pronoun as Subject + Verb
Here are some examples:
1.       Whose big, brown eyes pleaded for another cookie ( Relative clauses )
Whose = relative pronoun; eyes = subject; pleaded = verb.
2.       Why Fred cannot stand sitting across from his sister Melanie ( Relative clauses )
Why = relative adverb; Fred = subject; can stand = verb [not, an adverb, is not officially part of the verb].
3.       That bounced across the kitchen floor ( Relative clauses )
That = relative pronoun functioning as subject; bounced = verb.
4.       Who hiccupped for seven hours afterward ( Relative clauses )
Who = relative pronoun functioning as subject; hiccupped = verb.


C.      CONDITIONAL SENTENCE
Conditional tenses are used to speculate about what could happen, what might have happened, and what we wish would happen. In English, most sentences using the conditional contain the word if. Many conditional forms in English are used in sentences that include verbs in one of the past tenses. This usage is referred to as "the unreal past" because we use a past tense but we are not actually referring to something that happened in the past. There are five main ways of constructing conditional sentences in English. In all cases, these sentences are made up of an if clause and a main clause. In many negative conditional sentences, there is an equivalent sentence construction using "unless" instead of "if".

Type of Conditional Sentences :
1.       THE ZERO CONDITIONAL
The zero conditional is used for when the time being referred to is now or always and the situation is real and possible. The zero conditional is often used to refer to general truths. The tense in both parts of the sentence is the simple present. In zero conditional sentences, the word "if" can usually be replaced by the word "when" without changing the meaning.
Examples :
If clause                                                               Main Clause
If + simple present                                              simple present
1.       If this thing happens                                     that thing happens.
2.       If you heat ice                                               it melts.
3.       If it rains                                                       the grass gets wet.
4.       If we burn paper                                            it becomes ash.
5.       If babies are hungry                                      they cry

2.       TYPE 1 CONDITIONAL
The type 1 conditional is used to refer to the present or future where the situation is real. The type 1 conditional refers to a possible condition and its probable result. In these sentences the if clause is in the simple present, and the main clause is in the simple future.
Examples :
If clause                                                               Main Clause
If + simple present                                              simple future
1.       If this thing happens                                     that thing will happen.
2.       If you don't hurry                                         you will miss the train.
3.       If it rains today                                             you will get wet.
4.       If I meet him                                                 I will introduce myself.
5.       If you don't hurry                                         you will miss the bus.

3.       TYPE 2 CONDITIONAL
The type 2 conditional is used to refer to a time that is now or any time, and a situation that is unreal. These sentences are not based on fact. The type 2 conditional is used to refer to a hypothetical condition and its probable result. In type 2 conditional sentences, the if clause uses the simple past, and the main clause uses the present conditional.
Examples :
If clause                                                               Main clause
If + simple past                                                   present conditional or present continuous conditional
1.       If this thing happened                                   that thing would happen 
2.       If you went to bed earlier                              you would not be so tired.
3.        it rained                                                        you would get wet.
4.       If I spoke Italian                                            I would be working in Italy.
5.       If it rained tomorrow                                     I would sleep all day.

4.       TYPE 3 CONDITIONAL
The type 3 conditional is used to refer to a time that is in the past, and a situation that is contrary to reality. The facts they are based on are the opposite of what is expressed. The type 3 conditional is used to refer to an unreal past condition and its probable past result. In type 3 conditional sentences, the if clause uses the past perfect, and the main clause uses the perfect conditional.
Examples :
If clause                                                               Main clause
If + past perfect                                                   perfect conditional or perfect continuous conditional
1.       If this thing had happened                            that thing would have happened. 
2.       If you had studied harder                              you would have passed the exam.
3.       If it had rained                                              you would have gotten wet.
4.       If I had accepted that promotion                  I would have been working in Milan.
5.       If you had  to invite me                                I would have attended your party.

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