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Unit 16 covers two potentially difficult areas of English grammar?conditionals and reported speech?and looks over their basic forms and usages, potential problem areas and some possible teaching ideas. Conditional sentences, frequently referred to as ?if sentences?, are used to express what could, might, or is wished to happen, and contain a main clause and a subordinate clause. The subordinate clause containing ?if? or ?when? may come either before or after the main clause. Conditionals may be divided into five main categories: The zero conditional takes the form of if/when + present tense verb + present tense verb, e.g. ?When the cat is away, the mice play?, and refers to irrefutable, certain or scientific facts and general truths. The first conditional takes the form of if + present tense verb + will/modal verb (e.g. may, might, could) + verb base form, e.g. ?If he is pleased with the result, he may order a second batch?, and is used to express the probable result of a possible future situation, as well as promises or threats. The second conditional takes the form of if + past simple/continuous tense verb + modal verb would/might/could + verb base form, e.g. ?If it were a komodo dragon, you would be in its stomach by now?, and expresses present or future hypothetical situations such as dreams and fantasies. The less frequently used third conditional takes the form of if + past perfect tense verb + modal verb would/might/could + have + past participle, e.g. ?If they had foreseen the future, this calamity might have been avoided?, and is used to express hypothetical past actions or circumstances and their hypothetical results. The mixed conditional takes many forms, such as if + present tense verb + present tense verb, e.g. ?If Peter had known where we?d just come from, he would be laughing hysterically now?, which is used in a similar way as the third conditional. Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, is the reporting of direct speech, or what another has said. When converting sentences from direct to indirect speech, the verb tense moves one step backwards, such as present continuous to past continuous, simple past to past perfect, future to present conditional etc. (with the exception of past perfect, which as the end of the continuum remains the same). Besides the verb tense, pronouns and time expressions may also need to be modified, depending on context and how much time has passed between the direct speech and its report. This unit was beneficial to my understanding of the finer differences in meaning between the conditionals and of how to explain correct conjugation of reported speech to students. I liked the teaching ideas given for the conditionals, especially the role play, and will utilize them the next time teaching ?if? sentences.
