Subordinate clauses (when, as soon as, till, untill, after, before). Subordinate clauses in English Subordinate clauses of time in English

This topic is one of the most serious in English grammar. Learning a language on initial stage, you can do without this knowledge for some time. But the higher your level, the more you will have a desire to diversify and complicate your speech, making it closer to what native speakers speak. At this point, there will be a need to study the conditions: their meaning, varieties, methods of formation and examples of use. This article will help with that.

Where are they used?

IN English language, as in Russian, all sentences are divided into simple and complex. And the latter, in turn, can be complex and complex. The first type does not create great difficulties when learning the grammar of a foreign language. But in the case of the second, there are some nuances.

Consider a typical one in English:

If (when) the weather is fine, I’ll go for a walk - If (when) the weather is fine, I’ll go for a walk.

In this case, you can easily see two components:

• I'll go for a walk - main clause;
• if (when) the weather is fine - condition clause or time clause.

What do they mean?

In the example discussed above, the main sentence expresses the thought: “What will happen?”, and the subordinate clause expresses the thought “Under what condition (or at what time, when) will this happen?”

Such sentences express an inextricable semantic and grammatical connection between the main and subordinate parts. In general, subordinate constructions can express a wide variety of meanings: mode of action and degrees, place, time, condition, cause, effect, purpose, comparison, concession. But in this article we will talk about only two types, expressing situations of time and conditions.

In speech, such constructions express logical, spatiotemporal and cause-and-effect relationships. Therefore, the advanced learner of English needs to understand when to use clauses and clauses.

Used conjunctions

It is characteristic that in complex sentences the main part is invariably one, but there can be several subordinate clauses. All of them are directly dependent (logical and grammatical) on the main component and are attached to it with the help of various conjunctions and allied expressions. Here are the most common ones:

• if - if;
• in case - in case;
• when - when;
• while - while, while;
• as soon as (as long as) - as soon as;
• until - not yet, until;
• after - after;
• before - before;
• unless (if not) - if not.

Please note that the conjunction used does not always help determine A. This is often necessary to apply a grammatical rule discussed later in the article. To accurately confirm that this is a sentence with a subordinate clause or time, you need to ask a question to the subordinate part.

Remember also that a sentence can begin with either a main clause or a subordinate clause. Is it difficult not to get confused? Just pay attention to which part of the sentence the conjunction is in (one or another from the list presented above).

What is a subordinate tense?

This type includes a part that is subordinate to the main one, while answering the questions: “When?”, “How long?”, “How long ago?”, “Since when?”, “Until when?” and so on.

To attach subordinate clauses to the main part, conjunctions are used: when, after, before, until and others with a similar meaning. However, in order to make sure that it is the meaning of time that is being expressed, and not some other, it is most reliable to ask a question.

What is a subordinate clause?

Such grammatical constructions answer the question: “Under what conditions?” They are quite varied and are joined by conjunctions if, in case, unless, etc. But it does not always guarantee that the meaning of the condition is realized in the sentence. Because in many cases, the phrase, for example, with if, is translated not “if”, but “whether”. Compare:

• I’ll come if they invite me - I’ll come if they invite me.
• I don’t know if they will invite me - I don’t know if they will invite me.

Subordinate clauses in English are found in sentences that take place in the past, present or future tense. In addition, the conditions put forward themselves have a gradation: real, unlikely and unrealistic. This is best understood through examples.

Type I

The subordinate condition belonging to the first type describes a real fact. That is, what actually took place in the past, present or future. In this case, the tense forms of the predicate verb in the main and subordinate parts usually coincide.

This can be clearly seen in the examples.

• Past tense:

If the weather was fine, he went for a walk - If the weather was good, he went for a walk.

• Present tense:

If the weather is fine, he goes for a walk - If the weather is fine, he goes (goes) for a walk.

• Future tense:

If the weather is fine, he will go for a walk - If the weather is fine, he will go for a walk.

Only in last example you can notice that the two parts of a complex sentence do not agree in time (the subordinate clause is in the form of the present, and the main one is in the form of the future). This did not happen by chance, but as a result of a special grammatical rule to which subordinate clauses and conditions are subject. The details will be explained below.

For now, let's look at the manifestations of the second and third types of subordinate conditions. They are no longer revealed in three grammatical tenses, but acquire the meaning “if, then...”. Moreover, such a hypothetical situation may relate to both the present day and the past.

Type II

When the speaker believes that the reality of fulfilling the condition is quite small, then a separate speech construction is used. Drawing an analogy with the Russian language, this is the subjunctive mood (“if only ...”). Example:

If the weather was fine, I would go for a walk - If the weather was good, I would go (went) for a walk.

Please note that the situation described is happening at the time the person is talking about it. This is not regret about yesterday.

To construct a grammatically correct statement of this type, you need:

• in the subordinate clause, put the verb-predicate into the form Past Simple;
• in the main part use would + (but without the particle to).

III type

If compliance this condition(and the commission of an action) is considered by the speaker as completely impossible, a subordinate condition of a different type comes into play. The impossibility of realizing such a situation is due to the fact that the action has already taken place in the past, and the speaker is not able to change its result. And therefore, a compound with a subordinate condition of this type usually expresses regret and lamentation about the current circumstances.

If the weather had been fine yesterday, we wouldn’t have stayed home. In that case we would have gone for a walk - If the weather had been good yesterday, we would not have stayed at home. In that case, we would go for a walk.

But there may be another, opposite in meaning, situation. The person thinks about what could have happened, but does not feel regret about it. For example:

If I had overslept, I would have been late - If I had overslept, I would have been late.

Please note that the entire sentence refers to and expresses the impossibility of performing a certain action precisely then, in the past.

The following grammatical structure is formed:

• in the subordinate clause, the predicate verb is put in the Past Perfect form;
• in the main part would + Perfect Infinitive is used.

What tense is used in subordinate clauses?

This question is very serious. A little earlier in the article it was mentioned that it is important to determine the type of subordinate clause. And in this matter, it is necessary to focus not on alliances, but on the questions asked.

The fact is that there is a certain grammatical rule. It is related to the type of clause and the use of present/future tense in it.

If subordinate clauses answer the questions: “Under what condition will the action be performed?” or “At what time (when) will this happen?”, then they express, respectively, a condition or a time. In these types of clauses you cannot use the future tense (with the verb will). The present is used instead. Even when the situation clearly relates to the future and it is at this time that it is translated into Russian.

Compare:

• She’ll make a cake when you come.
• If I get this job, I will be happy.

As is easy to see, in the latter case the example given refers to a variety - subordinate condition of type I. This rule does not apply to the other two types of conditional clauses, since they contain completely different constructions for expressing grammatical meaning.

In many situations, complex sentences allow you to better express the thoughts of the speaker. Subordinate units join with the help of special unions. The main varieties are subordinate tenses and subordinate conditions.

The English language has certain grammatical rules regarding the use of such structures. In order to reliably learn them, you need to thoroughly understand the theory once, and then perform as many exercises as possible so that an example of correct use is fixed in memory. Subsequently, when the need arises, it will automatically appear in speech.

- these are sentences consisting of a condition and a consequence (result), usually connected by a conjunction if(If). In other words, conditional sentences are approximately the same as sentences with a verb in the subjunctive mood in Russian.

A conditional sentence is one of the varieties of complex sentences; accordingly, it consists of a main and subordinate part, in which the consequence and condition are expressed.

Conditional sentence = consequence + condition

For example:

If you forgive me (condition), I will never forget it (consequence). “If you forgive me, I will never forget this.”

Usually there are three types of conditional sentences, differing in the degree of probability of action. Sometimes (especially in foreign textbooks) they distinguish the zero type of conditional sentences (zero conditional).

Note: Conditional sentences are quite a complex topic, it is assumed that you already have a good knowledge of topics such as, construction.

First type of conditional sentences

Conditional sentences of the first type express real, feasible assumptions related to the future tense:

In the condition the verb is used in , in the consequence - in .

If you forgive me, I will never forget it. “If you forgive me, I will never forget this.”

If the movie is boring, we'll go home. – If the film is boring, we will go home.

If you are late again, you’ll get fired. - If you are late again, you will be fired.

The condition and consequence can change places, but the meaning does not change.

We'll go home, if the movie is boring. - We'll go home if the movie is boring.

note that in Russian we use BOTH verbs in the future tense, but in English only the verb in the main part (consequence). Often, by mistake, both parts are placed in the future tense - this is incorrect.

• Wrong: If you will give me a lift, I will pay
• Right: If you give me a lift, I will pay you. – If you give me a lift, I’ll pay you.

Second type of conditional sentences

Conditional sentences of the second type express unlikely or improbable propositions relating to the present or future (but not to the past) time.

In the condition, the verb is used in , as a result – + (without the particle to). Don't forget that the past tense form is formed in a special way.

Here are some examples of unlikely assumptions.

If we won the lottery, we would buy new house. – If we won the lottery, we would buy a new house.

This means that the lottery has not yet been played, the assumption refers to the future, but the speaker considers winning to be unlikely.

If we received the fuel tomorrow, we would return by Friday. – If we got fuel tomorrow, we would be back by Friday.

It's unlikely that we'll get fuel tomorrow, but if we did, we'd certainly be back in time for Friday.

Examples of incredible guesses:

If your friend had time, he would help us. – If your friend had time, he would help us.

The assumption is incredible because the friend has no time.

If Anna knew your email, she would forward you my message. – If Anna knew your email, she would forward my message to you.

But she doesn’t know, and therefore won’t forward it.

Construction If I were you…

The second type of conditional sentences includes the common construction If I were you...(I would in your place…) This construction uses a verb in the subjunctive mood - were(the form of the subjunctive mood is the same as the plural form of the past tense were).

If I were you, I would not ask too many questions. “If I were you, I wouldn’t ask too many questions.”

If I were you, I would take an umbrella. - If I were you, I would take an umbrella.

Third type of conditional sentences

Conditional sentences of the third type express assumptions relating to the past tense, and therefore being impossible - these are those actions that could have happened, but they did not happen.

If I had made more money, I would have bought a better house. – If I had earned (but I didn’t) more money, I would have bought a better house.

If you had been smarter, you would have chosen another college. “If you were smarter, you would have chosen a different college.”

I like the example from Sidney Sheldon's novel The Doomsday Conspiracy. In one episode, a nurse nurses a wounded officer, whom the doctor has already given up on as hopeless. She believed that the man could still be saved, and he did come to his senses. Then the sister leaned towards him and whispered:

If you had died, I would have killed you. - If you died, I would kill you.

Zero type of conditional sentences (Zero Conditional)

The zero type of conditional sentences is not highlighted in all textbooks; it is more often mentioned by foreign authors. In these sentences there is actually no assumption (which may or may not come true), but there is a condition and a consequence.

Sentences of this type speak of a condition that necessarily, inevitably entails a certain consequence. “B” follows “A”, like a law of nature, a scientific pattern. Along with the conjunction if (if), the conjunction when (when) is often used in sentences of this type.

Both the condition and the consequence use a verb in the form .

If you heat water, it boils. – If you heat water, it will boil.

If you fall, you get hurt. - If you fall, it will hurt.

When you have headache, you need to see a doctor. – When you have a headache, you need to see a doctor.

Sentences of this type can also express a subjective point of view rather than an objective fact. In this case, the speaker emphasizes that he is confident in the cause-and-effect relationship between two facts.

When a guy gets married, he gets fat. – When a man gets married, he gets fat.

It is not at all necessary that a man, after getting married, will get fat, but the speaker emphasizes that from his point of view this is practically a law of nature.

General table of conditional sentences in English

Conjunctions in conditional sentences

In conditional sentences, the subordinate part is most often connected to the main part using conjunctions if(if when(when), but besides them, other conjunctions are also used, for example: unless(if not), provided that, providing that, on condition that(provided that…)

Union unless often used in colloquial speech.

I'll be off work tomorrow unless someone gets sick. - I have the day off tomorrow, If nobody Not will get sick.

We'll have to call the police unless you pay for the broken items. - We'll have to call the police. If Only you Not pay for broken goods.

Unions provided that, providing that, on condition that characteristic of written speech. IN oral speech"that" is often omitted.

We can deliver the engine on Monday provided (that) we receive your order within the next two days. – We can deliver the engine on Monday provided that we receive your order within the next two days.

Video lessons and exercises on the topic “Conditional sentences in English”

The topic “Conditional sentences in English” is well covered in the Puzzle English video lessons. Here is an overview lesson on this topic:

Also on Puzzle English you can watch more detailed lessons and complete exercises on this topic.

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A comma marks off clauses at the beginning of a sentence.

Wheneverheisintown,hevisitsus – Whenever he is in town, he stops by to see us

You can keep those CDs for as long as you like – You canholdtheseCDmyself

His head had no sooner touched the pillow than he fell asleep - Before his head touched the pillow, he fell asleep

Hardly had I lit a cigarette as the wind blew it out of my hands- NotmanagedIlight upa cigarette, Howby the windherknocked outatmefromhands

Temporary approval

Temporal clauses follow the rules of tense agreement in English. The present or future tense of the main subclause requires the present tense of the subordinate clause. The past tense of the main subclause also requires the past tense.

She takes off her shoes the moment that she gets home – Sheremovesshoes, Howonlycomes inhome

I’ll call you as soon I get to my hotel – II'll callyoustraightawayByarrivalVhotel

They’ll go home when the film is over – Theythey'll gohomeafterviewingfilm

When he calls,I’ll give him the message – WhenHewill call, II'll tell youto himmessage

Turn off the lights before you leave – Beforecareextinguishlight

He took a shower after he had finished painting the room- Beautifulroom, Heacceptedshower

They had reserved a table before they went to the restaurant- BeforehikingVrestaurantTheyorderedtable

He jumped out of bed the moment he woke up – Hejumped outfrombed, Howonlyawoke

Temporary alliances

• when - when

We'llordersomepizzaswhenourfriendsgethere – We will order pizzas when our friends join us

When combined with will/would like a question word.

I'm not sure when his next book will be published- NotI know, Whenwill come outhisnextbook

• till/until – until

You must stay in the office till you finish / have finished the report– StayVoffice, ByeNotfinishreport

• bythetime - by the time

I’ll have set the table by the time you come home – II'll cover ittableToyoursreturn

• as/while - for now

We learned several interesting facts as we were listening to the lecture– While listening to the lecture, we learned several interesting facts

English Joke

Ted had a habit of dropping in at the house next door on baking day, for the woman of that house had a deft way in the making of cookies, and Ted had no hesitation in enjoying her hospitality, even to the extent of asking for cookies if they were not promptly forthcoming.

When the boy’s father learned of this, he gave Ted a lecture and a strict order never to ask for cookies at the neighbor’s kitchen. So, when a few days later the father saw his son munching a cookie as he came away from the next house, he spoke sternly:

“Have you been getting cookies again?”

“Oh, no, I didn’t beg any,” Ted answered cheerfully. “I just said, this house smells as if it was full of cookies. But what’s that to me?”

We have already discussed the rules with you if, so they have a lot in common with them. For example, it is worth remembering that in subordinate clauses of time it is not customary to use the future. Moreover, it will most likely sound in the Russian version. But first things first.

English sentences with when. Construction scheme

Let's see what they should look like English sentences with when. It should be taken into account that we are talking about complex sentences.

When+ subject + action ( present simple), subject + action (future simple)

The subordinate tense can be located either at the beginning or at the end of a complex sentence. Above we wrote a more or less standard sentence structure with tense clauses. But it's worth noting that you won't necessarily have exactly when in one of the parts. Words like: as soon as, till, until, while, before, after, are also not friends with future simple when they are part of a complex sentence.

If you have already learned well real conditions, then there should be no problems with subordinate clauses.

Sentences with when in English. Examples

Let's now look at examples of how to use sentences with when in English.

pay attention to until. This word already has a negative meaning due to un. Therefore it would be a mistake to say: I won't do this until you don't ask me. This is because it is not customary to use two negatives at the same time in an English sentence.

Sentences with when while... Shall we fix it?

Now try to use the appropriate time yourself sentences with when while and other words discussed above.

1. I... (to arrive) in Rome till it... (to get) dark outside.

2. Martha... (to help) you only after you... (to persuade) her.

3. As soon as spring... (to come) I... (to change) my life completely.

4. When he... (to see) Kate he... (to ask) her about that email.

Our actions depend on various conditions: desire, time, the result of previous actions, etc. In our native speech, every day we use phrases like: I will do it if I have time; I'll buy it if I have money and so on. There is no doubt that it is important to be able to compose such expressions for successful communication on foreign language. That’s what we’ll do today by looking at conditional constructions, or, as they are more often called, sentences with if in the English language. From the material we will learn the nuances of their meaning, composition and use.

Expressions of conditions are complex sentences containing a main and subordinate parts, connected in meaning by a conditional-consequence connection. The main clause has the meaning of a consequence, and the subordinate clause has the meaning of the condition itself. Moreover, any of these constructions can appear at the beginning of a sentence. In Russian, we always separate them with a comma, and English allows this sign only in cases where the subordinate clause comes before the main one.

In general, English grammar divides conditional clauses into several types.

Zero Conditional

The name of this type of construction indicates that events are always real, i.e. familiar, well-known, obvious. These include facts, statements, and everyday activities. In fact, these are not even conditions, but patterns, customs, habits, traditions. Expressions of this type are used in the simple present tense.

• Ifheispupil,helearnsmanylessons– If he is a student, then he learns many lessons.
• If I am at my grandparents’ home, I always eat pies and pancakes –If I I'm at my grandmothers And grandfathers, I Always eat pies And pancakes.
• Ifyoureadabook, yougetknowledge– If you read a book, you gain knowledge.

Examples prove that the name of the group is justified, since the expressions contain more truisms than conditions.

Real (First Conditional)

With this construction, sentences in English express a high probability of events occurring. This is no longer 100% true, as in the first group, but in general, the fulfillment of the conditions is quite realistic. As a rule, such conditional expressions refer to the near future. It is important to note that the future tense is used only in the main part of the sentence, and subordinate constructions with If in such a situation are always used in the present.

• Ifwearefreetomorrow, wewillgotothecinema– If we are free tomorrow, we will go to the cinema.
• If it is cold, I will put on my warm sweater –IfwillCold,II'll put it onminewarmsweater.
• If you tell me the truth, I will give you 100$ —IfYouyou sayto methe truthII'll give$100 for you.

The English language is also characterized by the use of such complex sentences as a warning, a warning.

• Youwillhavesometroubleswithhealthifyoucontinuetoworkoutinthegyminthatway– You will have some health problems if you continue to exercise in the gym this way.
• Ifyoudrinkcoldlemonade, youwillcatchacold– If you drink cold lemonade, you will catch a cold.

Unreal in the present (Second Conditional)

Phrases denote a small probability of performing actions in the present or future tense. In principle, such events can happen, but the chance that they will actually happen is extremely small. The subordinate construction is translated into Russian by the phrase “if” and expresses wishes, hypotheses, thoughts about what could have been.

Other English topics: Plurals of nouns in English: education and examples

By construction, we note that the if condition is put in Past Simple, and the main part is conveyed by the auxiliary connective would + the initial form of the verb (without to).

• If I were at home, I would read a fairy tale to my little daughter –IfwouldIwasHouses,Iwouldreadmyyoungestdaughtersfairy tale
• Ifyouhelpedus, wewouldfinishourworkintime– If you had helped us, we would have finished our work on time.
• Ifshewereatthelesson,shewouldunderstandthesubjectbetter– If she had been present in the lesson, he would have understood this topic better.

Please note that in main sentences of this type, English grammar dictates the obligatory use of the form were for both singular and plural. In spoken language, many people neglect this rule and use was. But you can’t do this in writing.

The added value of the proposals of this group is a polite remark, advice.

• IfIwereyou, Iwouldwritealettertothem– If I were you, I would write them a letter.
• Iwouldnevershakehishand, ifIwereyou“I would never shake his hand if I were you.”

Unreal in the past (Third Conditional)

These are conditional combinations expressing regret that some events/actions did not happen or happened, but it would have been better not to have happened, in the past. Obviously, the past cannot be changed, so such constructions were called unrealistic.

These sentences with the conjunction if in English use a construction of the form Past Perfect in the subordinate part, and in the main combination “ would have+ participle II».

• If I hadn’t missed the train, I would have been at London then –IfwouldINotI'm lateontrain,IwaswouldThenVLondon.
• Iftheyhadtoldustheinformation, wewouldhavefoundcriminalmanearlier “If they had told us this information, we would have found the culprit earlier.”
• IwouldhaveboughtthisbookifIhadn't'tspentmymoneyonmagazines – I would have bought this book if I had not spent my money on magazines.

These subordinate clauses are translated into Russian in the same way as the unreal conditions of the present. It is necessary to distinguish what in the present we mean " if only now", and in the past - " if only then».

This type of conditional is also used to criticize actions performed by someone, the result of which cannot be changed.

• Ifyouhadwrittentherule, youwouldn't'thavemademistakesinyourworks – If you wrote down this rule, you would not make mistakes in your work.

Along with negative statements, the British also use this type of sentence to express positive actions.

• Hewouldn't'thavemethisfuturewifeifhehadn't'tgonetotheparty “He wouldn’t have met his future wife if he hadn’t gone to this party.”
• He wouldn’t have become a great writer, if he had worked as a manager all his life –HewouldNotbecamegreatwriter,Ifwouldallmylifehave workedmanager.

This was the last type of conditional sentence in the English language. All that remains is to summarize your knowledge and remember all the structures using a convenient table.

Other English topics: How sentences are constructed in English. English sentence structure

If clauses in English - summary table

Let us present all the rules for conditional sentences that the English language contains grammar, in the form of a general table. Conveniently structured material is easier to understand and quicker to remember. In addition, such a tablet is an excellent assistant when performing practical exercises.