Conditional sentences contain at least two clauses.
Conditional sentences are sentences that express a condition and a consequent of that condition. Conditional sentences invoke complex rules of tense and syntax, making them difficult and confusing for young students to learn. However, conditional sentences are fundamentally important to learn for several reasons.
Meaning
Learning conditional sentences is important to understand conditional statements or actions. To interpret a conditional sentence, recognize the main or independent clause ("then") and the dependent clause ("if"). Grammatically, the conditional component (the "if") of a sentence is dependent; however, syntactically the consequent (the "then") is dependent, since the consequent is only fulfilled if the condition is fulfilled. It is critical to understand the structure and function of conditional sentences in order to interpret meaning. To determine if action has or will take place, you must defer to the condition in the sentence.
Punctuation
You must understand conditional sentences so you can properly punctuate them. Conditional sentences contain a dependent and an independent clause. Grammatically speaking, the "if" or hypothetical clause is dependent (or subordinate). Dependent clauses must be followed by a comma when they precede the independent clause in a sentence. However, when the hypothetical clause follows the independent clause, no punctuation separates the two clauses. Importantly, to apply these rules of grammar, you have to first identify the clauses, which requires knowledge of conditional sentences.
Tense
To learn different tenses, you have to learn conditional sentences. Sentences use different tenses to express action, depending on the circumstances and condition of action. For instance, the conditional sentence "If I have a party, I will invite her" uses the simple present ("I have") and the future tense ("I will). However, a conditional sentence might use different tenses, such as the past perfect tense and the conditional with a past participle, as in the sentence "If I had hosted a party, I would have invited her." Basically, to employ different tenses and to accurately express facts and action, you have to understand conditional sentences.
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