USING UNREAL CONDITIONS TO EXPLAIN CAUSE AND EFFECT TO OFFER ADVICE Situation Benny, Tony and Tom used to play tennis at the same club. Now Benny is the only one who still plays there, and he wants to know what happened to his friends. Benny: You don't go to the club anymore. You used to go two or three times a week. Why have you stopped playing? Tony: I don't have time anymore. [1] I'm so busy these days that I just can't make it. [2] Tom: My arm bothers me when I play a lot, so I've been jogging instead. Explanation Both Tony and Tom want to play tennis, but neither one of them does. Each one has a reason for not going to the club. Benny: Why have you stopped? Tony: I don't have time (cause/reason). Benny: Why have you stopped? Tom: My arm bothers me. (cause/reason) Another typical way that Tony and Tom might answer Benny's question is as follows: Tony: If I had time, I would go. Tom: If my arm didn't bother me, I would go. The two responses above are examples of the present unreal condition. Function of the Present Unreal Condition The functions of the present unreal condition are: to explain or relate two situations or two actions to each other by means of: cause and effect; to answer the question why? When using the present unreal condition, the speaker tells the listener: if the facts or circumstances were different, the result would also be different. It is a grammatically odd way to explain why. Therefore, you do not have to use this construction. You need to understand it thoroughly, however, since native speakers use it all the time. Form of the Present Unreal Condition In order to understand the form, let’s answer a related question - why do we call this form of speech by the name "Present Unreal Condition?" Present because: - the time of the actions described is present. · Remember that tense and time are not always the same in English. [3] Unreal because: - the reality of the actions is actually the opposite of what the verb appears to express. [4] Because the relationship of the two clauses is critical in order to convey the meaning, that is, to explain cause and effect, it is very important to form both clauses correctly. The relationship of one clause depends on the other for meaning. You will need two clauses [5] to express cause and effect using the present unreal condition. They are: 1. The Causal Clause 2. The Effect Clause CAUSAL CLAUSE FORMATION To understand how to form the causal clause, see how the clause is formed both in “real” time and in “unreal” time. As mentioned earlier, the unreal condition is a kind of grammatical “trick.” Even though it is a “trick,” it is utterly rule governed. Let’s start by repeating the earlier question and answer. - Why don’t you play tennis anymore? - I don’t play because my arm bothers me. Real Cause Tense Truth Value [6] My arm bothers me present same as reality When framing the answer in grammatical reality – § the time of the action and the tense of the verb are the same: present § the “truth value” of the action (affirmative) matches reality: affirmative The speaker could also answer the question as follows: - Why don’t you play tennis anymore? - I would play if my arm didn’t bother me. OR - If my arm didn’t bother me, I would play. “Unreal” Cause Tense Truth Value If my arm did not bother me past the opposite of reality When using the unreal construction to frame the answer – § the time of the action and the tense of the verb are not the same o present time action > bothers o past tense formation > did bother § the “truth value” of the action does not match reality – it inverts o affirmative action > bothers o negative fomation > not (bother) You can see why we say that this structure is based on a sort of “grammar trick.” If you look at this structure, the actions do not appear to mirror “reality.” That is why we call this structure the “present unreal.” We call the tense “unreal condition” because we introduce the cause/the reason behind the situation with the word if. § If always introduces a condition § A condition always limits the action in the main clause [7] EFFECT CLAUSE FORMATION Like all conditions, the present unreal condition limits the action in the main clause. When using (or trying to understand) unreal conditions, you need to understand that the structure (the grammatical formation) of the cause clause (if +) requires a specific structure in the effect – the resulting – clause as well. The grammar limits the way you may express the effect clause in order to give it meaning. Let’s repeat the earlier question and answer, so that we can focus on the structure. - Why don’t you play tennis anymore? - I don’t play because my arm bothers me. The effect, or the result of my painful arm is that I do not play. First, note the structure where the grammar mirrors reality. Real Effect Verb Tense Truth Value I do not play Present Negative Unreal Effect Verb Tense Truth Value I would play Conditional (would) Affirmative If you state your cause using the unreal condition – “If my arm didn’t bother me” – then you must state the effect using the unreal effect structure, as well. This is so because the two actions – the cause and the effect – are linked to each other. To say that they are “linked” means that one gives meaning to the other, and explains the other. Therefore, if expressing cause and effect in real time, you must structure both clauses in real time. If expressing cause and effect in unreal time, you must structure both clauses – the causal clause and the effect clause – using the unreal patterns set forth above. [8] So how do I form this structure? Start the cause clause – the reason why - with the word IF. Then, concentrate on the “verb trick” – - re-express the verb as a past tense action - invert the “truth value” (the “reality”) of the action o if the action is affirmative in “real” time – invert it to negative o if the action is negative in “real” time – make it affirmative Use WOULD [9] with the resulting action. For example: Paul doesn’t work hard because he doesn’t like his job. (1) What is the cause clause? (2) The one that explains the reason why Paul doesn’t work hard. Start this clause with the word IF: - If Paul liked his job Note we have taken two tricky grammatical steps here: i. We have changed the tense of the action from present tense (“doesn’t like”) to past tense (liked). ii. We have changed the “reality” [10] of the action from negative (“does not like”) to affirmative (liked). Now that we have expressed the reason why Paul does not work hard, we can link that reason to the result. [11] Use WOULD in the resulting action. - He would work hard. The full sentence can then be stated as follows: - If Paul liked his job, he would work hard. [12] Steps to Forming the Present Unreal Condition To go from real to unreal action, make two steps: (1) invert the reality of the actions; and (2) change the verb tenses Example #1 Annie studies at night because she needs more skills. ê ê AFFIRMATIVE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION ACTION (1) invert the reality of the actions: (here, make them negative) Study Not study Need Not need (2) change the verb tenses of both [13] actions: - cause: [14] if + past tense If she didn't need - effect: would + simple verb she wouldn't study Why does Annie study at night? - If she didn't need more skills, she wouldn't study. Example #2 The District Attorney doesn't have enough evidence, so he can't indict them. ê ê NEGATIVE NEGATIVE (1) invert the reality of the actions: (here, make them affirmative) Doesn’t have [15] has Can’t indict [16] Can indict (2) change the verb tense: - cause: if + past tense If the State’s Attorney had - effect: would + simple verb he could (indict) – would be able to indict Why can't the District Attorney indict them? - Because he doesn’t have enough evidence. - If he had the evidence, he could indict them. Summary The present unreal condition uses two clauses. Each clause contains its own subject and its own verb. The two types of clauses are the cause clause and the effect clause. q Use the cause clause to state the reason. q Use the effect clause to state the resulting action. o This action results from the action stated in the cause clause. o The action in the cause clause is the reason behind the circumstances described in the effect clause. Cause Clause If + subject + past-tense verb If Annie didn’t need If the District Attorney had If is the key word in the “cause clause” and presents the condition linked to the resulting action. Effect Clause subject would simple verb she would not study he would [ indict Would is the key word in the “effect clause”. [17] When the subject is a pronoun, native speakers normally shorten would to ‘d. If I had time, I'd go. If the D.A. had the evidence, he’d indict. Note: The clause order is not important in these constructions. The following pairs of sentences mean the exact same thing: I'd go if I had time. If I had time, I'd go. She wouldn't study if she didn't need to. If she didn't need to study, she wouldn't. If my dad were [18] home, he’d drive us. My dad would drive us if he were home. If I were young again, I would study computers. I would study computers if I were young again. Rule: The verb BE has only one form in the present unreal verb system: were. If I were… If you were … If she were … If he were … If it were … If we were … If they were … For example: If I were American, I would never live in Chicago. I would live in California. If it weren’t so late, I would go out for a drink. It’s just too late now, and I’m tired. Colloquial / Conversational Usage In conversation, native speakers will frequently construct the unreal condition as follows: I don’t have time. If I did, I’d go. Use the following pattern to form this construction : 1. State the cause in the real verb system. ð I don’t have time. 2. Re-state the cause in the unreal system, using the AUXILIARY ONLY. ð If I did, 3. State the effect in the unreal system. ð I’d go. Examples: She doesn’t know her neighbors. If she did, she’d invite them to her party. He understands their dilemma. If he didn’t, he’d probably fire them. There’s no basketball game this weekend. If there were, I’d go. He’s out of town this week. If he weren’t, I’d ask him to join us. They have to save their money this year. If they didn’t, they’d take a cruise to the Bahamas. I can’t understand these questions. If I could, I would try to answer them. They can pick us up at the airport. If they couldn’t, we’d have to take a cab. Practice your own sentence /situation: 1. State the cause in the real verb system. ð 2. Re-state the cause in the unreal system, using the AUXILIARY ONLY. ð 3. State the effect in the unreal system. ð Function of the Past Unreal Condition The past unreal condition has the exact same functions as the present unreal condition. It expresses cause and effect It answers the question why? The only difference between the past and present unreal conditions is time. Example: I didn't attend the conference because I was working on an important case. I was working on an important case real cause If I hadn't been working on an important case unreal cause I didn't attend the conference real effect I would have attended it unreal effect Why didn't you attend the conference? I would have attended it if I hadn't been working on an important case. If I hadn't been working on an important case, I would have attended the conference. Why did Patricia turn down the job offer? If the job hadn’t involved so much traveling, she wouldn’t have turned it down. [19] She wouldn’t have turned the job down if it hadn’t involved so much traveling. If the job hadn’t involved so much traveling, she would have accepted the offer. She would have taken the job if it hadn’t required so much travelling. The above explanations tell the listener that Patricia was probably interested in the job offer. q She did not turn it down because it did not pay enough money or because she thought it was a boring job, or too difficult. q She had one reason: she did not want to travel all the time for work. Form of the Past Unreal Condition Use the same two-step process when explaining causal relationships in the past as you do in the present: (1) invert the reality of the action (2) change the verb tenses Example We didn't file a lawsuit because we blew the statute of limitations. [20] ê ê NEGATIVE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION ACTION (1) invert the reality of the actions: - didn’t file ð filed - blew ð not blew (2) change the verb tense: - cause: if + past perfect tense [21] If we had not blown - effect: would have + past participle [22] we would have filed If we had not blown the statute of limitations, we would have filed a lawsuit. Conversational / Colloquial Forms of the Past Unreal Condition Use the same pattern as the present unreal condition when expressing cause and effect in casual conversation. (1) State the reason in “real” time. (2) Re-state the reason in “unreal” time, using the auxiliary only. (3) State the full effect, using the “unreal” effect construction. For example: Why didn’t you file a claim against them? (1) We didn’t have enough evidence. (2) If we had had it, (3) we would have filed (a claim). Why didn’t you attend the conference? My client needed me. If he hadn’t, I would have attended the conference. Further examples: q They weren’t in the office on Tuesday. If they had been, they’d have met the new boss. q We couldn’t afford the tickets. If we could have, we’d have gone to the concert last Saturday. q Our only witness was a gang member. If he hadn’t been, we’d have put him on the stand. [23] EXPRESSING CAUSE AND EFFECT IN ENGLISH – VARIOUS STRUCTURES The following are the most common ways to express cause and effect. q When speaking or writing, you do not need to use the unreal form. q When listening or reading, however, you will need to understand it. [24] I didn't know all the relevant information, (cause) so I didn't finish the report. (effect) I didn't finish the report (effect) because I didn't know all the relevant information. (cause) I didn't know all the relevant information; (cause) therefore, I didn't finish the report. (effect) I didn't know all the relevant information. (cause) That's why I didn't finish the report. (effect) I didn’t know all the relevant information. (cause) Otherwise, I would have finished the report. (effect) If I had known all the relevant information, (cause) I would have finished the report. (effect) I would have finished the report (effect) if I had known all the relevant information. (cause) Offering Advice Native English speakers frequently use the “unreal condition structure” to offer advice. This usage is a grammatical alternative to “should.” Therefore, it is not binding. Example #1 You should call him back. (situation) If I were you, I'd call him back. Example #2 John shouldn't turn down that offer. If I were John, I wouldn't turn down that offer. Example #3 They should have sued for infringement. If I were them, I would have sued for infringement. Form If I were is the advice form. It replaces should. The person to whom the advice is offered follows (and completes) the fixed advice form: If I were you If I were John If I were them Express the advised action in the second clause. Use: would + simple verb would have + past participle to express the advised action. I would call him back. I wouldn't turn that offer down. I would have sued for infringement. Note two important points if you want to use this structure yourself: q If I were replaces should. It does not explain. Therefore, you do not use this form in a wide variety of patterns. q If I were “expresses” or “conveys” the advice. As explained above, it replaces “should.” Therefore, do not use “should” in the main clause. You do not need to give the advice twice. Use would to express the advised action /advised conduct. Incorrect - If I were the jury, I should find for plaintiff. Correct - If I were the jury, I would find for plaintiff. Further Examples You should make a decision. – or - If I were you, I would make a decision. Bill shouldn't take things so personally. If I were Bill, I wouldn't take things so personally. You should have made a decision. If I were you, I would have made a decision. Bill shouldn't have taken things so personally. If I were Bill, I wouldn't have taken things so personally. They should have moved for summary judgment. If I were representing that case (If I were them), I would have moved for summary judgment. He should have dropped the charges. His attorneys told him he couldn’t win. If I were him, I’d have dropped the charges. [25] His attorneys told him he couldn’t win. Following are some examples of how to use and alternate these expressions in fluent conversation. To tell one of your crazy American friends not to be such a workaholic, say: You shouldn’t work all the time! If I were you, I wouldn’t work all the time. I’d relax a little, too! To tell another friend – regardless of nationality – that the bar is difficult, and it would be a good idea to spend more time studying for it, say: You should probably take the bar a little more seriously. If I were you, I’d study more than you are right now. I’d put in 8 to 10 hours a day, at a minimum. * * * * * Exercises begin on the following page. USING UNREAL CONDITIONS EXERCISES Directions : (a) Express the following situations (causal relationships) using unreal conditions. (b) In line b, re-express the situations using the colloquial, conversation form. Example: I won’t be there because I have another appointment. a. If I didn’t have another appointment, I would be there. b. I have another appointment. If I didn’t, I’d be there. 1. We're not going because we are too busy at work. a. b. We are very busy at work. If we weren’t, ___________________________. 2. They aren't driving us because their car is in the shop. a. b. Their car is in the shop. If ______________, ______________________. 3. He won't consider a transfer because his elderly parents live here. a. b. His elderly parents live here. 4. She works weekends because she has to. a. b. 5. The only reason he is studying English is because he wants a better job. a. b. 6. We do that because he's our top client. [26] a. b. 7. He isn't worried because he has a lot of connections. [27] a. b. 8. He doesn't stick to his diet, so he doesn't lose weight. a. b. 9. The only reason I don't speak fluent English is that I have no one to practice with. a. b. 10. He doesn't know the legal process, so he can't explain it to the group. a. b. 11. We didn't get back to him sooner because he wasn’t on E-mail. a. b. 12. My caseload was very heavy, so I couldn’t take on any new clients. a. b. 13. She didn't get off to a good start because she was sick the first week of the course. a. b. 14. We told them that only because they insisted upon knowing. a. b. 15. I didn't know he was coming because he never got in touch with me. [28] a. b. Directions: Offer the following advice using the fixed form from the unreal verb system. Example: They shouldn’t spend all their money. They should save some, or invest it. If I were them, I wouldn’t spend all my money. I would save some, or invest it. 16. You shouldn't give up on improving your English. It’s a long and tedious process. 17. You should check your messages more often. 18. They should invest in a client-server network. 19. You shouldn't call them back. You should make them call you back. 20. He should have demanded an investigation. 21. She should have appealed that decision. 22. They should have filed a motion to dismiss. The other side had no basis in law or fact. ________________________________ [1] Note that in casual conversation, native speakers sometimes eliminate the word “because” when answering a question starting with “why?” [2] Make it is a very popular idiomatic expression with two key meanings which are very different from each other. (1) “I can’t make it” in the above sense means “I can’t meet an appointment on time.” Another common sentence with this expression is: “The meeting starts at 4:00, but Bill can’t make it until 4:30 because he will be in court all afternoon.” In this sentence we know (a) that Bill will attend the meeting; and (b) that he will be half an hour late because of his court duties on that day. (2) The other typical usage of the high-frequency idiomatic expression “make it” means to “be (economically) successful.” For example: “Joe dreamed of being a famous inventor his whole life. He finally made it.” This sentence tells that Joe had wanted to be a famous inventor since he was a child. After many years, he has become a famous inventor. “He made it.” When someone has become very successful, we often say: “He made it big in international trade.” [He is very successful in the international trade field.] “She made it big in Hong Kong.” [She moved to Hong Kong and became very successful there.] [3] When using or listening to actions described by the present unreal conditions, keep in mind that this construction is a kind of grammatical “trick.” The actions presented appear to be past (the past tense is used in the “if-clause”), but these actions are actually present time. [4] un = not = opposite [5] Every clause consists of a subject and a verb, in time. [6] “Truth value” is just a grammar term here. Is the actual action affirmative or negative – and does the grammar match the action as it is expressed? [7] For example: “If I have time this afternoon, I will draft that motion.” My drafting the motion is contingent upon my time availability this afternoon. My future action (drafting the motion) is limited by, dependent on, and contingent on whether I have time this afternoon. If I do, I will draft the motion. If I do not, I won’t draft the motion. [8] If you speak a Western language, most of this is quite obvious. The underlying principal is certainly obvious. If you do not speak a Western language, however, you may find this entire concept very difficult. Therefore, study this information so that you can learn and understand what native speakers are saying. There is no need to use this structure yourself. At the end of this unit, I have included a full-page of alternative expressions you can use to express cause and effect. Because we cannot control what native speakers will say to us, second-language learners always need at least passive knowledge of how to structure ideas, and what that structure seeks to convey. Native speakers use unreal conditions very frequently. [9] Or sometimes, could. [10] Please keep in mind that I am using the term “reality” in a sense of grammar – not philosophy or other fields. [11] The effect. [12] Here you are defending Paul, and telling people he is not lazy. [13] By “both” we refer to (i) the reason / the cause; and (ii) the result / the effect. [14] Remember – which clause answers the question “why?” Here, “why” does Annie study? is the question. The answer to that question is the reason, or the cause. She studies because she needs to. [15] real cause [16] real effect [17] It shows that the (resulting) action is only hypothetical (contingent; conjectural; not factually real). [18] Many native speakers say “If my dad was home ... “ This is actually a typical “native error.” That is because the verb “BE” has some exceptions. Don’t worry about the exception. Try to learn the rule. If you say “was,” that’s alright!! [19] “Turn down” is a phrasal verb meaning “reject.” It is frequently used with offers and suggestions. “Reject” an offer, or “reject” a suggestion can often be too strong for the situation. “Turn it down” is always acceptable, whether in business or the law. For example: “A private law firm in Beijing made me an offer to work in their patent group. I turned it down, however, because I really like my job at the SIPO.” [20] To “blow the statute of limitations” is lawyer’s slang. It means “to miss the statutory deadline for filing in court.” [21] The past perfect is the past of the (simple) past tense. You need two components in the causal action: (i) had + (ii) action. [22] Would have places the hypothesis in the past. The hypothetical action is now expressed in the past participle. Therefore, you need three components to the result action: (i) would + (ii) have + (iii) action. [23] “To put someone on the stand” means to call a witness to testify. In this instance, the reason why the lawyers didn’t call this witness to testify is because he lacked credibility, and the jury wouldn’t believe his testimony. Note that this is only an example, for legal purposes. This does not mean that gang members are never called to testify in criminal cases. In terms of language, lawyers “put witnesses on the stand” and parties or witnesses “take the stand.” Judges, however, are not on the stand. Judges sit “on the bench.” Lawyers “approach the stand” to question parties and witnesses. Lawyers “approach the bench” to talk to the judge. [24] Be advised that unless a native speaker is a professional linguist, he/she will have no idea of what “unreal conditions” are. Natives simply use them. This includes lawyers and judges. They simply use them. [25] Note – do not say : “If I had been him, I would have dropped the charges.” Why not ? Because this is not the unreal condition function – we are not linking cause and effect here. q This is the advice function. q “If I were” is the fixed advice form. To demonstrate that the advised action is in the past – use would have (+ action). If you look again at the first page of this exercise sheet, you will note that this form of language has two functions. The first one described was the function of explaining. The second one described is the function of giving advice. Both these functions use the same form – but you must look closely at meaning as well. Do not be discouraged. This is very advanced English. I offer it to help you know what people are saying to you. As a non-native speaker, it may be a good idea to use a simpler structure in your response. Most native speakers you will meet are not English teachers!! They will look for your message, not your verb structures. By using a simpler structure in your own speech (until you are confident), everyone has a meaningful conversation. [26] “Top” client is a frequent expression. It means the “best” client; the client from whom you make the most money. [27] “Have a lot of connections” means to “know many important people,” or to “have many important friends and / or family members.” These connections do not have to be rich or famous people, however. You can easily say: “Mary has a lot of connections at the PTO. Her husband is an examiner there.” Sometimes connections implies corruption. Many times, however, it does not. It depends on the context. [28] “Get in touch with” means to “contact.” This can be by any means: telephone, mail, e-mail.