Conditionals In Argumentation – Examples and Structure Of Conditionals

There are several types of conditionals in argumentation and the following are below!

CONDITIONALS IN ARGUMENTATION – Here are the types of conditionals in argumentation, the meaning, and corresponding examples.

The conditionals in an argument play a crucial role both in logical argumentation and written communication. It displays a cause and effect relationship by presenting one’s reasoning to change another point of view over a certain topic or idea. And in a conditional argument, there must be a premise and a conclusion – the two clauses in common. It could be in the form to give advice, expressing regret, and discussing facts, among other things.

The two clauses are the If clause and the Main Clause or also called the Result Clause. Don’t forget to place your comma if the sentence starts with “If”.

Example: If I were you, I would study harder for my test.

If clause (If I were you) – the condition

Main Clause (I would study harder for my test) – the result of the condition

TYPES OF CONDITIONAL SENTENCES:

• Type Zero (describe general facts, truths, and events)

Main Clause: Present Simple + If Clause: Present Simple

The “If” part can be replaced by “When”.

Examples:

1. A red light comes on if you press the main button.
2. If you heat water, it boils.
3. When you heat ice, it melts.

• Type 1 (describe real and possible situations in the future)

Main Clause: will + infinitive + If Clause: Present Simple

Examples:

1. If I study, I’ll pass my test.
2. If we get the money for this job, we will buy a house.
3. We will stay at home if it rains.

• Type 2 (describes a future unreal condition or the hypothetical condition)

Main Clause: would + infinitive+ If Clause: Past Simple

Examples:

1. If I were rich, I would live in a palace.
2. If he were rich, he‘d buy an island.
3. If I were you I would accept the offer.
4. If he were in your place he would do it.

• Type 3 (describe the past unreal conditional or the past events we regret and miss and wish we could change)

Main Clause

Main Clause: would + perfect infinite + If Clause: Past Perfect

Examples:

1. If I had gone to medical school, I would have become a doctor.
2. Would you have helped me if I had asked you?
3. If I hadn’t been late for school, the teacher wouldn’t have gotten furious.

• Mixed Conditionals (describe an impossible situation in the past and its result in the present)

Main Clause: Past perfect + If Clause: Present Conditional

Examples:

1. The team would have won in the match yesterday if they were good players.
2. If he had taught me how to bake cake last week, I wouldn’t have to buy them in a bake shop today.

READ ALSO:

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• ISYUNG PANLIPUNAN – Kahulugan At Halimbawa Ng Isyung Panlipunan

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