How to understand the use of the if clause in the Present Real Conditional

1. Present Real
Conditionals
Herbal Remedies
9
Focus on Grammar 4
Part IX, Unit 21
By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells
Copyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

2. Herbal RemediesHerbal Remedies
If people are sick, they go to a doctor. But some
people also use herbal remedies for basic
healthcare. For example, if you aren’t sleeping
well, you can drink chamomile tea. If you suffer
from motion sickness, ginger settles your
stomach. When you have a cold, you can add
garlic to your food. Make a lavender compress
when you have a headache. If you get a burn, try
the juice of the aloe plant. But if you take herbs,
tell your doctor. Some herbs may interfere with
other medicines.

3. Present Real Conditionals 1Present Real Conditionals 1
If people get sickIf people get sick,, they sometimes try herbsthey sometimes try herbs..
If your body temperature is above 98.6If your body temperature is above 98.6ºº,, you have a feveryou have a fever..
Use present real conditionals for general truths. Use
the simple present in both clauses.
if clause
result clause
if clause result clause

4. Present Real Conditionals 2Present Real Conditionals 2
If people get sick,
if clause result clause
they try herbal remedies.
Conditional sentences have an if clause (condition)
and a result clause.

5. Present Real Conditionals 3Present Real Conditionals 3
If I’m feeling sick, I eat more garlic.
if clause
simple present or
present progressive
result clause
simple present
Use real conditionals for habits and things that
happen again and again.

6. WhenWhen
If I have a sore throat, I take
licorice root.
When I have a sore throat, I take
licorice root.
You can often use when instead of if.

7. Use with ModalsUse with Modals
If you aren’t sleeping well, you can drink
chamomile tea.
If you get a burn, you might use aloe gel.
You can use modals in the result clause.

8. Practice 1Practice 1
Combine each group of words to
make a sentence with a conditional
clause and a result clause.
Example: drink green tea / may lower your blood sugar
If you drink green tea, you may lower your blood sugar.
1. take ginkgo / memory might improve
2. use tea tree oil / can heal skin problems
3. take evening primrose oil / could lower your cholesterol
If you take ginkgo, your memory might improve.
If you use tea tree oil, it can heal skin problems.
If you take evening primrose oil, you could lower your
cholesterol.

9. Use with ImperativesUse with Imperatives
If you take herbs, tell your doctor.
If you have a headache, make a lavender compress.
You can use imperatives in the result clause.

10. Practice 2Practice 2
If you have insomnia, you should take a lavender bath.
Look at the chart. Make
conditional sentences with
modals or imperatives.
1.
2.
3.
If you have mild depression, you can take St. John’s wort.
If you have a cough, drink slippery elm tea.
If you have a cold, you can take Echinacea.
If you have insomnia, take a lavender bath.
Problem Herbal Remedy
insomnia lavender bath
mild depression St. John’s wort
cough slippery elm tea
cold Echinacea
Example:

11. Clause OrderClause Order
If you have motion sickness,eat ginger root.
if clause result clause
if clauseresult clause
Eat ginger root if you have motion sickness.
If you have motion sickness,eat ginger root.
A conditional sentence can begin with the if
clause or the result clause.

12. Be Careful!Be Careful!
Use a comma between the two clauses only when
the if clause comes first.
eat ginger root.
if clause
,
if clause
Eat ginger root ,
If you have motion sickness
if you have motion sickness.

13. Practice 3Practice 3
Reverse the order of the
clauses in each sentence. Be
careful with punctuation.
Example: If you are nauseous, ginger settles your stomach.
Ginger settles your stomach if you are nauseous.
1. If you get a burn, use aloe gel.
2. Make a lavender compress when you have a headache.
3. If you take herbs, tell your doctor.
Use aloe gel if you get a burn.
When you have a headache, make a lavender compress.
Tell your doctor if you take herbs.

14. Use with NegativesUse with Negatives
If I’m not sleeping well, I don’t drink coffee.
If I drink slippery elm tea, I don’t cough as much.
You can make either or both clauses negative.

15. Practice 4Practice 4
Complete the sentences
with remedies used in
your family or culture.
Example: If you have a cold. . .
If we have a cold, we eat a bowl of chicken noodle soup.
1. If you have a headache. . .
2. When you can’t sleep. . .
3. If you have a stomachache. . .
4. Whenever you have the hiccups. . .
5. If you ___________ . . .

16. ReferencesReferences
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and
its licensors. All rights reserved.