Structure Spotting: Identifying the Clauses in a Second Conditional Quiz

The condition is the 'if-clause.' It is the dependent clause that states the hypothetical or unreal situation, and it always begins with the subordinating conjunction 'If.'

The result clause (or main clause) tells what would hypothetically happen if the condition in the 'if-clause' were true.

This is false. The condition clause is a dependent (subordinate) clause because it begins with the subordinating conjunction 'If' and cannot stand alone.

The result clause is the main clause, which expresses the hypothetical outcome and uses the modal 'would' plus the base verb.

The sentence is composed of two clauses: the dependent condition clause 'If I moved to Canada' (A) and the independent result clause 'I would be happy' (B).

The main clause (result) is an independent clause, meaning it expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.

The structure of the second conditional uses the simple past tense (e.g., if I went, if she saw) in the condition clause to show that the situation is hypothetical or unreal.

The main clause (result) of a second conditional sentence contains the structure 'would' + base verb to indicate the hypothetical outcome.

This is false. The clause starting with 'If' always describes the hypothetical condition or situation, not the result.

Both A and B use a modal verb (would/could) plus the base form of the verb, which is the required structure for the result clause in the Second Conditional.

Whenever a dependent clause (like the 'if-clause') starts a sentence, a comma must be used to separate it from the independent clause (the result).

The result clause is the part that uses 'would' and tells the hypothetical consequence: 'I would buy a bicycle.'

This is true. The condition clause establishes the unreal premise (e.g., If I won the lottery, If she were here) before discussing the consequence.

The clause starting with 'If' is always dependent (subordinate), and in the second conditional, it contains the simple past tense verb.

The simple past tense verb 'broke' is found only in the condition clause, 'If the computer broke.' The result clause uses 'would have.'

The main clause is the part of the sentence that expresses the central idea and can stand alone; in the conditional structure, it is the result.

The word 'If' is the subordinating conjunction used to introduce the dependent condition clause in all types of conditional sentences.

The two complete clauses are the condition clause 'If they had a dog' (A) and the result clause 'they would walk it every day' (B).

The 'if-clause' follows the main clause, placing it at the end of the sentence. In this order, no comma is used.

The condition clause uses the simple past tense, and in formal or set phrases like 'If I were you,' the subjunctive form 'were' is used for the verb 'to be' regardless of the subject.