Adverb Clauses of Condition

Adverb clauses of condition answer the question, UNDER WHAT CONDITONS?

Adverb clauses of condition usually start with these subordinate conjunctions:

  • if
  • unless

Read and study these questions and answers.Adverb clauses of conditioncan occur before or after the main clause of a sentence.

Example questions and answers with IF --

  1. Under what conditions canMelissa go to college?
    Melissa can go to college if she gets a scholarship.

Melissa can go to college if she saves money.

OR

IfMelissa gets a scholarship, she can go to college.

IfMelissasaves money, she can go to college.

  1. Under what conditions can students take the next course in English?

Students can take the next course in English if they pass this course.

  1. Under what conditions will a car stop moving?

A car will stop moving if the driver puts on the brake.

A car will stop moving if it runs out of gas.
A car will stop moving if there is a serious crash.

Example sentences with UNLESS -- Sentences with “unless” clausesare not very common, and they are often similar to “if …. not" clauses.

  1. Mellissa will be disappointed if she does not get a college scholarship.
    Melissa will be disappointed unless she gets a college scholarship.
  1. Students cannot take the next course in English ifthey do not pass this course
    Students cannot take the next course in English unless they pass this course.
  2. If John does not get up by 8 AM, he will be late to work.
    Unless John gets up by 8 AM, he will be late to work.

Example questions with IF-- Questions can ask you to think and imagine what can happen (the consequences) of a situation.

  1. What will Melissa do if she doesn’t get a scholarship?
  2. Can students stay at RIT if they do not pass writing courses?
  3. If your brakes fail, will you stay alive?
  4. If the supervisor fires John, how can John get another job?

Practice1: If and Unless Adverb Clauses

(Use these after Rosewood, part 3)

Directions: Complete these sentences. Add if or unless in the blank.
Example: We will not pass unlesswe study.

  1. Mr. Mann knew he would be safer ______he left town.
  2. People might kill Mr. Mann ______he stays in Rosewood.
  3. ______the angry white people see Mr. Mann, they will probably kill him.
  4. Sheriff Ellis will lose his job ______he figures out how to restore peace in the towns of Rosewood and Sumner.
  5. ______the sawmill boss had not given the white workers a day off, they may have calmed down.
  6. Sarah realizes the white people of Sumner will not believe her ______she tells them the truth.
  7. ______people join together in a mob, people often do things that they wouldn’t do alone.
  8. More people would be alive ______Mr. Wright had not sold shells and bullets to people.
  9. ______Duke had not killed Sarah, Sylvester would not have shot and killed Henry and Poly.
  10. Gertie and Scrappie would not be safe ______they hid.

[Answers]

Practice 2: If and Unless Adverb Clauses

(Use these after Rosewood, part 3)

Directions: Combine these sentences.

  1. Put the clauses in order.
  2. Add if orunless. (either at the beginning of your sentence, or between the two clauses, and add a comma if necessary)
  3. Use a pronoun for repeated subjects or objects in the second clause.

Example: The students can improve their writing skills. The students study.

Answer: The studentscan improve their skills if they study. OR

Answer: If the studentsstudy, they can improve their writing skills.

  1. Mr. Mann doesn’t leave town. People will kill Mr. Mann.

______.

  1. People might kill Mr. Mann. Mr. Mann leaves town.

______.

  1. The white people will kill the black person. The white mob thinks the black person raped Fanny.

______.

  1. The sheriff controls the people. The people will stop killing each other.

______.

  1. Sarah stayed in the house. What would have happened?

______.

  1. Scrappie and the children do not hide.The white mob might kill Scrappie and the children.

______.

  1. Scrappie and the children are in danger. Scrappie and the children hide.

______.

[Answers]