The Internet TESL Journal

Grammar Teaching Plan: Real Conditional Sentences

Jungok Bae
baej [at] HUMnet.ucla.edu

Overview

This lesson plan is for teaching real conditional sentences to adult students of English. The rationale is based on explicit teaching of grammar and grammar teaching in meaningful context. A video skit for warming-up and mechanical and meaningful drills are incorporated dynamically.

Background

Detailed Lesson Plan

1. Warming up

2. Pre-teaching of Vocabulary (OHP)

3. Watching the Video.

Students will watch a skit with the following dialogue on the video.

Setting: The Travel Agency

A: Good afternoon.
B: Good afternoon. May I help you?
A: It's my wedding anniversary next month. I want to surprise my husband with a wonderful vacation plan. Would you
recommend some famous places?
B: Of course. Em, if you go to Europe, you'll have a wonderful time for your wedding anniversary. If you go to London, you can go to Buckingham Palace and you might even see the Queen's guards there. If you go to France, you can go to the sidewalk cafe and drink cafe au lait or French wine with your husband. And...
A: Well, it's outside the U. S.
B: Oh. You want to stay in the U. S. If you go to California, you might go to Yosemite National Park or Disneyland.
A: Yosemite National Park? What will I see if I go to Yosemite Park?
B: If you go to Yosemite Park, you'll see giant trees, mountains, bears ....
A: But, I don't like bears.
B: If you go to Disneyland, you won't see any bears. You'll see Mickey Mouse. Isn't that interesting? Well, if you have children...
A: Well, it's interesting, but.... B: O.K. What do you like to do in your free time?
A: Well, I like skiing.
B: If you like skiing, you can go to Colorado.
A: But my husband doesn't like skiing.
B: If your husband doesn't like skiing, probably he won't like to go there. What does he like?
A: He likes fishing.
B: Oh, you can still enjoy fishing at many beautiful lakes if you go to Colorado.
A: But I don't like fishing. And if it rains, we can't go fishing.
B: Then, how about Hawaii? Hawaii is really great. If you go to Hawaii, you can go to Waikiki Beach, you can take a romantic cruise for two, you can see beautiful sunset at the beach, you can see palm trees, beautiful flowers, and pretty girls wearing leis.
A: It's gorgeous. But we went there on our honeymoon just after we got married.
B: Well, this is your wedding anniversary. You can relive your romantic honeymoon if you go there again.
A: Oh, that sounds good. I just love hula dances, and we can go surfing. We'll go to Hawaii.

4. Comprehension Check-up

  1. What kind of trip will it be?
  2. If you go to London, what place can you go to?
  3. If you go to California, what famous places might you go to?
  4. If you go to Disneyland, what will you see?
  5. What can you enjoy if you go to Colorado?
  6. If you go to Hawaii, which place can you go to?
  7. What can you see, if you go to Hawaii?
  8. Which place did the woman decide to go to for her wedding anniversary?

5. Repeating the Model Sentences

6. Generalization: The Conditional If-clause

(OHP) If I go to Europe, I'll have a wonderful time.

Questions and Explanations:

  1. How many clauses are there?
  2. Which is the main clause?
  3. Which is the subordinate clause?
  4. Which is the subordinator?
  5. The subordinate clause gives some details to the main clause. The detailed information is usually time or condition in the adverbial clause. In this sentence, does this subordinate clause tell us time or condition? (Condition). Then which word introduces a condition? (If) "If" introduces a condition that may or may or may not happen in the future. It is called an if-conditional clause. This condition is real in a sense that the condition can actually happen.
  6. What does the main clause do? (It tells us the result if the condition happens. It is called a result clause.)
  7. Now, tense. Which is the verb in the subordinate clause?
  8. Which tense is the verb? (It takes simple present tense.)
  9. Which is the verb in the main clause?
  10. Which tense is the verb? (It takes future tense.)
  11. What does the comma after the if-clause do? (Pause)

Substitution drill

Directions:

7. Generalization: Reversal of Two Clauses

(OHP) If I go to Europe, I'll have a wonderful time.
  1. Which clause comes first in this sentence?
  2. Can I switch these clauses?
(OHP) You'll have wonderful time if you go to Europe.
  1. Is there any difference in meaning? ( No.)
  2. What's different about punctuation? What happened to the comma?
  3. When the main clause comes first, there is no need to put a comma.

Transformation drill

Directions:

I'll say: "If I go to Europe, I'll have a wonderful time."
You'll say: "I'll have a wonderful time if I go to Europe."

T: If I go to Europe, I'll have a wonderful time.

8. Generalization: Might

(OHP) If I go to California, I will go to Yosemite Park.
If I go to California, I might go to Yosemite Park.

Questions and Explanations:

  1. What's different between these sentences? Compare the auxiliaries.
  2. One tells that something is definite or decided. The other tells that something is not definite or not decided, but that it's possible. Which indicates "definite or already decided"? Which indicates "not decided yet, but possible"?

Transformation Drill (will ---- might)

Directions:

I'll use "will", and you'll change it into "might." e.g.
I'll say: If I go to California, I'll go to the Yosemite Park.
You'll say: If I go to California, I might go to the Yosemite Park.

9. Generalization: Can

(OHP) If you go to California, you might go to Disneyland.
If you go to Hawaii, you can go to Waikiki Beach.
  1. What's different here about auxiliary?
  2. How do they differ in meaning?
("Can" implies possibility. "Might" also implies "possibility" "It's possible for you to go to W. Beach." Besides, "might" also offers a suggestion to someone. "I suggest you to go to Waikiki Beach.")

Substitution Drill

Directions:

Repeat: If you go to Hawaii, you can go to Waikiki Beach.
Go to Waikiki Beach, If you go to Hawaii, you can go to W. Beach.
Take a romantic cruise, If you go to Hawaii, you can take a....

10. Generalization: Negation

A. Affirmative Condition + Negative Result

(OHP) If it rains, we can wear our raincoats.
If it rains, we can't go fishing.
  1. What's different about the verb? (One is negated )
  2. Which clause has the negative verb? (main clause)
  3. What does "can't" mean? (contraction of "can not" ) Repeat: can't
  4. An affirmative condition can cause a negative result.

B. Negative Condition + Affirmative Result

(OHP) If it doesn't rain, we'll go fishing.
  1. Which clause is negated? (main clause)
  2. Which is the main verb in the first clause? (rain)
  3. How do you make the verb, rain negative? (Use "doesn't" or "does not." )
  4. A negative condition can cause an affirmative result.

C. Negative Condition + Negative Result

(OHP) If he doesn't like skiing, he won't go to Colorado.
  1. Which clause is negated? (Both clauses)
  2. A negative condition can cause a negative result.
  3. Repeat: won't: - o-
Therefore, negation can be expressed in three ways.
(+) condition, (-) result
(-) condition, (+) result
(-) condition, (-) result

Substitution Drill

Directions:

Repeat: If it rains, we can't go fishing.
Go fishing: If it rains, we can't go fishing.
Go hiking: If it rains, we can't go hiking.

If it rains, we can't go fishing.

Substitution Drill

Directions:

Repeat: If it doesn't rain, we'll go fishing.
Go fishing: If it doesn't rain, we'll go fishing.

Substitution Drill

Directions:

Repeat: If he doesn't like spicy food, he won't cook chili.
Cook chili: If he doesn't like spicy food, he won't cook chili.

Sentence Completion Drill

Directions:

Think about the situations that might happen. I'll give you if-clauses.
You'll complete my sentences adding result clauses. Answer truthfully.
For example:

I'll say: If it rains,...
You'll say: If it rains, I will stay home.
I'll say: If it doesn't rain,
You'll say: If it doesn't rain, I can see birds.

(Drills between the teacher and individual students):

  1. If it rains,
  2. If it doesn't rain,
  3. If I go to Chicago,
  4. If I have time,
  5. If my friends visit me,
  6. If I go to a Special English Party,
  7. If my wedding anniversary comes,
  8. If I go to Washington D.C.,

Sentence Completion Drill

Directions: Now I'll give you result clauses. You'll complete them adding if-clauses.
For example:

If I say: I'll go to my country,...
You say: I'll go to my country if my sister gets married.
I'll say: I might go to Europe...
You'll say: I might go to Europe, If I have enough money.

(Drills between Teacher and individual students):

  1. I will go to my country...
  2. I might go to Europe...
  3. I can see hula dances...
  4. I can drink nice coffee...
  5. You can eat delicious Chinese food
  6. You might need a lot of money...
  7. You can see the 1992 Olympic Games...
  8. I'll make delicious food
  9. You'll have a wonderful time..

Culminating Activity (Drills between students)

Ask your partner these questions.

(OHP)

Answer your partner using conditional if-clauses. For example,
  1. Switch your roles and ask your partner the same questions.
  2. Take notes while you are listening. You'll need the notes to do your homework.

11. Distribution of Homework

12. Distribution of Summary Handouts

Homework

I. The following sentences talk about the future. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in the parentheses.

Example: If it rains, I _________ (stay) home.

1. If you ________ (go) to Europe, you _______ (have) fun.

2. He __________ (see) the Queen's guards if he ________ (go) to Buckingham Palace.

3. We __________ (not go) on a picnic if it rains.

4. If she _____ (not like) spicy food, she ________ (not cook) chili.

II. Change the following sentences to negative conditions and results.

Example: If Susan likes skiing, she'll go to Colorado.
________________________________________________

1. If I go to Hawaii, I'll take a cruise on the sea.
________________________________________________

2. If John visits England, he'll visit London.
________________________________________________

3. If it's sunny, I'll wear my sunglasses.
________________________________________________

4. If Jack likes dancing, he'll go to the dance party this evening.
________________________________________________

III. Complete the following sentences with an appropriate result or if-clause.

Examples:
If my friends come to my house, ____________________.

I can go shopping to Market Place ____________________.

1. If I have time, ____________________.

2. I might miss my classmates and my teachers ____________________.

3. I'll go to my country ____________________.

4. I'll make delicious food ____________________.
IV. Write a paragraph describing what you can do, what you will see and
what you might need if you visit your partner's country. Give your paragraph a title.
Use if-clauses and result clauses in your paragraph. Example:
If I go to Korea, I can eat delicious Kimbap and try spicy Kimchi. I will see many rice field and mountains if I go to Korea. I might need a lot of money if I go to Korea. Partner's name: _________________

Partner's country: _______________

Title: __________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

Notes

This lesson plan was effectively implemented in the Special English Class by myself as part of the course EIL312 (ESL Teaching Practicum for Beginning-Level Adult Students) supervised by Mrs. Pearl Goodman at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1992. The teaching objectives and the organizational framework of the lesson plan were provided and guided by the course EIL312. The linguistic corpus, context, and the specific ways of presentation in the lesson plan were produced by me.

The video skit was written by myself, Susan L. Neimeyer, and Leah J. Radulescu for the specific purpose of teaching if-conditional sentences. Susan Neimeyer and Leah Radulescu played as the two women in the video and are greatly appreciated along with Mrs. Pearl Goodman. Jay Hwang is appreciated for the assistance as the camera man. I also thank Michael E. Cohen, of the Humanities Computing Facilities, UCLA, Donna Brinton and Chris LaBelle at UCLA for helping the installment of the video in this page and for helpful comments on the design of this page.

The Internet TESL Journal, Vol. VI, No. 11, November 2000
http://iteslj.org/
http://iteslj.org/Lessons/Bae-Grammar/