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Unit 16 discusses conditional phrases and reported speech. Conditional phrases serve to refer to possibilities by setting up if/when hypothetical statements and are broken up into two clauses: the conditional and the consequence. The English language contains five main conditional forms, being: zero, first, second, third and mixed. The zero conditional is formed but If/when + present, present. It can be used to state irrefutable facts. The first conditional is formed by If + present, will (modal verbs). It can be used to discuss probable, possible or certain future situations based on present actions. The second conditional is formed through if + past simple, past modal + base verb. It can be used to communicate present or future hypothetical scenarios which may be unlikely to occur. The third conditional is formed by if + past perfect, past modal verb + have + past participle. It is used to refer to hypothetical past action or inaction and a past consequence, and therefore remains impossible. The mixed conditional is most commonly formed by if + past perfect, past modal + base verb. It is used to discuss hypothetical past conditions and hypothetical present consequences. It is necessary for an instructor to be wary of common confusion among students due to similarities between conditional forms and mixing of a conditional clause of one form and consequential clause from another, creating misunderstanding in relationships between actions in sentences. Reported and directed speech refers to communication or information between a first and second party relayed at a later time to a third party. The tendencies for student mistakes or errors when communicating using directed and reported speech are often high due to some complications over formation and time references. A simple, but not complete, rule to follow would be that if directed speech in the present tense shifts to its corresponding past tense when reporting. Past tense directed speech would be reported in the past tense as well, with careful attention paid to accurately communicating expressions of time that change as a nature of reporting at a later date or in different circumstances.
