Running head: CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
Contrasive Analysis: Conditional sentences
in English and Vietnamese
Nguyễn Kiều Hạnh
University of Pedagogy
Class: 4B06
Abstract
I have heard a famous singer’s notorious saying “Nếu cuộc thi này chỉ có mình
tôi tham gia thì chắc chắn tôi chả đời nào thèm quan tâm!” And then, he was criticized
by a fan for too much showing off. This fan thought that the saying is nonsense in
Vietnamese. Also the fan said that there was no need to change the tense in
Vietnamese conditional sentence as the way he had used. However, the singer re-acted
this criticism that he just used a little bit English grammar because Vietnamese
conditional sentence didn’t exist. From the story, I wonder if Vietnamese has the socalled conditional sentence and how it is differentiated from English conditional
sentence.
Moreover, as an English learner, the phrase “Conditional” is so familiar to us.
There are three kinds of Conditionals and some other versions called mixed
conditionals. The important role of Conditionals shows us that it is one of the main
elements English learners should master. However; Conditionals in Vietnamese isn’t
really as popular as in English. We often call them a complex sentence expressing the
condition-consequence relation.
The belief in the causality gives me inspiration to do research on this kind of
sentence. The more I come deep inside this topic, the more complicated it is. There are
some similarities and differences between Conditionals of English and Vietnamese. In
order to have an in-depth knowledge in this topic, let’s compare the Conditionals in
English with the one in Vietnamese.
Literature review
What is conditional sentence?
“Conditional sentence, as people call it, includes two or more clauses. In a
conditional sentence, there are a clause giving the condition or the hypothesis
(dependent clause) and another clause expressing the consequences
(independent clause). It is used to represent that the action in the main clause
can only take place if a certain condition in if-clause is completed”(“Conditional
Sentences / If-Clauses Type I, II und III”).
Common form:
If-clause (subordinate clause), main clause.
Or
Main clause (no comma) if-clause.
I.
Conditional sentences in English
A. According to Thomson and Martinet, there are 3 common types of conditional
sentences (197).
1. Conditional Sentence Type 1
→This type of Conditional sentence implies that the action in the if-clause is quite
probable.
Form: if + Simple Present, will-Future
Ex: If I find her address, I’ll send her a bunch of birthday flowers.
Or
I will send her a bunch of birthday flowers if I find her address.
Use:
“Conditional Sentences Type I refer to the future. An action in the future will only
happen if a certain condition is fulfilled by that time. We don't know for sure
whether the condition actually will be fulfilled or not, but the conditions seems
rather realistic – so we think it is likely to happen” (“Conditional Sentences / IfClauses Type I, II und III”).
2. Conditional Sentence Type 2
→ Type 2 refers to the action in if-clause is not a true past but a subjunctive, which
indicates unreality or improbability.
Form: if + Simple Past, Conditional I (= would + Infinitive)
Ex: If I found her address, I would send her an invitation.
In fact, the person “I” here doesn’t have her address now.
Use: Conditional Sentences Type II is used:
-When the supposition is contrary to known facts
Ex: If I were you, I’d plant some trees round the house. (But I am not you)
-When we don’t expect the action in if-clause to take place
Ex: If a burglar came into my room at night, I’d scream.(But I don’t expect the burglar to
come in)
3. Conditional Sentence Type 3
→It is impossible that the condition will be fulfilled because it refers to the past.
Form: if + Past Perfect, Conditional II (= would + have + Past Participle)
Ex: If I had been born in 1960, I could have seen Uncle Ho.
Use:
Conditional Sentences Type III refers to situations in the past. An action could
have happened in the past if a certain condition had been fulfilled. Things were
different then, however. We just imagine, what would have happened if the situation
had been fulfilled.
Note: Inversion of conditional sentences
“If more emphasis is needed in the condition, inversion will happen in the Ifclause whether it goes before or after the main one. This especially happens in
hypothetical conditionals and is performed by the omission of If and the inversion
of subject and verb; an auxiliary is needed in case of an ordinary verb” (Nguyen
Huu Hieu, par. 3).
Ex: If I were a millionaire, I would travel around the world
Were I a millionaire, I would travel around the world
Or: I would travel around the world were I a millionaire
II.
Types of conditional sentences in Vietnamese
In most Vietnamese grammar book, conditional sentence isn’t regarded as an
important grammar point. It is one kind of complex sentences in the Syntax part. Diep
Quang Ban demonstrates that the complex sentence with the adjuncts or linking words
expressing the condition-consequence relations: nếu, hễ, miễn(là), giá… is regarded as
conditional sentence(128).
The main clause starts with linking word “thì” is the clause showing the consequence.
(Nếu) C-V(thì)C-V
A. According to Nguyen Thi Yen Phuong, there are three main types of conditional
sentence in Vietnamese in terms of semantic domain (29-30).
1.
The conditional sentence contains a certain condition or a universal
fact.(Nếu…thì…, Hễ…thì…)
Ex: Hễ mỗi lần trời nóng bức, chị ấy lại lên cơn co giật.
2.
The conditional sentence bring a supposed or predictive condition.(trừ
phi…mới…, có…thì…mới…, giá…mới…, mà…thì…)
Ex: (Trừ phi) anh ta ra tay việc đó (mới) hoàn thành.
3.
The unconditional sentence (bất kỳ, vô luận…cũng…)
Ex: (Vô luận) kẻ địch hung bạo thế nào, (hễ) đụng vào lực lượng đó, bức tường đó (thì)
địch nào (cũng) phải tan xác.
(Hồ Chí Minh)
As you know, conditional sentence not only expresses the consequence in
semantic domain but also explains or illustrates a fact or a phenomena. This kind of
sentences has a variety of semantic domains that cannot be listed just three things
above.
B. In traditional grammatical domain, Vietnamese conditional sentence is rarely
regarded as a common one. However, in the storm of comparative linguistics, it is more
and more concerned by linguists as well as some scholars for recent years. Among
these linguists, Lê Thị Minh Hằng’s research on Vietnamese conditional sentence is
very fresh and profound. According to her research, she divides Vietnamese
conditionals into 10 kinds of conditional sentence in terms of function of speaking (“Câu
điều kiện trong tiếng Việt(có so sánh với tiếng Nhật)”).
1. Indirect request
Ex: Giá có ai giúp mình một tay thì đỡ biết mấy!
2. Indirect denial or negation
Ex: Nếu phim này hay thì tất cả phim trên thế giới đều là tuyệt tác.
3. Indirect assertion
Ex: Nếu tôi nói sai thì trời đánh thánh vật tôi.
4. Indirect refusal
Ex: A: Chiều nay mình đi xem phim nhé!
B: Nhỡ ba mẹ biết thì chết!
5. Indirect challenge
Ex: Nếu không làm được thì để đó tôi làm cho.
6. Indirect invitation
Ex: Nếu anh đói bụng thì có bánh bích quy trong tủ lạnh đó.
7. Indirect advice
Ex: Nếu tôi là anh, tôi sẽ mua căn nhà đó.
8. Indirect threat
Ex: Nếu mày làm thế nữa tao sẽ đánh chết.
9. Indirect explanation
Ex: A:Tại sao làm ẩu vậy?
B: Nếu không thế thì không kịp giờ.
10. Indirect gratitude or blame
Ex: Nếu không có số tiền này, thật tôi không biết làm sao.
Phải chi anh giúp tôi thì công việc xong lâu rồi.
C. Here are some basic frameworks of Vietnamese conditional sentences edited by
Hoang Trong Phien(237).
Nếu(C-V) thì (C-V)
(C-V) here is a clause
C=subject
V= Verb and modifiers of Verb
Group 1
1.
Nếu…thì…
2.
Nếu…thì thôi…
3.
Nếu như…thì…
4.
Hễ…thì…
5.
Nhờ…thì…
6.
Giá như…thì…
7.
Muốn cho…thì…
8.
Có lần…thì…
9.
Hễ…là…
10.
Nếu…chắc…
Group 2
11.
Nếu (C-V) (C-V)
12.
Hễ (C-V) (C-V)
13.
Giá (C-V) (C-V)
14.
Nếu như (C-V) (C-V)
Group 3
15.
…thế nào…
16.
…trừ phi…
17.
…mà như vậy…
18.
…là…
19.
…nếu…
20.
…thì…
Group 4
21.
(C-V), (C-V)
Group 5
22.
Hễ V thì (C-V)
23.
Nhờ V thì (C-V)
24.
Cần V thì (C-V)
25.
Hễ V là (C-V)
Group 6
26.
Nếu (C-V) thì V
27.
Muốn cho (C-V) thì V
Group 7
28.
Nếu V thì V
29.
Phải V mới V
30.
Nhỡ V thì V
31.
Giá như V thì V
32.
Hễ V thì V
33.
Chỉ có V thì mới V
34.
Không có V thì V
35.
Muốn V thì V
36.
Muốn V phải V
37.
Có phải V cũng phải V
38.
Muốn V (thì không những V mà còn V)
39.
Muốn V, trước hết V
40.
Muốn V phải (vừa V vừa V)
41.
Chỉ có V mới V và mới V
Group 8
42.
V thì (C-V)
Group 9
43.
V thì V
44.
V là V
45.
V thì như vậy là V
Group 10
46.
(C-V) thì V
Group 11
47.
V là (C-V)
48.
V nếu (C-V)
Group 12
49.
(C-V) là V
Group 13
50.
Nếu như vậy thì (C-V)
Group 14
51.
Nếu vậy thì V
Group 15
52.
Nếu (C-V) thì sao?
53.
Nếu (C-V) V
Group 16
54.
Nếu (C-V) thì dù (C-V) (C-V)
55.
Lâu nay (C-V) thì bây giờ (C-V)
56.
Ước chừng (C-V) cũng vậy chớ (C-V)
Group 17
57.
C muốn V phải V
58.
C phải V mới V
59.
C muốn V thì V
60.
C hễ V là V
Group 18
61.
V vó nghĩa là V, V, nếu V
62.
V trước hết V
Group 19
63.
(C-V) hễ V thì V
Group 20
64.
Nếu V, (C-V)
65.
Muốn V, (C-V)
66.
Nhờ V, (C-V)
67.
Chừng nào V, (C-V)
Group 21
68.
(C-V), V
69.
V, (C-V)
Group 22
70.
Có V, C mới V
71.
Chỉ V, C mới V
72.
Muốn V, C phải V
73.
Phải chi V, C cũng V
Group 23
74.
V, C cũng V
Group 24
75.
Hình như (C-V), C đều V
Group 25
76.
C càng V thì càng V
Group 26
77.
V càng phải V thì mới V
Group 27
78.
V là V
Group 28
79.
Muốn V mà (C-V) thì V
Group 29
80.
(V nhưng (C-V)) thì V
Group 30
81.
Nếu (C-V) thì (dẫu V,V)
Group 31
82.
III.
Nếu V,V
Similarities between English and Vietnamese conditional sentences
Due to some suggested domains as to make a comparison between 2 languages
of Le Quang Thiem, I find Vietnamese conditional sentence and English one alike in
some aspects.
1.
Common things in semantic domain of the action in if-clause, e.g. expressing the
universal facts or a prediction…
Ex: If it rains, I will stay at home.
Nếu trời mưa thì tôi sẽ ở nhà.
2. Common things in Pattern of sentence
English pattern of conditional sentence: If-clause, main clause
Vietnamese pattern of conditional sentence: Nếu subordinate clause (thì) main clause
Ex: If it rains, I will stay at home.
Nếu trời mưa thì tôi sẽ ở nhà.
Note: Ellipsis in English and Vietnamese conditional sentence
Ex: Ghết thì ghết, nhưng bà nên đeo kính. Vì nếu không, bà chỉ làm mắt yếu thêm
thôi.
You may hate it, but you should wear glasses. Because if not, you'll only make your
eyes even weaker.
In Vietnamese conditional sentence, if the subjects of two clauses are the same,
we can omit one of the two subjects. The subject of if-clause is often omitted.
Ex: Nếu tôi rỗi thì tôi sẽ đến thăm anh.
→ Nếu rỗi tôi sẽ đến thăm anh.
→ Nếu tôi rỗi sẽ đến thăm anh.
3. Common things in function: In some cases of politeness:
Ex: I will visit your house next week if you like it.
Nếu em muốn tuần sau tôi sẽ ghé thăm nhà em.
IV.
Differences between English and Vietnamese conditional sentences
1. In Vietnamese, conditional sentence isn’t regarded as a specific grammar point. It’s
only one part, which expresses the relation between condition and consequence, from
the complex sentence part.
People rarely use the term “conditional sentence” when speaking Vietnamese.
But everybody who learns English knows conditional sentence in English as a difficult
grammar point. It’s even included in the high school syllabus so we can find how
important it is in English. In my opinion, owing to its complication, conditional sentence
in English is more popular then the one in Vietnamese. It leads to the second
differences between conditional sentence in English and Vietnamese.
2.
As you can see, in Vietnamese conditional sentence, we don’t need to transform
the tense. Tenses in Vietnamese are debating and controversial, so I don’t want to
mention this point now. What I want to show is: in Vietnamese conditional sentence, we
just use adjuncts (nếu, giá như, hễ…) or linking words (thì, là, chắc là…) before the
clauses.
Ex: Nếu bạn cố gắng, bạn sẽ thành công.
In English conditional sentence, we change the tenses from type 1 to other types.
Ex: If you try hard, you will be successful.
If you tried hard, you would be successful. (You are still lazy and don’t try hard)
If you had tried hard, you would have been successful. (You failed because you didn’t
try hard in the past)
V.
Implication in language teaching
When comparing conditional sentence in English with the one in Vietnamese,
you have some basic knowledge as well as experiences which are good for language
teaching. As an English teacher in the future, I find out that the more we emphasize the
change of tenses in English conditional sentence, the more understandable it is. The
reason why Vietnamese students have difficulties in English conditional sentence is that
they aren’t aware of the shift in tenses. They are used to the form of Vietnamese
conditional sentence. So they forget about the tense’s change when transform from this
English conditional sentence’s type to the others’. Therefore, once you form an
awareness of tense shift in your students’ minds, they can work well with English
conditional sentence.
Moreover, when doing exercises on English conditional sentence, students
encounter another obstacle to determine which condition is real or unreal. So the
English teacher’s responsibility is to inform students some tips to specify the real or
unreal conditional. Thence, students can easily apply the form to some specific
circumstances.
Last but not least, knowing the similarities and differences between English and
Vietnamese conditional sentence, we can apply these useful knowledge to translation
from English into Vietnamese and vice versa. Besides, if you are an interpreter with the
knowledge, you will be confident to pursue your career because you are provided the
keen intelligence from it.
Conclusion
In general, I’d appreciate this Contrastive Analysis Course which helps me make
a comparison between two languages: English-Vietnamese and even among three
languages: English-French-Vietnamese. With the in-depth discoveries, I feel confident
to be a teacher in the future. Thanks to this course, I feel that I can understand deeply
the nature of language and how a language is different from others which seemed to be
so vague before.
Although my research paper is not really perfect and objective or sometimes
lacks of information, I hope it can contribute a little bit information as well as some
analysis to the linguistic scholars. At least, it is my first seriously research paper on
Contrastive Analysis I have ever done.
Reference
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