Running head: Conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese
Conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese
A contrastive analysis
Nguyễn Phan Quỳnh Thơ
Ho Chi Minh City University of Pedagogy
English Department
Instructor: Dr. Nguyễn Ngọc Vũ
December 31, 2011
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Conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese
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Abstract
When I tutored my high school cousin in English conditional sentences, she often
complained about the difficulty in remembering the types, the forms as well the usage of
them in a wide variety of exercises. “In Vietnamese, it is such a piece of cake to express
conditional sentences!” she assertively claimed. Purely speaking, are there Vietnamese
conditional sentences? If yes, what are the similarities and differences between them in
these two languages – English and Vietnamese? Is it true that dealing with conditional
sentences in Vietnamese is that easy as my cousin believed? Is pointing out the above
concerns of any help to improve the way to teach English conditional sentences to not
only my cousin but other students? I have tried to bring on these questions and ideas in
this very first essay on Contrastive Analysis with the hope to bring to light some
interesting and useful knowledge by myself. Therefore, the main aim of this paper is to
examine conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese in a contrastive angle. Then,
I will discuss and suggest some of the implications related to teaching English
conditional sentences to Vietnamese learners.
Conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese
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Conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese
Conditional sentences in English
According to Quirk and Greenbaum (1973), conditional sentences express the
dependence of one set of circumstances (i.e., the result clause) on another (i.e., the "if"
clause). Conditional sentences in English can be divided in many ways. It can be
classified into open, hypothetical and negative conditions or two classes of
factual/predictive and counterfactual/ hypothetical. To most of Vietnamese learners, the
following tables may be the most familiar ones listing basic types and mixed types of
English conditional sentences. The tables were synthesized by Trung, N.T. (2011)
Four basic types of
English conditional
sentences
TYPE
IF CLAUSE
MAIN CLAUSE
Simple Present
Simple Future
Am, is, are//Verb
Will be/ verb bare
1- Ability in present, future
Conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese
Example
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If we don’t hurry, we’ll miss the train.
Simple Past
2- Unreal in present, future
Was, were//V2/ed
Example
Would + be/V bare
If I had lots of money, I would travel round the world.
Past Perfect
3- Unreal in past
Had+ V3/ed
Example
0/4- Reason result
relationship, series…
Would + have + Pp
If you had taken a taxi, you would have got here in time.
Simple Present
Simple Present
Am, is, are//Verb
Am, is, are//Verb
Conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese
Example
If you heat iron, it expands.
Mixed types of English
conditional sentences
TYPE
1-2
EXAMPLE
If human being’s ancestor is monkey (based on the Darwin’s theory of
evolution), everyone could move from trees to trees easily.
1-3
If you know London so well, you shouldn’t have got lost.
If I were the President of China, China will become the most powerful
2-1
country.
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Conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese
2-3
If I were the God, human being would not have been created.
3-1
If you had not missed the plane, you will meet her tomorrow.
3-2
If we had not met each other, there would not be sorrowful.
Conditional sentences in Vietnamese
Grammatically speaking, the so – called conditional sentences in Vietnamese is
complex sentences (câu ghép). Complex sentence in Vietnamese contains at least two
clauses C – V, in which no clause C – V is included in the other clause C – V. (Hoan,
H.T., p.69) The clause C – V usually has this pattern: Subject + Verb + Complement or
Object. We will then take into consideration one kind of complex sentence, which is the
one with hypotactic relations. (Câu ghép chính phụ) These relations can be causal,
purpose, conditional, concessive, comparative etc. We often use connectives (từ nối TN) (one word or phrases) to indicate logical relations between clauses.
(TN) C – V (TN) C – V
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Conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese
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C – V (TN) C- V
(Hoan, H.T., p.69)
Hence, the following sentence “Nếu rừng cây cứ bị chặt phá xơ xác thì mặt đất
sẽ ngày càng thưa vắng bóng chim.” is undoubtedly considered to be a conditional
sentence in Vietnamese. The pair of conjunctions “Nếu…thì” as used in the sentence
seems to be used more often than other conjunctions or pairs of conjunctions.
Below is a table of conditional sentence structures in Vietnamese which was
worked out by Hà, N.K. (2009). He categorized them into 14 groups.
Đặc điểm nhóm
Tên nhóm
(1) Dù A (thì) vẫn B.
Kiểu kết cấu trong nhóm
- Cho dù A (thì)
cũng/vẫn/cũng vẫn B.
- Dẫu cho A (thì)
cũng/vẫn/cũng vẫn B.
- Dẫu A (thì)
Conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese
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cũng/vẫn/cũng vẫn B.
- Dù A (thì) cũng/vẫn/cũng
vẫn B.
1. Nhóm kết cấu có liên từ/
(2) Giá A thì B.
- Giá A (thì) B.
- Giá gì A (thì) B.
cặp liên từ.
- Giá mà A (thì) B.
- Giá như A (thì) B.
- Giá phỏng A (thì) B.
(3) Giả sử A thì B.
- Giả dụ A (thì) B.
- Giả như A (thì) B.
- Giả sử A (thì) B.
- Giả thiết A (thì) B.
- Giả tỉ A (thì) B.
- Hoặc giả A (thì) B.
- Ví phỏng A (thì) B.
- Ví thử A (thì) B.
(4) Hễ A thì/ là B.
- Cứ A thì/ là B.
- Hễ A thì/ là B.
- Hễ cứ A thì/ là B.
Conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese
(5) Một khi A thì B.
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- Một khi A (thì) B.
- Phàm A (thì) B.
- Đã A thì/ là B.
(6) Nhỡ A thì B.
- Lỡ A (thì) B.
- Ngộ nhỡ A (thì) B.
- Nhỡ A (thì) B.
- Rủi A (thì) B .
(7) Nếu A thì B
- Nếu A thì B.
- Nếu mà A thì B.
- Nếu như A thì B.
- Nếu A, B.
- B nếu A.
(8) Nhược bằng A thì B.
- Nhược bằng A (thì) B.
(9) B, miễn là A.
- B, miễn A.
- B, miễn là A.
- B, miễm sao A.
- B, với điều kiện là A.
(10) B, trừ phi A.
- B, trừ khi A.
Conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese
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- B, trừ phi A.
(11) [A] bằng không/ kẻo
- [A] kẻo B.
B.
- [A], bằng không B.
(12) Có A mới B.
- Có A mới B.
2. Nhóm kết cấu có cặp từ
hô ứng
- Phải A mới B.
(13) A bao nhiêu B bấy
- A bao nhiêu B bấy nhiêu
nhiêu.
(14) A (thì) B.
- A thì B.
3. Nhóm kết cấu không có
- A, B.
cặp từ liên từ/ cặp từ hô
- A mà … thì B.
ứng
Bảng tổng hợp các kiểu câu thuộc phạm trù câu điều kiện
Hà, N. K. (2009, p.65)
For example:
(1) Dù cậu có nói sao thì tớ vẫn thích cô ấy.
(2) Giá như anh nói trước từ đầu, tôi đã không phải đợi lâu như vậy.
(3) Giả tỉ chú ấy đồng ý làm việc thì bác nói sao?
Conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese
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(4) Hễ trời mưa thì chị cả lại buồn.
(5) Phàm là người thì ai lại làm chuyện ác nhân như vậy?
(6) Nhỡ mà bạn đến muộn thì gọi ngay cho mình nhé.
(7) Nếu mẹ biết, mẹ sẽ la anh em tụi mình đó.
(8) Nhược bằng ngươi nói ra, ta sẽ tha cho.
(9) Tôi sẽ đi mua hoa miễn là cô thấy thích.
(10)
Em ấy sẽ không đến đâu, trừ phi mấy cô bạn thân cũng đến.
(11)
Con mang theo dù kẻo trời mưa.
(12)
Có thực mới vực được đạo.
(13)
Chị lấy bao nhiêu thì em lấy bấy nhiêu.
(14)
Tôi mà làm sai thì tôi xin nhận lỗi.
A contrastive analysis of conditional sentences
in English and Vietnamese
Similarities between English and Vietnamese conditional sentences
Clearly, conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese have things in
common. Firstly, they are mainly and purely used to convey the condition –
consequence relation. Secondly, a conditional sentence contains two clauses: the
condition or protasis, and the consequence or apodosis. Thirdly, in a conditional
sentence, subordinating conjunctions play an important role conveying and introducing
Conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese
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the two clauses. Anh, V.T. (2002) presented a table of some basic subordinating
conjunctions that can be seen in conditional sentences of both languages.
Liên từ chính phụ chỉ điều kiện
Liên từ chính phụ chỉ điều kiện trong
trong tiếng Anh
tiếng Việt
If
Unless
Nếu .........
thì
Giả sử .........
thì
Hễ ...............
thì
Giá mà ........
thì
Trừ phi .........
Providing that/ provided that
Miễn là
As long as/ so long as
Miễn là.........
Only if/ if....
Giá như
On the condition that
only
thì
Với điều kiện là
thì
Conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese
In the event that
Assuming that
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Trong trường hợp là
Cứ cho là
Given that
Supposed that/ supposing that
Giả sử là
Giả định (rằng)
When
Khi mà
Fourthly, ellipsis can be used in some cases of both English and Vietnamese
conditional sentences.
For example:
If possible, meet me at 7 p.m. tonight.
Nếu được, gọi điện báo trước cho mình nhé.
Last but not least, through using conditional sentences, we can convey a variety of
meanings and ideas in communicational contexts of a daily life. In other words,
Conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese
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conditional sentences can be said to be of great importance for their pragmatic
functions. Anh, V.T.(2010) discussed that some pragmatic functions of conditional
sentences concerning illocutionary act in English and Vietnamese include threatening,
advising, warning, criticizing, offering, requesting, regretting, and softening. Due to the
limited scope, I will only present the similarities in the following pragmatic functions:
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Threatening: In order to drop a hint at threatening but in a polite and tactful
way possible, the speaker/ writer uses conditional sentences.
For example:
(1) He’ll raise hell if you can’t submit the documents of the company on time.
(2) Tôi sẽ không để các người yên nếu các người làm trái lời tôi.
-
Advising: The main clause in conditional sentences is in the imperative form
or has the structure with modal verb “should” ( S + should/ should not + V). Likewise, in
Vietnamese, we can use “hãy” at the beginning of the main clause or “nên”, “phải” in
the main clause.
For example:
(3) You should stop buying comic books if you want to save money.
(4) Stop buying comic books if you want to save money.
(5) Nếu anh muốn khỏe mạnh, anh nên tập thể dục.
(6) Nếu anh muốn khỏe mạnh, hãy tập thể dục.
-
Warning: Using imperative form in the main clause in both English and
Vietnamese conditional sentences, we can also convey the notion of warning.
Conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese
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For example:
(7) If you take my advice, don’t ever go near that area.
(8) Hễ mà qua thằng Út chơi, đừng có mà lại gần con chó mực nhà nó nghe.
-
Requesting: Conditional sentences are also exploited so as to make the
requests seem to be more polite and formal.
(9) If you don’t mind, please help me lift this table.
(10) Nếu cậu ra ngoài, mua giùm mình tờ báo với nhé.
-
Regretting: To express regret for something, in English conditional
sentences, we may use the structure starting with “If only”: If only + S + past/ past
perfect. In Vietnamese, we may start the sentence with the subordinating conjunction
“Giá mà” to deliver the same message.
For example:
(11) If only I had known you were there.
(12) Giá mà tôi nghe lời mẹ thì bây giờ tôi không phải gặp rắc rối như vậy.
Differences between English and Vietnamese conditional sentences
However, we can also figure out noticeable differences between conditional
sentences in English and Vietnamese on grounds of forms and pragmatic functions.
Structural properties
The most marked difference to be noticed is that Vietnamese conditional
sentences are not categorized into types according to the notion of time and action like
Conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese
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the English conditional sentences. Therefore, whereas verbs in an English conditional
sentence must be strictly conjugated based on a correct tense form (past, present or
future etc.), verbs in Vietnamese conditional sentences are not conjugated thanks to the
fact that Vietnamese has a number of tense markers and time expressions or context
that can make the tense quite clear. Moreover, the inversion of subject and verb in the If
– clause does not happen on Vietnamese. In English conditional sentences, to put more
emphasis on the If – clause, inversion is used with the omission of “If”. It usually occurs
in conditional sentences type 2 and 3.
For example:
Were I a billionaire, I would buy an airplane to travel around the world.
Had I seen you, I would have said hello.
Pragmatically functional properties
-
Requesting: In Vietnamese, we can also use the structure starting with the
conjunction “Giá” as an implied request, purposefully expecting a response from the
hearer.
For example:
Giá mà có ai mang cho mình một cốc nước mát!
-
Asserting, assuring: By using a Vietnamese conditional sentence as a vow or
a curse, we can make an illocutionary act of asserting or assuring.
For example:
Bà mà nói dối thì trời đánh bà!
Conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese
-
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Softening: In English, the subordinating clause in conditional sentences can
be “If I may say so”, “If I am not mistaken”, “If you don’t mind me/ my saying so” etc. to
soften the sentence and therefore, enhance the courteous manner of the speaker. In
Vietnamese, such equivalent utterances seem to be uncommon.
For example:
You are Mr. Allen, representative of MCM Company, if I am not mistaken.
Conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese
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Pedagogical implications
The making mention of similarities and differences between English and
Vietnamese conditional sentences in this essay serves as a foundation for some
pedagogical implications. The following suggestions were provided to teachers to deal
with instructing and familiarize Vietnamese leaners with English conditional sentences.
Firstly, at the very beginning of the course, the teacher should make a clear
distinction between English and Vietnamese conditional sentences, especially in term of
structural properties for the students. The students, as a result, can understand the
great importance of memorizing and applying various verb forms, tenses and clauses
skillfully to make a perfect English conditional sentence in certain situations.
Secondly, the explanations and demonstration each type of conditional sentence
should be made carefully and logically without any unnecessary rush so that the
students’ approach to the lessons can accordingly be more natural and smooth. The
teacher may use practical and relevant examples which are regarded as
comprehensible and interesting enough by the students. Thus, based on the students’
level of competence, the vocabulary used in each example should be suitable and not
too complex. It can be seen as a great success when students can remember those
examples.
Thirdly, as implied above, the steps of teaching are strongly advised not to be
built too fast or too confusingly right from the start. Therefore, as long as the students
can get hold of the first fundamental types of conditional sentences, the teacher can
Conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese
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continue with the mixed types without causing much confusion or misunderstanding for
students’ knowledge.
Fourthly, so as not to make exercises on conditional sentences boring and
repetitious, the kinds of exercises then should be chosen selectively by the teacher. It is
more and more highly encouraged to use and compile exercises which enhance
cooperation and interaction among students. Various exercises should be employed
wisely and instructed strategically aiming at the curiosity and enthusiasm for studying of
the students
Lastly, with regard to translation of conditional sentences from English to
Vietnamese and vice versa, it consists of certainly a lot of other issues to be further
discussed. However, from one perspective, the teacher can also ignite the realization as
well as creativity from the students who have the ability in translating languages.
Although there remain considerable differences in several aspects, we can find out the
best ways possible to translate conditional sentences between the two languages.
Hence, the vocabulary of the students can be enhanced to some extent.
Conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese
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References
Anh, V. T. (2002). Different Ways to Express Condition and Concession in English and
Vietnamese.
Anh, V. T. (2010). Chức năng ngữ dụng của câu điều kiện trong tiếng Anh và tiếng Việt
Pragmatic functions of conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese . TẠP
CHÍ KHOA HỌC VÀ CÔNG NGHỆ.
Dụng, T. N. (2010). Cẩm nang ngữ pháp tiếng Việt Vietnamese grammar handbook.
Tinh hoa Việt Nam .
Hà, N. K. (2009). Câu điều kiện tiếng Việt nhìn từ góc độ ngôn ngữ học . Hà Nội: NXB
KHXN HN.
Hằng, L. T. (2009, May 22). Viet Nam Hoc. Retrieved 12 31, 2011, from Multiply:
http://vietnamhoc.multiply.com/journal/item/14?&show_interstitial=1&u=%2Fjourn
al%2Fitem
Hoan, H. T. (1997). Để giỏi văn tiếng Việt thực hành. Hồ Chí Minh: NXB Thành phố Hồ
Chí Minh.
Ngo, B. N. (n.d.). The Vietnamese language learning framework.
Quirk, R. a. (1973). A Concise Grammar of Contemporary English. New York: Harcourt
Brace Jovanovich.
Conditional sentences in English and Vietnamese
Trung, N. T. (2011). Câu Điều Kiện Anh Ngữ Và Việc Giảng Dạy Câu Điều Kiện cho
sinh viên không chuyên.
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