Conditionals
Complete the sentence: "If I had studied harder last year, … (present result)"
… I would be in a better position now. (or similar – past condition → present result – mixed conditional)
Find and correct the error in this sentence from a draft paper: "The team suggested to repeat the experiment with a larger sample size."
"The team suggested repeating the experiment…" (suggest + gerund)
Complete this sentence from an abstract:
___ p‑value is ___ probability that ___ observed result occurred by ___ chance.
A p‑value is the probability that an observed result occurred by chance.
Add a dash (—) to emphasize the most important finding. Then explain why you chose that placement.
After months of failed experiments, the team finally made a breakthrough a completely new catalyst.
After months of failed experiments, the team finally made a breakthrough — a completely new catalyst. (The dash emphasizes the breakthrough itself, creating a dramatic pause before revealing the discovery.)
Complete this sentence: "If I weren't afraid of public speaking, … (present at the conference yesterday)"
… I would have presented at the conference yesterday. (mixed conditional: present condition → past result)
Complete both sentences and explain how the meaning changes:
1. I remember … (lock) the lab before leaving.
2. Please remember … (turn off) the microscope.
1. "locking" (past memory – I recall doing it)
2. "to turn off" (future obligation – don't forget to do it)
Task: Read the sentences and decide if they need an article (a / an / the / Ø). Then explain the meaning difference.
1) ___ researchers have a very privileged position because they are paid to do what they like doing.
2) Meanwhile, ___ researchers at Manchester University are studying ways to improve English as a language of international business communication.
3) ___ researchers who started the project have now all left the team.
1) Ø researchers (general statement)
2) Ø researchers (institution – specific but without “the” – Manchester University is a name)
3) The researchers (restrictive clause – 2who started the project" identifies them)
Add the missing comma where needed. If no comma is needed, write "correct".
1) If the null hypothesis is rejected the alternative hypothesis is accepted.
2) The enzyme will denature if the temperature exceeds 40°C.
1) If the null hypothesis is rejected, the alternative hypothesis is accepted. (comma after the introductory conditional clause)
2) The enzyme will denature if the temperature exceeds 40°C. (no comma needed when the conditional clause comes second)
Your partner gives you this situation: "You wake up and discover you can time travel." Respond with a conditional sentence.
"If I could time travel, I would visit ancient Rome." (or any logical answer – 2nd conditional)
Complete each sentence with the correct form (gerund or infinitive). Then explain why the meaning differs.
1) The researcher regrets … (not publish) the negative results sooner. Now another lab has made the same mistake.
2) We regret … (inform) you that your grant application was unsuccessful.
1) "not publishing" (regret + gerund = regret about a past action – the researcher wishes they had done something differently)
2) "to inform" (regret + infinitive = giving bad news – formal announcement)
Article or no article? (Diseases and conditions)
Which sentence is correct? Why?
A: She was diagnosed with the diabetes.
B: She was diagnosed with diabetes.
B is correct. Diseases and medical conditions generally take no article (except for specific types: the flu).
Add all necessary punctuation to this results paragraph:
The drug reduced tumour size by 40% however the effect was only observed in younger patients therefore further studies are needed.
The drug reduced tumour size by 40%; however, the effect was only observed in younger patients. Therefore, further studies are needed.
Your lab partner gives you this situation: "You discover a major error in a paper you already published. No one else has noticed." Respond with a conditional sentence about what you would do.
"If I discovered an error, I would contact the journal to issue a correction." (2nd conditional – any logical answer)
Task: Complete each sentence with the correct form (gerund or infinitive). Then explain the meaning difference and create your own sentence.
1) After establishing the basic methodology, the team went on … (test) the hypothesis in a larger population.
2) The researcher went on … (talk) about the limitations of the study for another ten minutes, even after the session ended.
1) "to test" (go on + infinitive = finish one action and start another – the next step)
2) "talking" (go on + gerund = continue doing the same action)
Explain the rule (instruments and inventions):
Read these sentences to your partner. Explain why the article changes.
1. The microscope was invented in the 16th century.
2. A microscope is an essential tool in biology labs.
“The” is used when referring to the instrument as a class or invention. “A” is used when referring to any example of the instrument.
Add the comma where needed:
The samples were labelled stored in a refrigerator and analysed within 24 hours.
The samples were labelled, stored in a refrigerator, and analysed within 24 hours. (Oxford comma before "and")
PS The Oxford comma is the comma before "and" or "or" in a list of three or more items.
Create a conditional chain about vaccine development:
Work with your partner and make three conditional sentences that logically follow from each other about vaccine research. Make sure to use different conditional sentences.
St. A: If scientists identify a new virus early… (Conditional 1)
St. B: Start with the second clause of St. A`s sentence. (Conditional 3)
Example:
St A: If scientists identify a new virus early, they can begin vaccine development immediately.
St. B.: If they begin development immediately, clinical trials will start sooner.
St. A: If clinical trials had started sooner when the pandemic broke out, the vaccine would have saved more lives.
You have 60 seconds to write ONE sentence for each science‑related verb using the correct form (gerund or infinitive):
consider, prove, avoid, aim, deny
1) The researchers considered changing their methodology. (gerund)
2) The experiment proved to be successful. (infinitive)
3) We avoided using contaminated samples. (gerund)
4) The study aims to identify risk factors. (infinitive)
5) The author denied falsifying the data. (gerund)
Instructions: Each sentence has ONE article error. Correct it.
1) The researchers at Stanford University discovered a new gene.
2) The patient was treated with an ibuprofen.
3) Water in this sample is contaminated.
1) Ø Researchers at Stanford University discovered a new gene. (Ø is common for general statement)
2) The patient was treated with Ø ibuprofen. (no article before uncountable medication names)
3) The water in this sample is contaminated. (the noun is followed by a restrictive phrase (“in this sample”)
Task: Add commas where needed for non‑restrictive clauses. If the clause is restrictive (no commas), write "correct".
1) Patients who completed the full course of treatment showed better outcomes.
2) "The new drug which was developed by a small biotech firm received fast‑track approval.
1) Patients who completed the full course of treatment showed better outcomes. (restrictive clause – identifies which patients; no commas)
2) The new drug, which was developed by a small biotech firm, received fast‑track approval. (non‑restrictive clause – extra information about the drug; commas needed)