The document discusses using unreal conditional sentences in English to talk about imagined or hypothetical situations. It provides examples of conditional sentences using "if" and the past tense form of the verb in the "if" clause, and "would" followed by the base form of the verb in the main clause. It notes that while the grammar uses past tense forms, the meaning is about future or hypothetical possibilities rather than past events. It also discusses how "were" should be used instead of "was" in conditional sentences involving "I", "he", "she" and other subjects.
The document discusses using unreal conditional sentences in English to talk about imagined or hypothetical situations. It provides examples of conditional sentences using "if" and the past tense form of the verb in the "if" clause, and "would" followed by the base form of the verb in the main clause. It notes that while the grammar uses past tense forms, the meaning is about future or hypothetical possibilities rather than past events. It also discusses how "were" should be used instead of "was" in conditional sentences involving "I", "he", "she" and other subjects.
The document discusses using unreal conditional sentences in English to talk about imagined or hypothetical situations. It provides examples of conditional sentences using "if" and the past tense form of the verb in the "if" clause, and "would" followed by the base form of the verb in the main clause. It notes that while the grammar uses past tense forms, the meaning is about future or hypothetical possibilities rather than past events. It also discusses how "were" should be used instead of "was" in conditional sentences involving "I", "he", "she" and other subjects.
won the lottery!? Maxine would buy a new house for herself and her parents if she won the lottery. If Paul won the lottery, hed take a trip around the world. John and his wife would buy a piano if they became rich.
We use unreal conditionals in
English to talk about:
A situation that is not real, but that we imagine . . .
If I had a million dollars . . . I would
If I lived in Italy . . . I would . . . If I got a job as a chef . . . I would . . . Are these real situations? Do I really have a million dollars? Do I really live in Italy? Do I really work as a chef?
How do we make this type of conditional
grammar? Look at these examples: 1. If my friend asked me for money, I would lend it to her. 2. Tomas would be happier if he got a less stressful job. 3. Speaking in English would be easier if you practiced more frequently. After the IF, use ______________________ tense. In the other clause, use __________________.
Form & Meaning:
When you imagine a future happening like this, you use a past tense form after IF;
However, the meaning is NOT past.
Ex. If I moved to a big city, Id sell my car. The meaning here is NOT past tense . . . I didnt move away and I didnt sell my car. Im imagining a
future possibility.
If + Subject + V2 + ...... , Subject + Would + Verb 1
+ ..... If I had time machine, I would go back to the past Subject + Would + V1 +..... + If + S + Verb 2 + ........ I would go back to the past if I had time machine If + Subject + Were + Object Pronoun + Subject + Would + Verb 1 .... If I were justin bieber I would give you free ticket for my concert
Notice that you can start these
sentences with the If-clause or with the Would-clause:
If Marta moved abroad, she would
learn another language.
Marta would learn another language if
she moved abroad.
Try these examples:
1. If we ____________ (have) more time and money, we ________________ (take) a vacation to Hawaii.
2. The world ______________
(be) a better place if everyone ______________ (help) others.
More Practice . . .
3. If you ____________ (get) more exercise,
Im sure you ________________ (feel) healthier and happier.
4. Jack ______________ (do) better
in school if he _____________ (sleep) more each night.
Important Note! Formal grammar requires that when making these kinds of conditional sentences, we use
WERE for the past tense of be for
all
subjects (including I, he, she).
Ex. -If I were you, I would buy that house.
-She would buy a mansion if she were wealthy.
You will probably hear many native
speakers of English use WAS in these cases, and this is often accepted in spoken, less formal situations.
What would YOU do if . . .
you became rich?
you found a wallet on the street? your house caught on fire? your best friend moved far away? your child failed a test? you could be invisible for a day? you met a famous person on the street? you saw a ghost?