CONDITIONALS

1
CONDITIONALS

• UNREAL CONDITION
• TALKING ABOUT OUR DREAMS AND FANTASIES
• (PRESENT OR FUTURE)

2
If people were clever, And all clever people
were good, The world would be nicer than ever

William Wordsworth
Read and translate
3
Look at the pictures. Read and translate the
sentences. Pay attention to the words in bold.
If I were a film star, I would be popular all
over the world.

• If I were a famous football player, I would earn
  a lot of money.

Compare Its a pity I am not an actress. I wish
I were a film star.
Compare Its a pity I cant play football well.
I wish I were a famous football player.
4
Read and translate the sentence. Pay attention
to the words in bold.
If I could go to the mountains, I would have a
wonderful time there. Compare Its a pity I
dont have time to travel. I wish I could go to
the mountains.
5
Study the table. Pay attention to the form of
the verb in the if-clause and in the main
clause. Remember how to express a fantasy or how
to speak about an imaginary situation.
Imaginary Situation. Contrary-to-fact in the
Present / Future
The True Situation. Facts.

• 1. If I had a camera, I would take pictures of
  the sights I visit when I travel.
• 2. If I didnt have to take a bus to school, I
  wouldnt get up so early.
• 3. If we were good chess players we would be the
  winners in this tournament.

• 1. I dont have a camera. I wish I had one.
• 2. I have to take a bus to school. I wish I
  didnt have to.
• 3. We are not good chess players. We wish we
  were.

6
Study and remember

• When we talk about an imaginary situation
  which is contrary-to-fact in the present or in
  the future, we use the past verb form in the
  if-clause (had, knew, were, could) and the form
  would Infinitive in the main clause.

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Main clause
If - clause
I would go swimming. we would go hiking. she
would help us. I wouldnt do it.
If it were not raining, If the weather were
nice, If Mary were here, If I were you,
In an if-clause were is used for all persons.
8
Read the proverb. What Russian equivalent could
you give?
If my aunt were a man, she would be my uncle.
(English proverb)
9
Use suitable tense forms to complete the
sentences.
1. If she (not complain) so much, she ..
(be) easier to get along with. 2. If he
(be) here, he (tell) us what
to do. 3. Life ....(be) happier if people
. (not quarrel or fight). 4. Jack .. (be)
a better student if he .. (not miss) classes so
often. 5. If you . (take up) photography,
you (find) it a pleasure. 6. If I ..
(have) an authority, I .... (organize)
more youth clubs in the city. 7. They .
(admire) the music if they .. (join) us and
(see) the performance. 8. If you (ask)
me, I (tell) you how to solve this
problem. 9. If he . (be) more
hard-working, he . (show) better
results in his studies. 10. I . (see)
the screen well if there . (not be) so
many people there.
didnt complain
would be
were
would tell
would be
didnt quarrel or fight
would be
didnt miss
took up
would find
had
would organize
would admire
joined
saw
asked
would tell
were
would show
would see
werent