Present or Unspecified Time

Imaginative conditional sentences express conditions that the

speaker or writer thinks of as unlikely, untrue, or contrary to fact.

They may be wishes and dreams, or they may express advice to others.

The following conditional sentences refer to the moment of

speaking or to habitual activities, depending on the context.

If I had more money, I might travel.

If I spentless money, I could savemore.

If I wererich, I wouldvisit every country.

If I were you, I wouldtry to save more money.

A modal auxiliary is used in

the main clause. The subjunctive

is used in the if clause.

In most cases, this form is

the same as the simple past

tense. For the verb be, however,

were is used for all persons

in formal English.

Answer the following questions in your own words.

1. Where would you be if you weren't here (in this class, city, etc.)?

What might you be doing?

2. If you had the chance to go anywhere you wanted, where might

you go? Where would you go if you could return to some place

for another visit?

3. If you could travel differently, how would you go?

4. If you were able to go back in time, which year or era would

you choose? Why would you choose that time?

5. If you had the opportunity to talk with a special person again,

who would it be? Why?

6. If you were able to do a part of your life over, what would you

do differently?

Exercise 23:

Add to the following statements by making a sentence with if.

Example:I wish I had more free time. If. . . .

I wish I had more free time. If I had more free time, I

Could (would) travel more.

1. I wish I were at home. I f . . . .

2. I wish I were younger. I f . . . .

3. I wish I were older. I f . . . .

4. I wish I spoke English better. I f . . . .

5. I wish there were only one language. I f . . . .

6. I wish our teachers didn't give so much homework. I f . . . .

7. I wish I had more time each day. I f . . . .

8. I wish the world were smaller. I f . .

Exercise 24:

Are you talkative, shy, impatient, patient? Are you a good listener?

Do you have a good memory? What are some characteristics or traits that you wish you had?

Complete the following in your own words.

Example:If I weren't so . . . , I. . . .

If I weren't so careless, I would do better on tests.

1. If I weren't so . . . , I . . . .

2. If I didn't.. ., I . . . .

3. If I were more . . . , I . . . .

4. If I were less . . . , I . . . .

5. If I . . . more, I . . . .

6. If I . . . less, I . . . .

Exercise 25:

In pairs or in small groups, take turns explaining a

problem or situation and giving advice on how to deal with it.

2. If you had the chance to go anywhere you wanted, where might

you go? Where would you go if you could return to some place

for another visit?

3. If you could travel differently, how would you go?

4. If you were able to go back in time, which year or era would

you choose? Why would you choose that time?

5. If you had the opportunity to talk with a special person again,

who would it be? Why?

6. If you were able to do a part of your life over, what would you

do differently?

Exercise 26:

In pairs or in small groups, take turns explaining a

problem or situation and giving advice on how to deal with it.

Example:I get frequent headaches, and sometimes I can't see

clearly.

If I were you, I would go to an eye doctor.

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 952