Unreal conditionals

SO…What would YOU do if you won the lottery!?

Maxine would buy a new house for herself and her parents if she won the lottery.If Paul won the lottery, he’d 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 makemake 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 However, the meaningmeaning is NOT past. is NOT past.

Ex. If I moved to a big city, I’d sell my car.

The meaning here is NOT past tense . . .I didn’t move away and I didn’t sell my car.

I’m imagining a future possibility.

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, I’m

sure you ________________ (feel) healthier and

happier.

4. Celia ______________ (do)

better in school if she

_____________ (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?• there were an earthquake in

California?• you saw a famous person on the

street?Share Your Responses with the class . . .

For additional practice . . .

Go to the following website address. Write down the web address for more practice.

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/2cond.htm

The Use of Unreal Conditionals: Past

Used to talk about:

Past unreal or imagined situations

+

The unreal results

Unreal result:

he wouldn’t have had an accident.

(He did have an accident)

FormIf Clause: Past Perfect

Result Clause: Would have + Past Participle

If he had driven carefully,

he wouldn’t have had an accident.

If she had seen the movie,

she would have laughed hard.

If it had snowed, we would have gone skiing

If Clause: Past Perfect

Result Clause: Would have + Past Participle

If he had driven carefully,

he wouldn’t have had an accident.

If she had seen the movie,

she would have laughed hard.

If it had snowed, we would have gone skiing

Make a sentence about this photo:

If someone (check) the wheels, they (fall off) .

Make a sentence about this photo:

Complete the sentences• 1) If you ______(not/be) late, we ______(not/miss)

the bus.• 2) If she______ (study) she______ (pass) the exam.• 3) If we______ (arrive) earlier, we______ (see) John.• 4) If they______ (go) to bed early, they______

(not/wake) up late. • 5) If he______ (become) a musician, he______

(record) a CD.• 6) If she______ (go) to art school, she______

(become) a painter.• 7) If I ______ (be) born in a different country, I

______ (learn) to speak a different language. • 9) If we ______ (not/go) to the party, we ______

(not/meet) them.

Second or third conditional?

• We sometimes mix second and third conditionals if a hypothetical situation in the past has a present/future consequence.

• Example: He wouldn´t be so relaxed if he hadn´t

finished his exams.

Warm up – 2nd conditional

If Clause: Past Perfect

Result Clause: Would have + Past Participle

If he had driven carefully,

he wuldn’t have had an accident.

If she had seen the movie,

she would have laughed hard.

If it had snowed, we would have gone skiing