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Grammar and usage Unit 3 Unreal conditionals

Unit 3

Find out the sentences of unreal conditional mentioned in Reading. If you had joined the chat room ten minutes ago, you would have known what we were talking about. If I got married in the UK, I would expect a present. If I got married in Italy, I would have to give a present. Should you come to Brunei, you would have to take off your shoes before going into someones house.

1.state a present condition or situation E.g. If I were you, I would ask my parents for help. If I had the chance, I might want to be a translator.

unreal present conditionals: If… were/did …, …would do … 1. If I had more time I would study Chinese. 2., If she were not so busy, she would attend the meeting this afternoon. Practice:

Tips : 1) Would, could and might are often interchangeable, but with some difference in meaning. would intention; plan could ability; possibility might probability 2) In written English or in formal situation, we usually use were in If-clauses in place of was. However, in everyday conversation, was is often used.

What would you do if you won the lottery? If I won the lottery, I would …

2.refer to an imaginary past action. E.g. If the man had pointed with his first finger while he was in Brunei, everyone would have thought that he was very rude. If the man had pointed with his first finger while he was in Brunei, everyone would have thought that he was very rude.

unreal past conditionals : If … had been/done…, …would/could/might have done… 1) If he had hurried, he could have caught the train. 2) If you had told him yesterday, he might have made some suggestions.

3.unreal future conditionals. 1) If I had time tomorrow, I would certainly help you. 2) If I were to fail my English test, I would have to take it again at the end of the term. 3) If he should come tomorrow, I would talk to him about it. E.g.

3. unreal future conditionals : If … were/did/should/were to …, … would/should/might do … E.g. 1) If I were to go abroad, I would go to China. 2) If it should rain tomorrow, our sports meeting would be put off.

(present) (past) (future) (did/were) (be were) (did)/(were) should + do were to do (had +done) would / could / might / should + do would / could / might / should +have done would / could / might / should + do

We can also put should, were and had at the beginning of an unreal conditional sentence. In this case, if is not needed any more. 1)If you should make a mistake, you should not be embarrassed. Should you make a mistake, you should not be embarrassed.

2 ) If you had told me earlier, I would not have this problem now. Had you told me earlier, I would not have this problem now. 3) If you were to take the train, you would be there much sooner. Were you to take the train, you would be there much sooner.

:,. : Were it not for the expense, I would go abroad now. : Werent it for … : Were it not for the expense, I would go abroad now. : Werent it for … ____ she ____ yesterday, she would meet the famous singer today. A. Hadnt; left B. Had; not left C. If; didnt leave D. Didnt; leave TIPS B. Had; not left

Practice Fill in the blanks with the verbs given in the brackets in their proper forms. 1.You didnt let me drive. If we (drive) in turn, you (not get) so tired. 2._______it ________(not be) for your help, I couldnt have made any progress. 3.Has Mr. Smith recovered now? Yes. Who (think) that such a serious illness could be cured? 4._______it __________(rain) tomorrow, the match would be called off. had driven wouldnt have got Hadnot been would have thought Wereto rain

5.Most of the students felt rather disappointed at the English party. They said that it ______________ (organize) better. 6.Jean doesnt want to work right away because she thinks that if ____________________ (get) a job, she probably wouldnt be able to see her friends very often. 7. Much labour would have been saved if electronic computer _____________ (invent) before Well done, Jack -----Thanks. But given more time, I_______________________ (do) it better. might have been organized were to get/should get/got had been invented could/might/would have done

More exercise: Everything if Albert hadnt called the fire brigade.Everything if Albert hadnt called the fire brigade. A. will be destroyed A. will be destroyed B. will have been destroyed B. will have been destroyed C. would be destroyed C. would be destroyed D. would have been destroyed D. would have been destroyed D. would have been destroyed

2. The business is risky. But 2. The business is risky. But ______, we would be rich. ______, we would be rich. A. should we succeed A. should we succeed B. we should succeed B. we should succeed C. might we succeed C. might we succeed D. would we succeed D. would we succeed A. should we succeed

3. What would have happened, ________, as far as the river bank? ________, as far as the river bank? A. Bob had walked farther A. Bob had walked farther B. if Bob should walk farther B. if Bob should walk farther C. had Bob walked farther C. had Bob walked farther D. if Bob walked farther C. had Bob walked farther