Hello students! Congratulations on completing Years 1 and 2 of American English. Now that you are better prepared and that your American English is stronger, during years 3, 4, and 5 of your American English studies with Maestro Sersea, you will receive a different English grammar lesson each week.
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Lesson 3.44.3: Year 3
Everyday Grammar.
” Present Unreal Conditional”
The present unreal conditional is used to talk about what would you do in an unreal or imaginary situation, if A happened, B would happen. It is formed by using the past tense in the if clause and would+verb in the main clause, for example…If I were you, I would take the job. The key word is would. It makes the conditional unreal, would can be only used in the result clause of the sentence, for example…
If I were rich, I would by a luxury apartment.
If I were you, I would consult the doctor.
If I were a fruit, I would be an apple.
Dear teacher,
Present Unreal Conditional
Lesson 3.44.3: Year 3
Everyday Grammar.
* FORM
[If … simple past …, … would + verb …]
[… would + verb … if … simple past …]
The present unreal conditional (also called conditional 2) is used to talk about what you would generally do in imaginary situations.
Examples:
1- If I owned a car, I would drive to work. But I don’t own a car.
2- She would travel around the world if she had more money. But she doesn’t have much money.
3- I would read more if I didn’t watch so much TV.
4- Mary would move to Japan if she spoke Japanese.
5- If they worked harder, they would earn more money.
A: What would you do if you won the lottery?
In the present unreal conditional, the form “was” is not considered grammatically correct. In written English or in testing situations, you should always use “were.” However, in everyday conversation, “was” is often used.
1- If he were French, he would live in Paris.
2- If she were rich, she would buy a yacht.
3- I would play basketball if I were taller.
4- I would buy that computer if it were cheaper.
5- I would buy that computer if it was cheap.
*** When using be in an if clause for an unreal conditional sentence, always conjugate it as were, no matter what the subject is. Even if the subject is first-person singular (I) or third-person singular (he, she, or it), still use were with an if clause in unreal conditional sentences.
1- If I were a rich man, I’d buy a big, tall house with rooms by the dozen.
2- He would have more friends if he were nicer.
Thank you.