Resumen del condicional

Por si fuera de utilidad, os mando mis reglas sobre el condicional. click AQUÍ

23 February 2012 - Classwork & Homework

Good morning!

In yesterday's class Gloria explained the Conditional Sentences.  After that we were correcting 3B exercise on page 135. Here are the answers:

1. If I had waited another minute, I would have seen you
2. If you had not left the door open, the cat would not have got out
3. If I spoke French fluently, I would apply for the job
4. If he had been wearing mountain boots, he wouldn't have fallen
5. If I knew the answer I would / could tell you.
6. If he wasn't / weren't so obstinate, I wouldn't argue with him all the time
7. If she had shouted, people would have realized

We received Megumi and another american student's visit, and they asked us to make a composition like a film story using some words they gave us.  After they had left we continued going through page 41 point 4 Vocabulary strong or absolute adjectives.  And then I left the class.  If someone would like to add what you did till the class ended, it would be grate.

I found this information below about Conditional sentences: grammar and examples, it looks useful.  I hope it will help us.  Have a very nice weekend.

Paula

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

Grammar rules with examples

There are four basic types of conditional sentences in the English language. 

Examples: 

The zero conditional: I take my umbrella if it rains.

The first conditional: I'll call you if I work late.                                 

The second conditional: If the bus didn't arrive on time, I would drive you to the airport.          

The third conditional: She wouldn't have come if I hadn't invited her. 

► The zero conditional

The zero conditional describes situations that are always true. If has the same meaning as when or whenever.

If I go to school, I get up at seven. (Whenever I go to school I get up at the same time.)

If you park your car on double yellow lines, you pay a fine. (Whenever you park illegally, you pay a fine.)

We use the present simple tense in both the main clauses and the if clauses.

► The first conditional

The first conditional sentences are used to speculate about possible situations that can really happen at present or in future.

We do not use will in an if clause to describe future activities (compare it to time clauses).

If he studies hard, he'll pass the exams. If we catch the 10.15 train, we will arrive on time. If you don't get the ticket, what will you do?

We make if clauses with if + present tense and main clauses with will + bare infinitive.

► The second conditional

In the second conditional sentences we speculate about situations that will probably never happen at present or in future.

If I had more time, I would help you. (But I am not free at the moment. I can't help you).

If I won a million dollars, I would start a business of my own. (But I know that it is not realistic.)

We make if clauses with if + past tense and main clauses with would + bare infinitive.

Note: the verb to be can be specific in the if clause.

If I were rich, I wouldn't work. If he were younger, he would marry her.

(But was is also possible: If I was rich, I wouldn't work. If he was younger, he would marry her.)

But: If I were you, I wouldn't do it. (In this expression, were is much more usual than was.)

Compare the first conditional with the second

The main difference between the first conditional and the second conditional is about probability: the first conditional is realistic, the second conditional is unrealistic.

Sometimes we can use both with the following difference in meaning.

If I see him, I will tell him. (I suppose I will see him, because we go to the same school.)

If I saw him, I would tell him. (I don't think I will see him, because he is ill.)

If I need your help, I'll call you. (It is probable that I will need your help.)

If I needed your help, I'd call you. (It is not very probable that I will need your help.)

Sometimes we must use either the first conditional or the second conditional to make it clear that the situation is real or unreal.

If you get up late, you will miss your bus. (a real situation)

If I came from your country, I would understand your problems. (an unreal situation - I am not from your country.)

Other forms

Apart from the basic structures (if + the present simple + will and if + the past simple + would), we can also make different combinations.

Examples - type 1: 

If you have finished your dinner, you can ask for the bill.

If you are feeling tired, take a rest.        

If he is a good skier, he might make it. 

If you want to be slim, you should eat less.        

If you meet her, could you let me know?

Examples - type 2:

If I knew his address, I might go and see him.   

If we were on holiday, we would be lying on a beach now.            

Why are we watching this film? If we were watching the news, it would be more interesting.

► The third conditional

The third conditional sentences always refer to the past. We speculate about situations that happened or did not happen in the past.

If I had won a million, I would have started a business of my own. (But I didn't win anything.)

If he had met her, he would have told her. (Unfortunately, he didn't meet her.)

If we hadn't practised, we wouldn't have won the match. (But we practised and won.) 

We make if clauses with if + past perfect and main clauses with would + perfect infinitive (have + past participle).

But we can also combine other verb structures in third conditional sentences.

We didn't save any money. If we had saved some money, we might have bought the house.         

She wasn't there and I wasn't sitting next to her. But if she had been there, I would have been sitting next to her.                                                                                  

I was looking at the trees when I fell off the bike. If I hadn't been looking at the trees, I wouldn' t have fallen off the bike.

The mixed conditionals

In the mixed conditional sentences we can combine the second and third conditional.

If he had left immediately, he would be here now. (He didn't leave immediately and isn't here.)

If I had studied hard when I was young, I wouldn't be a porter now. (I didn't study and I am a porter.)

If we hadn't told him the way while he was preparing for his journey, he would get lost now. (We told him and he isn't lost.)

The inverted conditionals

We can also make conditional sentences by changing the word order in the if clause.

Had he booked the hotel room, he wouln't have slept at the camp. (If he had booked ... )

Were I in your position, I would accept it. (If I were ... )

This is less common, quite formal and is mostly used in writing.

Note

If is the most frequent expression in the if clauses, but other expressions are also possible:

even if, provided (that), unless, on condition (that), in case                                                        

Examples: 

You will leave tonight even if you don't want to.   

You can have your birthday party provided that you aren't noisy.  

We'll sell you the ranch on condition you pay in cash.

You should take a dictionary with you in case you forgot some words.

Unless you do something, she won't come back. (If you don't do anything, ... )

16 February 2012 HOMEWORK

I will try, as far as I would be able to go to class every day, to upload on this Blog every day's classwork and homework.  To let people that couldn't come to class, be informed, even me if someone wants to do instead of me when I could not go to class.

Gloria told us to prepare a "for and against" composition that is at the end of page 34.  She advised us to complete the lesson's 2 Revise & Check on page 35 but we didn't correct  it.  After that we went through page 40 "I will survive" reading and answering the questions.  We made the listening (page 41), and when I left the class they were doing the Grammar point 3 about third conditional.  I asked her about homework for these long weekend and she told me to do the vocabulary strong adjectives.

In the middle of the class we had the delightful and amazing Megumi's attendance and she has invited us to talk about Carnival festival and the sandine and its burial about how Spanish people dress up in customs, the traditions in different cities and so on.

As I usually have to go before the class ends I will appreciate if someone can add any more information here so that everyone will be able to be aware of what is going on day by day.

I think it is a good idea because most of us sometimes have to work, are busy, get sick... whatever..

I am sorry if my English is not very good, but I am trying to improve my writing skills..

Have a very nice weekend!

Paula

Describing a person

Click AQUÍ

Cars and Driving

Algunas preguntas sobre coches. Click AQUÍ

Nueva página de la EOI

¿Sabíais que la EOI ha cambiado su página de formato?
Me enteré al hacer el enlace de Páginas Recomendadas. Esperemos que sea útil.

Homework 2

Hi Everyboday

This is Paula, how are things? I suggested some weeks ago to include information on the blog about the working class and homework that Gloria usually asked for.

Do you think is that a good idea?

I didn't attend today's class because my little girl has got the flu and she needs to stay in bed 2 or 3 days. What did you do in class today?

Thank you very much for your help!

If she gets better see you on Thursday

Bye now