Page 66 - Time_To_Talk_-_Pre-Intermediate

Language Focus

We use the second conditional to talk about unlikely, imagined situations in the present or future.

if + past simple // would + base form of the verb

unlikely situation action or result
If I won a million pounds, I’d quit my job.
If I could be an animal, I’d be a tiger.
If he quit his job, he wouldn’t have money.

We often use were instead of was in the if- part of the sentence.

unlikely situation action or result
If I were you, I wouldn’t complain.
If she weren’t married, I’d ask her for a date.

We can put the would- part of the sentence fi rst.
If we do this, we don’t use a comma between the two parts.
I’d quit my job if I won a million pounds.
I’d ask her for a date if she weren’t married.

Questions and answers
What would you do if you won a million pounds?
I’d buy a big house.

If you could live in another country, where would you live?
Maybe I’d live in Brazil.

Would you be happy if you were rich?
Yes, I would. / No, I wouldn’t.

Practice

5 Work with a partner. Use would and the correct form of the verbs in parentheses to complete the sentences.
Use short forms when you can.
a If I owned a car, I·d drive everywhere. (drive, own)

b I tired if I more sleep. (not/be, get)

c If I a wallet on the street, I it to the police. (find, take)

d If this building air conditioning, we so hot. (not/be, have)
e I in France if I speak French. (can, live)

f What you if you

your job? (do, lose)

g What you if I you
to marry me? (ask, say)

Lesson 16esson 16
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