LESSON
GRAMMAR
Present unreal conditional
STUDY
Present Unreal Conditional
If Sam
had
a lot of money,
he
would buy
a cabin in the mountains.
If Miranda
lived
at the beach,
she
would go
swimming every day.
If Sam
were
wealthy,
he
might buy
a boat.
If Miranda
didn’t have to work
, she
would lie
on her deck all day.
●
Use
were
for all subjects in the
if
clause
when the verb is a form of
be
.
●
Don’t use
would
or
might
in the
if
clause.
Grammar Note
PRACTICE
A
Circle the correct verb forms.
1.
If Miranda
had / would have
a lot of money, she
bought / would buy
a beach house.
2.
If she
didn’t have to / wouldn’t have to
work, she
took / would take
a long vacation.
3.
Sam
went /would go
fishing every day if he
had / would have
a boat.
4.
If he
caught / would catch
a fish, he
ate / would eat
it for lunch.
5.
Even if he
had / would have
a lot of money, Sam
traveled / wouldn’t travel
around the world.
6.
If Sam
lived / would live
in the mountains, he
felt / would feel
very relaxed.
B
On a separate piece of paper, use each pair of true statements to write a present unreal
conditional sentence. Use
would
in the result clause.
1.
I have homework. I can’t go to the movies tonight.
If I didn’t have homework, I would go to the movies tonight.
2.
I don’t have a lot of money. I can’t buy a home by the beach.
3.
He has to work tonight. He can’t go to the movies.
4.
She doesn’t have a work permit. She can’t get a job here.
5.
I’m not a bird. I can’t fly.
6.
He doesn’t speak the language. He doesn’t feel comfortable.
7.
I have to take the test. I’m nervous.
PAIRS
Individually, complete the
if
clause in these questions on a separate piece of paper.
Then, in pairs, take turns asking and answering each other’s questions.
Where would you go if . . . ?
How would you feel if . . . ?
What would you do tomorrow if . . . ?
What would you say if . . . ?
Who would you call if . . . ?
If
Clause
Result Clause
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
5
UNIT 10
137
