9.1 Conditional patterns

Stop & checkThese sentences all contain a common error. Correct the partof each sentence that is incorrect.1 If I'd saved my money last year, I am able to afford it.2 If I could play better, I win more matches.3 If I left my house earlier yesterday, I would have got there on time.4 If I'd seen him there, I had said hello to him.5 If I'll see Iack at college tomorrow I'11 ask him what his plans are.

6 If I'd been thinking more carefully, I didnt make that mistake.

Use Example

ff+ present simple clause, + will lgoing fo clausethe first conditional for real possibilities

= 1f + possibility in the future + result in the future- lf + possibility in the present + result in the future

if + past simple clause, + would clausethe second conditional for unreal situattons= iF+ Something untrue in the present + impossibleresult in the present or future

= lf + something unlikely in the future + unlikelyresult in the futurewere can be used instead of was

6+ past perfect clause, + would have done clausethe third conditionalfor past possibilities= lf + something that didn't happen in the past +result that didn't happen in the past

Use if + past perfect clause, + would clause. a mixed conditional. = if + something that didn't happen in the past +

result that isn't true in the present

lf I have enough money next year, l'll buy a house.lf you leave now, you won't be late.

lf I knew the answer, l'd ll would tell you. (= | don'tknow the answer so I can't tell you)

lf ! won the lottery, t'd give up work. (= I probablywon't win the lottery so I won't give up work)

lf I were rich, l'd buy you a new car.

lf they'd invited me, I would have gone to the party.(= they didn't invite me so I didn't go to the party)

lf you hadn't stayed out late last night, you wouldn'tbe tÌred now. (= you did stay out late last night soyou are tired now)

) note. all of the above patterns can be used with continuous tenses:lf I find something better to do, I won't be working here this time next year.

lf you're getting bored, I'll change the subiect.lf the weather was better I'd be feeling happier.tf I was earning more money, t'd be abte to have a holiday this summer.

lf I wasn't working tomorrow, I'd go out tonight.lf you'd been concentrating, you wouldn't have made that mistake.

lf you'd been working as hard as me, you'd be feeling tired now.

154 UNIT 9

Use might I may in conditional patternsto talk about a result or consequence that is notcertain, only a possibilityUse mightlmay + infinitive without foto talk about a result or consequence in the presentor future (first conditional)Use mightlmay have + past participleto talk about a result or consequence in the past(third conditional)

Use could in conditional patternsto talk about a result or consequence that ts anopportunity or an abilityUse could + infinitive without foto talk about a result or consequence in the presentor future (first conditional)Use could have + past participle

. to talk about a result or consequence in the past(third conditional)

use should + infinitive without fowhen the result or consequence is a suggestion orpiece of advice; use the appropriate form of shouldwhen the result or consequence is something that thespeaker believes to be a logical explanation; use theappropriate form of should

lf I have enough money next year; I night lmay buya house.

tf you hadn't helped me, t might I may not havesucceeded.

lf I won the lattery, I could give up work.

lf you hadn't helped me, I couldn't have done it"

Use shou/d in conditional patterns. when the result is something that will probably happen If you leave now, yau shouldn't be late.

lf yau wanted fo keep fhrs secref, you shouldn't havetold George.

lf their plane toak aff on time, it should havearrived by now.

I Rewrite these sentences to form first, second, third or mixed conditionals.

You're unfit because you don't do enough exercise.

lf you .........

I got angry because he was rude to me.

lf he...........

I might go to live in Australia but l'll have to find a job fìrst.

tf t..............

You only know about this because I told you.

tf t..............

I didn't tell her about it because she didn't ask me.

lf she .........

You don't know this programme because you don't watch television a lot.

lf you .........

We're not sitting outside because it's raining.

tf it .............

We're friends agaìn because he apologized to me.

lf he...........

You didn't hear what I said because you weren't listening.

lf you .........

I'm feeling ill because I ate too much.

tf t..............

10

uNlT 9 155

E ffre following are quotations from interviews in which famous people talk about their lives. Rewritethem using first, second, third or mixed conditionals.

1 'l might stop being famous but it won't worry me.'

tf t..............

'l'm having a wonderful time because l'm doing a lot of interesting things.,

lf I .................a................

'l'm rich and famous because the public like me.'

lf the public

'l became extremely famous because I was lucky.'

rf t..............

'People go to see my films because they're entertaining.'

lf my films

'l only got to the top because I have a lot of talent.'

tf t..............'l don't know why my music is so populaq so I can't explain it.'

tf r..............

'l might win an award and then l'll be very pleased.'

tf t..............

'l'm successful today because I was determined to succeed when I was younge['

tf t..............

10 l'm not living an ordinary life because l'm working in show business.

tft

@ Rewrite these sentences using the words in brackets.

lf l'd known all the facts, it's possible that I wouldn't have made that decision. (may)

lf l'd known all the facts ........... ..... that decision.

If you gave me a hand, it would be possible for me to do this much more quickly. (could)

lf you gave me a hand, much more quickly.

If you need any advice in the future, it's possible that l'll be able to give you some. (might)

lf you need any advice in the future give you sorelf l'd applied earlier; it's possible that I would have got the job. (might)

lf l'd applied earlier; the job.

Concentrate and you probably won't find this too difficult. (shouldn't)

lf ................ this too difficutt.

I have so much to do that I can't relax. (could)

He got a green card and that's why he was able to work in the US. (couldn't)

tf ................ in the US.

They sent it last week. I expected it to be here by now. (should)

lf they sent it last week, by now.

156 UNIT I

§*eaxs

Match the sentences 1-4 from the article with the conditionals a-d. Complete thedescriptions of the form.

1 lf applicants demonstrate effectively how they perform in the real world, they'llthrive in our kind of environment.

2 lf candidates only applied with a CV and a cover letter, we wouldn't get a fullpicture.

e that, if wed only had application forms.

a Zero Conditional: som

y for a job, you probably submit your application

ething that is generally true.

if + Present Simple +

b 1st Conditional: futu

if + Present Simple +

c 2nd Conditional: imaginary current situations or future situations that arepossible but unlikely.

if + Past Simple +

d 3rd Conditional: an unreal situation in the past with an imaginary result.

if+ Past Perfect +

Find more examples of conditional sentences in the article.

Q For more details and practice, go to the Review sectlon on pages 74 and75.

§ Choose the correct verb forms to complete the sentences.

1 If I have to take part in a simulation,I wouldn't I won't do well.

2 \f you placed the job advert online, yoa will I would get more applicants.

3 If we had used I used an agency, we could have saved a lot of time.

4 If people don't I didn't prepare for an interview they generally don t performvery well.

3 We couldn't have don

4 Nowadays, if you applelectronically.

PRACTICE

Watch the vrdeo forrnore practice.

5

6

7

8

9

10

re situations or events that are likely.

If I get that job with Loréal , it will I would be amazing.

We would have learnt more about the candidates, if we had done I dida simulation.If Ihear I heard from the agency,I'11let you know.

Would you work for SCB if they offer I ofered you the job?

I could apply for jobs while I'm travellin g, rf I had I have a smartphone.

lob seekers have a better chance ofgetting noticed ifthey use I used a socialnetwork site.

$ +, +È"Ì Listen to a profile of Ry Morgan, a young entrepreneur. Make notes onthese areas.

1 University of St Andrews2 PleaseCycle

3 internship4 video

3 @,t6.3 Listen to the interview with Ry and answerthe questions.

1 What did Ry think of the application process?

2 How would Ry recruit people himself?

3 What advice does he give

undergraduates?

ffii-ì alr ltr *r:r"r-:nrar Unit 6 67

Complete the sentences from the interview.

1 If theyd given me a fixed task to perform, I so lucky.2 If theyd made me fill in an application form in the normal way,

I here nowl3 IfI so ambitious, I wouldnt have taken part in so many

extra-curricular activities at universitv.

4 If someone onlv their CV or an IQ test score, I wouldnt

to visit North America.be able to evaluate their potential.

5 lf I could work abroad, I

Finish these sentences.

1 If I was interviewing someone for my post, . . .

2 If someone famous joined my company, ...3 Universit)r undergraduates would have a better chance of getting a good job

if they ...4 If another company offered me a job with a 20o/obigger salary, ...5 If the internet became a pay-per-use service, ...6 Companies would find the best kind of people, if they ...7 I{I hadn t learnt English, . . .

8 If I could phone anyone in the world, ...

Work in pairs or small groups. Make and ask each other questions using thesentences in *'.

Work in pairs. Look at the table and discuss the possible changes both past andfuture in your careers.

Examples If I hadnt gone to university, I wouldnt have got such a good job.I'11 work from home, if I ever go freelance.

t'i

move companres

do a training course

TASK '::l Read the instructions and then work in pairs.

A You are an experienced executive who is much in demand. Two companieshave offered you a job. Go to page 128 and decide your strategy. Try tonegotiate the best deal.

B You are the HR Manager of a multinational company. You want to employ Abut there is a limit to what you can offer. Read your conditions on page 133

and trv to seal the deal.

n€

§,à-." --:-. ,! ii,, I " i :

Wrlf4§_39"{f;#iV ,,r.,i',i *.,:": -ì .r. .,r-",ì:"t .-j

§ Work in pairs or small groups and discuss these questions.1 What motivates people to work abroad?2 Have you ever considered working abroad? Give reasons.

3 r' +.J Listen to two people talking about their reasons for moving abroadand make notes below

§ Match 1-10 with a-j to make noun phrases from the listening.

earnrng

2 career

3 education

4 economrc

5 first-hand

6 tax

7 quality

8 exciting

9 personal

10 cost

a benefits

b challenge

c climate

d development

e potential

f expeflence

g of living

h move

of life

) system

Complete the sentences with the noun phrases from §.1 Ed was in his mid-3Os and wanted an . Working in

Cambodia offered exactlv that.2 r'm not very conlìdent, so doing a course on presentations skills would be

good for my _.3 The is fantastic in Vancouver - great climate, good jobs,

excellent schools ...4 In the current , everyone has to be careful about how they

spend their money.5 For expats, job packages in the Middle East can incrude attractive

6 Most people find that spending two or three years working abroad is a great

home.. Th"y almost always get a better job when they return

7 The only drawback about taking the job in Malaysia is the. It s very different from the system here and our d.aughter

needs to take her exams this vear.8

9

10

Travelling on your own is the best way of gettingcountry.

our salaries were pretty low so we decided to work somewhere we had better

We worry about thehere.

. Things are so much more expensive

ofa

§*r.. r n Yta:i,r,j; i.,nt: -< 69

z

what do you think is the most effective way of looking for a job abroad?Choose from the list below.

networking - friends, colleagues recruitment consultanttransfer within your company headhunter online search

Work in pairs. Compare your ideas from tr.

Read the extract from a Human Resources magazine and answer the questions.1 What are the most successful ways of finding work abroad?2 Which is the least successful way?

3 How would these results be different in your country?

A recent survey asked those already working abroad about how they had securedtheir position overseas. Many workers initially search online, or ask friends. some(15%) are directly headhunted by an employer. Workers are also equally likely tomove abroad through postings within their own company (15%). However, themost popular and successful means of finding a suitable job (36%) ìs increasinglythrough use of a recruitment consultancy. Press advertising is losing popularitywith only 4% of those working abroad flnding jobs through newspapers orspecialist magazines, compared to 16% with online advertisrng.

It is obvious that aspiring international professionals are likely, first of all, toask around, and do some general internet research; l4Tofindwork throughfriends or colleagues. However, clearly, if they're serious about taking up theopportunities that await them overseas. they need to get serious about what

they're doing to make it happen, and take a structured and formalized approach.

1 Euphoria2 Culture shock3 Adjustment4 Mastery

* Living and working in a different country can be quite a challenge.Match the stages below with their definition.

Individuals begin to {ìnd cultural differencesfrustrating or disorienting.At this point, individuals begin to accept, or evenadopt the new culture.The 'honeymoon period: the visitor is excited andcharmed by the new culture.This is a stage of acknowledging the differences ofboth cultures.

a: t.;; Listen to Adam and Zein talking about their moves abroad.Make short notes for each stage of their life abroad.1

2

J

4

1t§ Read the collocations. which stage in * do you think each one belongs to?1 accept the (local) customs2 adapt to the new situation3 deal with problems4 develop strategies (for coping)5 look forward to learning new things6 pose a challenge7 try one's patience8 welcome the opportunity (to meet new people)

: 1 Have you lived abroad (for work or family reasons)? work in pairs. compare anyexperiences, giving examples.

.rtr