Unit 3Unit 3

Understanding each otherUnderstanding each other

Grammar and usage

Unreal conditionals state a condition or situation that is not real or is imaginary.

Unreal conditionals

We use unreal conditionals to state a present condition or situation that is not real or is imaginary.

E.g.1) If I got married in UK, I would expect a present.

2) I could reach the book if I were a bit taller.

3) If I had the chance, I might want to be a translator.

We form unreal present conditionals like this:

If… was/were/did … , …would/could/might do …

1. 假如我有更多的时间，我就会学习德语。 If I had more time ， I would study German.

2. 要是我象你一样年轻 , 我就会找时间锻炼 .

If I were/was young as you, I would find time to exercise.

Practice:

1) Would, could and might are often interchangeable, but with some difference in meaning.

would → intention; plancould → ability; possibilitymight → probability

2) In written English or in formal situation, we usually use were in If-clauses in place of was. However, in everyday conversation, was is often used.

TIP

We also use unreal conditionals to refer to an imaginary past action.

E.g. 1) If you had joined the chat room ten minutes ago, you would have known what we were talking about.

2) If the man had pointed with his first finger while he was in Brunei, everyone would have thought that he was very rude.

We form unreal past conditionals like this:

If … had been/done…, …would/could/might have done…

1) 如果他抓紧时间，他本来能赶上那趟火车。

If he had hurried, he could have caught the train.

2) 如果你昨天告诉他，他也许会提些建议了。

If you had told him yesterday, he might have made some suggestions.

We use unreal future conditionals to talk about imaginary future situations.

1) If I had time tomorrow, I would certainly help you.

2) If I were to fail my Maths test, I would have to take it again at the end of the term.

3) If he should come tomorrow, I would talk to him about it.

E.g.

We form unreal future conditionals like this:

If…was/were/did/should/were to…, …would/should/might do…

Practice: 1) 假如我要出国，我就会去法国。

If I were to go abroad, I would go to France.

2) 万一明天下雨，我们的郊游就推迟。 If it should rain tomorrow, our picnic would be put off.

We can also put should, were and had at the beginning of an unreal conditional sentence. In this case, if is not needed any more.

E.g. 1)If you should make a mistake, you should not be embarrassed.

→Should you make a mistake, you should not be embarrassed.

2 ) If you had told me earlier, I would not have this problem now.

→Had you told me earlier, I would not have this problem now.

3) If you were to take the train, you would be there much sooner.

→Were you to take the train, you would be there much sooner.

We can also use could + the present perfect with the if-clause for unrealconditionals.

E.g. If I could have told you about

cultural difference Between Italy and the UK, I would have.

More practice Fill in the blanks with the verbs given in the brackets in their proper forms.

1.You didn’t let me drive. If we _________ (drive) in turn, you ________________(not get) so tired.

2.________it __________(not be) for your help,

I couldn’t have made any progress.

had driven

wouldn’t have got

Had not been

3. ——Has Mr Smith recovered now?

——Yes. Who__________________(think)

that such a serious illness could be cured?

4.______________it _____________(rain)

tomorrow, the match would be called off.

would have thought

Were / Should to rain / rain

5.Most of the students felt rather

disappointed at the English party.

They said that it ______________

(organize) better.

6.Jean doesn’t want to work right away

because she thinks that if ____________(get) a job, she probably wouldn’t be able to see

her friends very often.

could/might have been organized

were to get/should get/got

7.Much labour would have been saved if electronic computer _______________

(invent) before.

8. ——Well done, Jack ！

——Thanks. But given more time,

I __________________________(do) it better.

had been invented

cold/would/might have done

Choose the right answer:

1.Everything if Albert hadn’t called the fire brigade.

A. will be destroyed

B. will have been destroyed

C. would be destroyed

D. would have been destroyed

2. The business is risky. But _______ , we would be rich.

A. should we succeed

B. we should succeed

C. might we succeed

D. would we succeed

3. What would have happened, ________, as far as the river bank?

A. Bob had walked farther

B. if Bob should walk farther

C. had Bob walked farther

D. if Bob walked farther

4. I _____ you some money, but I hadn’t any on me then.

A. would lend B. would have lent C. could lend D. may have lent

5. ______ today, he would get there by Friday.

A. Was he leaving B. If he leaves C. Were he to leave D. If he is leaving

6. Supposing this ship ,do you think there would be enough life jackets for all the passengers?

A.were to sink B. has sunk C. was sinking D. sunk

7. I don’t think he’ll attend the party, and ______ he attend it, what would he wear?

A. were B. had C. did D. should

8.——My boss often made me work day and night. —— If I _____ you, I ______ the job.

A. am, will give up

B. had been, would have given up

C. were, would give up

D. had been, would give up

9. ——You can ask your brother for help.

—— He isn’t at home. If he ____, I ___.

A. were, would B. is, would C. is, will D. were, will

10. —— Are you thinking about going to Dalian for the vacation?

—— No, but if I _____ time, I ————— very glad to go there.

A. have, will be B. had had, would have been C. had, would be D. had had, would be

11. ——Sally finally got here from Chicago.

—— If she_____ earlier, we _____ her to the party then.

A. came, would take

B. had come, would have taken

C. comes, will take D. had come, would take

12. If you _______ George, would you

please tell him to ring me?

A.saw B. were to see C. had seen D. see

Magic Lantern

Magic Brush

Magic Stick Time Machine

Discussion:What would you do if you had a…?

Homework

Finish Parts C1 and C2on Page 118 in Workbook.