English 3 Unit 8 What if? Learning Objectives By the end of this lesson you will be able to: Talk about imaginary situations or events in the present and the future. Use the second conditional to communicate about unreal situations. To express their wishes. 1
Introduction If I were less afraid, I would take the risk and I would travel around the world. I wish I were more free to do what I want, but well, I am not. I have a lot of work and also I have to study. My life hasn t been easy, you know. My dad died a long time ago and my mom has worked all her life to support me and my sisters. I wish I had enough money so my mother wouldn t have to work. If I won the lottery, I would take my mom in a long trip. I wish I could do so many things. In this unit you will learn about wishes and imaginary situations and events. All of us, at some point of our life, dreamt that our life could change because we have some desires but the reality is that we cannot accomplish those things. Any kind of problems come into our way, job, school, money, family, society, etc. In this case you will use the grammatical structure wish and second conditional to express your desires. This topic is not difficult at all, but you need to learn the spelling rules. I wish I had money. 2
Expressing wishes Wish is used to express what people would like to have or do. Form to use wish in affirmative sentences: Subject wish subject verb in past complement I wish I had a car, I am tired of taking the bus. Danny wishes she could pay all her debts. We wish we could go out at night, but we have to work. Expressing wishes Form to use wish with the verb be. Subject wish subject verb be (were) complement She wishes she were dreaming, but he is dead. My parents wish I were a good student. I wish I were more positive. We wish we were in Cancun. I wish you were here with me 3
Expressing wishes Wish with the verb be in negative sentences: I wish I weren t so scared My son wishes he weren t sick. The soldiers wish they weren t in danger all the time. I wish I weren t having so many nightmares. Learning notes: Sometimes while speaking you might hear the people using I wish I was, this is more frequent but considered by some people incorrect. In formal writing you should use I wish I were and also while speaking formally. And remember were is used for all the pronouns. 4
Second conditional The second conditional sentences are used to express a situation that is unreal or hypothetical. Affirmative form: If + subject + verb in past tense, subject + would + verb in base form + complement. If I were a pilot, I would travel around the world. I would buy a house if I had money. If my dad had a better job, he would be happier. Second conditional Negative form: If + subject + did not + verb in base form, subject + would + verb in base form + complement. If I didn t work, I would travel all the time. We would be less stress if he weren t my boss, If + subject + verb in past tense, subject + would not + verb in base form + complement. If you were friendly, you wouldn t be alone all the time 5
Second conditional Yes No questions: If + subject + did not + verb in base form, would +subject + verb in base form + complement? If he worked harder, would you give him the promotion? Would you come to Mexico if I paid your airplane ticket? If you were single, would you go out with me? Would you come with me if I asked you to? Second conditional Information questions: If + subject + did not + verb in base form, wh+ would +subject + verb in base form + complement? If I gave you a 1,000,000 dollars, what would you buy? I would buy a house, a car and clothes. Where would you go if you won the lottery? I would visit Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong.. 6
Closing If I saved more money, I wouldn t have these troubles. Now, I might lose my house because I didn t manage my money properly. The business is not doing well, I wish I listened to my wife before, she told me not to open the restaurant, but I didn t want to listen. If I didn t spend all my savings before, I would be able to figure out a solution. I wish this wasn t so complicated. All I wanted to do was to enjoy and give my family a nice life. Is it a lot to ask? You learned to express your wishes and desires in this unit. As you learned you use wish and the second conditional to refer to situations you would like to happen, but that, in this moment are not possible. As human beings, we are really susceptible to wish and think of everything that we do not have, we dream a lot. This topic will help you to express about everything you wish, was happening in your life. Just remember the spelling rules to form these statements, because it is important you structure the statements properly so you can communicate clearly while talking or speaking. 7
Bibliography McCarthy, Michael. Et al. (2008) Touchstone Full Contact 3.Cambridge University Press. Murphy, R., et al. (2009): Grammar in Use Intermediate Student's Book with answers. Cambridge University Press. Heacock, P. (2008): Cambridge Dictionary of American English. Cambridge University Press. Credits Content design: Lic. Adriana Bernardino Mosqueda Academic Coordinator: Lic. Jessica Patricia Garza Macías Content edition: Lic. Ann Elisabeth Mancillas Hinojosa, MAD Production and content editing: Tecnología Educativa Universidad Virtual, ITESM 8