Intermediate English
Lesson 16 - The Future
Grammar
On This Page
- Learn the conditional form in English
- Do a "Find the Mistake" review activity.
The Conditional
In the conditional tense we imagine what would happen under certain imaginary conditions.
If I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world.
(I don't have a lot of money, but I am imagining what I would do if I had a lot.)
In conditional sentences, we put the verb in the past tense form in the part of the sentence that begins with the word if (even though the verb doesn't refer to the past). If the verb is negative, we use the auxiliary verb didn't just as we do with verbs in the past tense. In the second part of the sentence (the part without the word if) we use the auxiliary verb would. If the sentence is negative, we use would not or the contraction wouldn't.
If I had a lot of money, I would travel around the world.
If I had a lot of money, I wouldn't work.
We can put the part of the sentence that begins with the word if first or second. If we put it first, however, we have to put a comma after this part of the sentence.
If I had a lot of money, I wouldn't work.
I wouldn't work if I had a lot of money.
NOTE #1:
The verb to be is a little different in conditional sentences. This is an aspect of grammar that is changing. Grammar books used to say that we had to always use were in conditional sentences, even in the first and third person singular (I, he, she, it).
If I were rich, I would travel around the world.
It used to be considered bad grammar to say was in conditional sentences like the one above. This is changing and now, even in grammar books, they list both alternatives (was and were).
If I was rich, I would travel around the world.
If I were rich, I would travel around the world.
NOTE #2:
Don't forget that could is the past of the auxiliary verb can. We can use could in conditional sentences to indicate an imaginary situation.
If I could fly like a bird, I would sell my car.
We also can use could instead of would in conditional sentences when talking about ability.
If I had wings, I could fly like a bird.
Practice
Write conditional sentences using the information provided.
examples
If/win the lottery/no work
travel to Hawaii/if/have a private airplane
More Practice
What would you do in these situations? Finish the sentences with the conditional. There are no correct or incorrect answers.
example
If I were rich,
If I had a million dollars,
If I were the president of my country,
If I were young again,
If I were invisible,
If I could speak English perfectly,
Making Speculations
We can use could, might, and may to make speculations.
Who is that woman?
She could be a famous singer.
She might be a movie star.
She may be a fashion designer.
To change them to the negative, we add not. We can, alternatively, use the contraction with could (couldn't), but not with might nor may.
She couldn't be the president.
She might not be from this country.
She may not be from this planet.
Instructions
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