Unreal Conditionals

(Rick Shur, page 1 of 2)

The unreal in English is used to talk about things in your imagination, but which are
not true The unreal is often used with if and wish
!resent "nreal #onditional
The present unreal talks about the present time, life today, right now, but imagining (or
wishing) something that is untrue
$n a wish sentence, or in an if%clause, you use the past tense to show that the &erb is
unreal about the present
The main clause (often called the 'result( clause) uses would)
$f $ had a lot of money, $ would buy a house
(The truth is that you don*t ha&e a lot of money)
$f $ knew +apanese, $ would work in Tokyo
(The truth is that you don*t know +apanese)
$ wish $ had a better ,ob $f $ had a good ,ob, $ would be much happier
(The truth is that you don*t ha&e a good ,ob)
$ wish $ knew how to type $f $ knew how to type, $ would be able to get a better ,ob
(The truth is that you don*t know how to type)
The &erb to be is always were in the unreal, no matter who the sub,ect is)
-e wishes he were the mayor $f he were mayor, he would solve the homeless problem
(The truth is that he is not the mayor)
$f $ were taller, $ would play basketball $ wish $ were si. feet tall
(The truth is that you are not tall)
E.ercise
1 She doesn*t speak English, so she doesn*t understand you
$f she //////////// English, she ////////////////////// you
2 -e can*t dri&e, so he won*t buy a car
$f he /////////////////////////, he ///////////////////// a car
0 -e isn*t rich, so he won*t buy a beach house
$f he ///////////////////// rich, he /////////////////// a beach house
1 -e eats too much, so he*s fat
$f he //////////////////////// too much, he /////////////////// fat
23ote) 4ou need to use didnt in this sentence5
!ast "nreal #onditional
(Rick Shur, page 2 of 2)
6 wished or imagined idea about a past event is called the past unreal
The &erb in the wish clause or if%clause is put in the past perfect (had 7 past participle)
to show the past unreal
The main clause (the 'result( clause) will use would have 7 past participle
8hen $ was a child, $ hated school (This is the truth, what really happened 4ou hated
school)
$f $ had liked school better, $ would have studied and 2$ would have5 learned more $ wish
$ had been a better student as a boy $ wish $ had had better teachers, too $ wish my
parents had forced me to do my homework
(The truth is that you didn*t like school, you didn*t study, you didn*t learn, you were not
a good student, you didn*t ha&e good teachers, and your parents didn*t force you to do
your homework)
$f she had reminded me that yesterday was her birthday, $ would have bought her a
present 6t least, $ would have sent her a card
(The truth is that she didn*t remind you, so you didn*t buy her a present)
$ wish the 9ets had won the game last night: $f they had won, $ would have made a lot of
money $f the 9ets had beaten the 4ankees, $ would have won ;2<<
(The truth is that the 9ets didn*t win, and you didn*t win any money 4ou lost:)
E.ercise
1 She didn*t gi&e me her phone number, so $ wasn*t able to call her
$f she /////////////////////////// her phone number, $
////////////////////////////////able to call her
2 -e didn*t ha&e his wallet with him last night, so he didn*t buy the book
$f he //////////////////////////// his wallet with him, he
//////////////////////////////// the book
0 They didn*t get to the airport in time, so they missed their flight
$f they ////////////////////////// to the airport in time, they
//////////////////////////////// their flight
23ote) 4ou need to use wouldnt in this sentence:5
1 -e wasn*t able to open the wine bottle, so they didn*t drink wine
$f he /////////////////////////// able to open the wine bottle, they
/////////////////////////////// wine