Learning

Strategy #3 Unreal Conditional

The unreal conditional is a verb tense we use when we speak about an imaginary situation.
Native speakers use it frequently, but it is often not used by speakers of English as a second or
foreign language, even if they are advanced. If you do not use the unreal conditional in
situations when you should, you might confused people or sound awkward.

The unreal conditional is formed in the following way:

If + subject + past tense verb, would + present tense verb

ex. If I were an animal, I would be an eagle.

The phrase I would be an eagle is imaginary. It refers to an unreal situation. Compare the
following:

I want to be an eagle. (real strong)
Id like to be an eagle. (real soft)
I would be an eagle. (imaginary)

In our opinion, the ability to not only use the unreal conditional, but also be able to switch
back and forth between the unreal conditional (referring to imaginary situations) and
common verb tenses (like the present, past, and present perfect) is the mark of an fluent
English speaker.

Unreal Conditional Exercises?

In order to train yourself to use the unreal conditional in a fast and comfortable way, we have
designed five training exercises that you need to use. If you practice with all five for each
unreal conditional question that we give you in the next section, then you will become much
more fluent at using it, and will thus improve your English ability and depth of meaning.

1. Basic Pattern. In this exercise, you will simply practice the basic unreal conditional pattern
(as described above), using multiple instances of the would clause. For example:

If I were an animal, I would be an eagle. I would fly very high in the sky. And I would
build a nest in a very tall tree on top of a very high mountain. I would soar above the
clouds and I would feel free and happy.

2. Conditional Ladders. In this exercise, you take the present tense verb in the would clause
and turn it into a past tense verb, combining it with if in order to create a new unreal
conditional sentence. Then continue on like this as far as you can go. For example:

If I were an animal, I would be an eagle.

If I were an eagle, I would fly high in the sky.
If I flew high in the sky, I would see far in the distance.
If I saw far in the distance, I would find a tall tree on top of a mountain.
If I found a tall tree on top of a mountain, I would build a large nest.
If I built a large nest, I would start a family.
If I started a family, I would be a happy eagle.
If I were a happy eagle, I would live a long life.

Try building sentence ladders with different conditional statements until you get really good
at creating the patterns.

3. Asking the Question Why? In this exercise, you need to make a statement in the unreal
conditional, and then ask the question why? When you answer the question, use common
verb real tenses like the present, past, and present perfect, etc. Then make another
statement in the unreal conditional, ask why, and then answer the question. This will prepare
you for the next step. For example:

If I were an animal, I would be an eagle. Why? Because I like eagles. I think eagles are
intelligent and good looking animals. They are also very skillful at catching prey and
they symbolize freedom.

If I were an eagle, I would fly high in the sky. Why? Because flying high in the sky
sounds like an exciting thing to do. I like the feeling of being high above the earth and
looking down on the mountains and valleys and rivers and lakes.

4. Switching. This is the most important and challenging of the first 4 exercises. In this step,
you must practice switching back and forth between the unreal conditional and the common
real tenses. This is what native speakers do all the time, so you need to get comfortable
doing it. It is similar to step 3, but in this step, you should try to be less structured and more
natural. For example:

If I were an animal, I would be an eagle. I would fly high in the sky, looking down on
the earth below. I think it is exciting to fly, because it is something that humans need
technology to do. But if I were an eagle, my wings would be my technological means of
flying. If I had the wings of an eagle, I would spend everyday flying around and
enjoying the beauty of the nature. I would avoid urban areas, though, because it would
be a little dangerous. People sometimes shoot birds with guns, so I wouldnt want to
be shot by a hunter. Also, there are airplanes and helicopters In the sky, so if I were
flying, I wouldnt want to be struck by those man-made machines.

5. Speed Speaking. Are you ready to challenge yourself? If so, our Speed Speaking video
exercises is the place to do it. Take a question and practice talking freely, while switching back
and forth between the unreal conditional and other common real verb tenses, just like you
practiced in step #4. In each stage of the Speed Speaking exercise, even though the time
decreases, try to say everything you did in the very first round. This will increase your speed
and thus your fluency.

Unreal Conditional Questions.

Below are some questions to get you started practicing. Ultimately, the best questions,
however, are the ones that you create yourself.

1. If you lived abroad, where would you live?
2. If you won 10 million dollars, how would you spend the money?
3. If you had 24 hours to live, how would you spend your last day?
4. If you could be another person for a day, who would you be?
5. If you travelled in time, where would you go?
6. If you were the president or prime minister of your country, what changes would you
make?
7. If you were an animal, what animal would you be?
8. If you could have your dream job, what would it be?
9. If you could meet a famous person, who would it be?
10. If you were going to die tomorrow, how would you spend your last day on earth?
11. If you had 3 wishes, what would you wish for?
12. If you could trade places with another person for a day, who would it be?

Well, those are some questions to get you started. Try to come up with questions of your
own. If you practice every day and be persistent, you will improve in English fluency quickly. If
I were you, thats what I would do.

Good luck and have fun improving your English fluency!

Aaron and Dan
Deep English