IF I WERE...

Si yo fuera... nouns ass bolt button cover eject flight leak lightning luggage peace prize roofer sale verbs call happen leak leave oppose riot rise spend turn adverbs abroad again enough soon adjectives able hard naked

. .10.
connectors if unless

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

Las oraciones condicionales son 2 frases que van juntas. La primera pone condiciones para la otra: La primera frase suele empezar con la palabra IF (=SI). If you dont finish your soup, you cant go out to play. If the government prohibited this, people would riot. If you hadnt phoned me I would have phoned you. Hay tres tipos de condicionales.

1. OPEN CONDITIONS

IF + PRESENT

FUTURE

Hablan sobre cosas que pueden pasar en cualquier momento, o que suelen ocurrir si se cumple la condicin. Normalmente, el verbo que pone la condicin est en presente (afirmativo, negativo o pregunta): If you press the eject button, . If it rains this afternoon, ... If youre going to be late, ... El otro verbo suele estar en futuro (afirmativo, negativo o pregunta): If you press the eject button, the cover will open. If it rains this afternoon, I wont go running. If youre going to be late, will you ring to let me know? Pero el segundo verbo tambin puede ser presente o imperativo (orden): If you press the eject button, the cover opens. If it rains this afternoon, Im not going running. If youre going to be late, please ring to let me know! A veces la palabra if no est al principio, sino en medio. Pero siempre el verbo que est ms cerca de la palabra if debe estar en presente. En este caso, la combinacin de tiempos verbales puede ser: FUTURE = IF + PRESENT Oil will float if we pour it on water. PRESENT = IF + PRESENT Water evaporates if we heat it. IMPERATIVE = IF + PRESENT Please ring if youre going to be late.

Lifeishard;itsharder ifyourestupid.

JohnWayne

Por ltimo, a veces usamos palabras parecidas a if: When he comes, you will meet him. Supposing it is true, we can make a decision. Unless you oppose, I will send the letter.

EXERCISES EJERCICIOS
10.1. What will happen when he opens the door? Make sentences using these words: Qu ocurrir cuando abra la puerta? Haz frases usando estas palabras:
Verbs: hit, pull, fall, push, switch on, make a noise, wake up, touch, burst, break, bend, see, think, ring, fire, Nouns: cushion, gun, dish, bell, cat, hammer, string, drum, saucepan, balloon, box, bucket, handle, knee, shelf, cups, golf balls, light-switch, nail, bottle, boxing glove, finger, hinge Adjectives: scared, painful, wet, sharp

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10.2. Complete the sentences below with the correct form of the verbs in brackets: Completa las frases de abajo con la forma correcta de los verbos entre parntesis:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. If I finish the dress before Saturday, I . . . . . . . . . . . . . (give) it to my sister for her birthday. If you have enough time, please . . . . . . . . . . . . . (paint) the chair before you leave. If she wins the prize, it will be because she . . . . . . . . . . . . . (write) very well. I . . . . . . . . . . . . . (accept) if they invite me to the party. If your mother . . . . . . . . . . . . . (buy) that car for you, will you be happy? If the roofer doesnt come soon, the rain . . . . . . . . . . . . . (leak) inside. My dog always wakes me up if he . . . . . . . . . . . . . (hear) strange noises. If you . . . . . . . . . . . . . (see) Mary today, please ask her to call me. If he . . . . . . . . . . . . . (get) the raise, it will be because he does a good job. The teacher will not accept our work if we . . . . . . . . . . . . . (turn) it in late.

2. HYPOTHETICAL CONDITIONS

IF + PAST

CONDITIONAL

Hablan sobre algo que es posible que ocurra, pero con ciertas dudas. El primer verbo est en pasado y el segundo en condicional. El problema de este tipo de frases es que el verbo que va en pasado en espaol es un Pretrito Imperfecto de Subjuntivo (amara o amase): If I were President, I would make this country more prosperous. If a burglar came into my house at night, Id scream and cry for help. En este tipo de condicionales, es costumbre decir were en vez de was:

"Yes,I'veheard.Killsmenbythehundreds. Andifhewerehere,he'dconsumethe Englishwithfireball fromhis eyes,andboltsoflightningfromhisass!"

MelGibsoninBraveheart

EXERCISES EJERCICIOS
10.3. Complete the sentences below with the correct form of the verbs in brackets: Completa las frases de abajo con la forma correcta de los verbos entre parntesis:
1. 2. 3. 4. Henry would talk to his dog if it . . . . . . . . . . . . . (understand) him. He would give you the money if he . . . . . . . . . . . . . (have) it. She would call you immediately if she . . . . . . . . . . . . . (need) help. We could go for a drive if today . . . . . . . . . . . . . (be) Saturday.

5. He would understand it if you . . . . . . . . . . . . . (explain) it to him more slowly. 6. 7. 8. 9. If he had more time, he . . . . . . . . . . . . . (learn) karate. If they told their father, he . . . . . . . . . . . . . (be) very angry. She . . . . . . . . . . . . . (spend) a year in the USA if it were easier to get a green card. If I lived on a lonely island, I . . . . . . . . . . . . . (run) around naked all day.

10. We . . . . . . . . . . . . . (help) you if we knew how.

3. IMPOSSIBLE CONDITIONS

IF + PAST PERFECT

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

Las usamos para lamentarnos de cosas que ya no tienen remedio. En espaol, el primer verbo est en pretrito pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo (hubiera o hubiese amado y el segundo en condicional perfecto (habra hecho). If I had seen it, I would have told you. If you hadnt helped me I would never have passed the exam!

EXERCISES EJERCICIOS
10.4. Complete the sentences below with the correct form of the verbs in brackets: Completa las frases de abajo con la forma correcta de los verbos entre parntesis:
1. If they had left the house earlier, they . . . . . . . . . . . . . (not be) so late getting to the airport that they could not check their luggage. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. If I had seen the movie, I . . . . . . . . . . . . . (tell) you about it last night. If Bob had not interfered in his sisters marital problems, there . . . . . . . . (be) peace between them. They . . . . . . . . . . . . . (find) a better selection had they arrived at the sale early. If he . . . . . . . . . . . . . (decide) earlier, he could have left on the afternoon flight. If we had known your address, we . . . . . . . . . . . . . (write) you a letter. Because Rose did so poorly on the exam, she wishes that she . . . . . . . . (study) harder last night. If he had left already, he . . . . . . . . . . . . . (call) us. If they had known him, they . . . . . . . . . . . . . (talk) to him.

10. I could have understood the French teacher well if she . . . . . . . . . . . . . (speak) more slowly En resumen: type 1 conditionals: If When As soon as Unless Although Before / After As long as While If you remember, you learn. If you have time, buy some bread. If I see you again, Ill call the police type 2 conditionals: If +

Subject + PRESENT =

Subject +

PRESENT IMPERATIVE FUTURE

Subject +

PAST S. =

Subject + CONDITIONAL S.

If you were here, you could help. If you could speak English, you would be able to work abroad. type 3 conditionals: If + Subject + PAST Subject + CONDIT. PERF. PERF.= If someone had informed me, I wouldnt have made that mistake! If you had been able to speak English, you would have been able to work abroad.

Frases hechas: I wish, If only, would rather y had better

Ciertas expresiones inglesas usan verbos en pasado o en condicional que se traducen al castellano de una forma especial, generalmente en modo subjuntivo: tuviera, hubiese sido, etc. I wish se suele traducir como ojal, aunque el verdadero significado de wish es desear. Por lo tanto, hay que distinguir 2 posibilidades: 1) Cuando wish significa desear: en este caso, debe llevar detrs un infinitivo completo, es decir, con to: I wish to see the manager, please. People wish to be happy. O un nombre (o similar: pronombre, forma ING, etc): We wish you a merry Christmas. I want you, I wish you. 2) En otras ocasiones, I wish es una frase hecha, una expresin tpica que indica deseo. Podemos usar tambin If only: entonces se traduce como ojal, si por lo menos, si tan slo, etc. I wish I were taller! (como vimos al hablar de las condicionales, sta es una de las pocas ocasiones en que debemos decir I were en vez de I was). If only this rain would stop! En estos casos, la expresin I wish debe siempre llevar detrs una oracin subordinada (es decir, un Sujeto y un Verbo, como mnimo). Pero el tiempo del verbo es el problema: 2) a) Si nos referimos a una situacin presente, el segundo verbo ser pasado: If only she didnt smoke so much! He only visits me once a year. I wish he came more often. If only she were here with me now! If only I could sleep at night! If only you didnt play your music so loud! 2) b) Si el deseo se refiere al pasado (por ejemplo, no cort el csped) usamos el Past Perfect: I wish I had cut the grass! I wish I had gone with you when you had the accident! I wish I hadnt thrown the letter away: I lost the address. If only I had known, perhaps I could have helped it. If only he hadnt broken my vase, it would have been OK 2) c) Pero si es un deseo de cara al futuro, usaremos el Condicional: I wish I would go somewhere nice on my next holiday! I wish you would come along. I hate to go by myself. What a shame they have to go! I wish they could stay! If only she would treat me nice! If only my leg didnt hurt so much! El esquema es el siguiente: Si quiero cambiar el... Presente: I cant sing very well.

Tengo que usar el...

Por ejemplo:

Past Simple (que se traduce como I wish I could sing better! Pretrito Imperfecto de subjuntivo: could = pudiera o pudiese; knew = supiera o supiese, etc.) Past Perfect (Pretrito Pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo) John wishes he hadnt been late. (no es obligatorio usar siempre I)

Pasado: John was late. Futuro: We will not see you soon.

Conditional Simple (que en espaol We wish we would see you soon. sonara mal: Ojal te veramos

EXERCISES EJERCICIOS
10.5. Read the following sentences and express the corresponding wish for each situation. Lee las siguientes frases y expresa el deseo correspondiente a cada situacin. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. You have no money. People drive very fast. You have to work on Sunday. Your sister broke your radio. You forgot your friends birthday. Tom will not attend the meeting. Jim will come to your party and you dont like him very much.

10.6. Who said what? Match the famous regrets with famous people who probably said each sentence. Quin dijo qu? Empareja las famosas lamentaciones con las personas famosas que probablemente dijeron cada frase.

FAMOUS REGRETS If only I hadnt gone to Dallas that day

I had no more ice for my drink Edward John Smith, captain of the Titanic (1850 1912) Its really hard to put on my glasses now Vincent Van Gogh, Dutch painter (1853 1890)

If only Id married Camilla I wish Id seen that iceberg.

I WISH I HADNT TRUSTED BRUTUS.

It was too bloody cold out there! Napoleone di Buonaparte French ruler (1769 1821)

But he was so handsome and muscular Gaius Julius Caesar, Roman emperor (100 BC 44BC) That was a bit of headache! John Fitzgerald Kennedy, American President (1917 1963)

I wish I hadnt invaded Kuwait!

I wish I hadnt cut off my ear.

Our children would have looked so nice my ears and her teeth! Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor, Prince of Wales (b.1948)

I wish I hadnt invaded Russia.

6

I just thought, Oh well, whos going to notice? Saddm Husayn Abd al-Mad al-Tikrt Iraki President (1937 2003)

WOULD RATHER & HAD BETTER

Rather es una palabra con muchas funciones: 1) Como adjetivo, acompaa a otro adjetivo de sentido generalmente negativo: la mejor traduccin en estos casos es posiblemente ms bien: si lo traducimos como bastante, habr que distinguir claramente entre rather e enough. This lesson is rather difficult. ( This lesson is difficult enough) My grandfather is rather old. ( My grandfather is old enough). 2) Como adverbio (y con la misma traduccin: ms bien), suele acompaar a un verbo en condicional. Su posicin es entonces la normal para muchos adverbios: delante del verbo principal: Id rather (I would rather) die standing than live on my knees (E. Guevara). We would rather work overtime today than come again tomorrow. Atencin a la segunda parte de la frase: than y el infinitivo bsico (sin to) de un verbo se usan para expresar la alternativa a la primera frase. I prefer reading to watching TV. Id rather read than watch TV. Y otra posibilidad ms: I would prefer walking rather than taking the bus. Para poner estos ejemplos en forma negativa basta con aadir not al infinitivo bsico: I would rather not tell you. Wed rather not answer. 3) Como verbo, rather es un sinnimo de prefer: se suele usar en condicional y debe llevar detrs una oracin subordinada con el verbo en pasado: We would rather we went now. Shedrather she didnt have to do the washing so often. Would you rather we started (or shall we wait)? Had better significa aproximadamente sera mejor que... pero atencin a la forma de usar esta expresin tpica: en espaol decimos: Sera mejor que + Sujeto + Verbo en modo subjuntivo: Sera mejor que hicieras ( o hicieses) muchas preguntas. En ingls hay que empezar este tipo de frases con el Sujeto. Despus had better, que nunca cambia, y despus un infinitivo bsico: You had better ask many questions. Wed better go now, its getting late. Igual que con would rather, la forma negativa se hace poniendo not delante del infinitivo bsico: We had better not argue. Youd better not insist; its not a good moment. Como hemos visto en los ejemplos anteriores, en ambos casos, la abreviatura de had es la misma que la de would, pero no se deben confundir: Youd rather have a sandwich, would you? We d better say nothing, hadnt we?

EXERCISES EJERCICIOS
10.7. Choose the best option. Elije la mejor opcin. 1. If only I . . . . . . . . . . . . . twice as much work in the summertime... a) didnt have b) dont have c) havent had d) wont have

2. If only he . . . . . . . . . . . . . listen to me and cancel the trip to that dangerous area! a) had b) has c) would d) should 3. If I . . . . . . . . . . . . . do it, Id rather . . . . . . . . . . . . . it alone. a) were to / to do b) had to / do c) would have / done 4. I wish I . . . . . . . . . . . . . speak English . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a) could to / so b) could / in that way c) went able to / as that

d) neednt to / did

d) could / like that

5. If only he . . . . . . . . . . . . . told us the truth in the first place, things wouldnt have gone so wrong. a) had b) has c) would have d) should have 6. Ill take some suntan cream to Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . it gets hot. a) if only b) I wish c) in case

d) as soon as

TEST
1. a) b) c) d) She would fall into the river if she ....... on that ledge. slept would slip would slipped slipped 11. If I ....... nearer I would get to work earlier. a) will live b) lived c) would live d) had lived 12. If books werent so expensive I ....... more. a) will be b) would buy c) bought e) may buy 13. Would you drink that water if you .......? a) would be thirsty b) had thirsty c) were thirsty d) was thirsty 14. I would meet Mary if I ....... to work. a) didnt have b) hadnt c) wouldnt have d) had 15. If you remove that piece the apparatus ....... at all. a) will work b) wouldnt work c) worked d) wont work 16. If it ....... for his honesty he would have got rich. a) hadnt been b) havent been c) wouldnt have been d) wouldnt be 17. If I had a map of London I ....... it to you. a) lent b) would lend c) would lent d) will lend 18. If we spend more money in ads there ....... more business. a) will have been b) will be c) would have been d) will be 19. If I ....... you I would plant some rose bushes. a) was b) were c) would be d) will be 20. If someone snatched my purse I ....... . a) shouted b) would shout c) would have shouted d) will shout

2. More people ....... to this restaurant if the food were good. a) would come b) came c) will come d) come 3. a) b) c) d) 4. a) b) c) d) 5. a) b) c) d) 6. a) b) c) d) 7. a) b) c) d) If you left those bees alone they ....... us. didnt sting shouldnt sting stung wouldnt sting If I were you I ....... that girl. wouldnt married wouldnt marry married will marry If that man ....... towards me I would cream. would come comes should come came I would live in Miami if I....... rich. was would be were will be If I ....... you I wouldnt touch a drink ever again. were would be should be had been

8. People will understand you better if you ....... more clearly. a) would speak b) spoke c) speak d) did speak 9. a) b) c) d) I ....... you if I knew what happened that day. will tell told would tell would told

10. We wont go to the beach if it ....... raining. a) would be b) will be c) is d) were