Page 261 - Oxford_English_Grammar_Course_Basic_2015

fM not real / not probable If dogs could talk, • • •
Level

We use if+ past tense + would to talk about things that are not real or not probable now.

IF + PAST TENSE WOULD + INFINITIVE (WITHOUT TO)

If 1had a million dollars, 1would build a big swimming pool.

If you were the President, what would you do?
If dogs could talk, they would tell some interesting stories.
If he didn't travel so much, he'd have more money.

Contractions (see page 301): / would —► I'd, you would you'd etc

Put in the correct forms of the correct verbs.

► If people .............four arms, life easier, {have; be)

► This . .*?£ .........a nice country if it so much, [notrain; be)
1 If my cat..............................open the fridge, i t ........................all my food. (can;; eat)

2 If Lily and Jack..............................here, they.............................. what to do. (know, be)
3 If I ..............................the answer, I .............................you. {know; tell)
4 If your boss..............................you to work on Sunday,..................you....................it? {do; ask)

5 If you..............................read people's thoughts, what.................you................... ? {can; do)
6 I ..............................a car if I .............................. enough money, {buy; have)
7 If I ..............................you to marry me, what..................you................... ? {say; ask)
8 Alex..............................his work on time if he.............................. so much, {finish; not talk)
9 I ..............................Chinese if I ...............................more time, {have;study)
I
10 If the programmes..............................better, ...............................more TV. {be; watch)

Make sentences beginning with if.

► My parents don't live near here, so I don't see them at weekends.
[■f vwi^yactwts. lived ia.ear h e re I would s>ee them, at weekends.
1 We won't play cards because Jane and Peter aren't here.

If Jane.........................................................................................................................................

2 We haven't got enough money, so we won't buy a new car.

3 Fred doesn't answer letters, so I don't write to him.

4 I won't take your photo because I can't find my camera.

5 I don't enjoy opera because I can't understand the words.

6 I don't like Carola because she talks about herself all the time.

7 I haven't got a dog, so I don't go for walks.

What would you do if you had a free year and a lot of money? Write three or more sentences.

travel round the world study.......... g o to .............. {other answers)

1 If I ...........................................................................................................................................................

2 ................................................................................................................................................................................................
3

246 IF