English Grammar Lesson: Conditional Sentences Using “If” in Past, Present, & Future Imaginary Situations.

English Grammar Lesson Conditional Sentences Using “If” in Past, Present, & Future Imaginary Situations.

Yesterday, we studied how to use if to talk about present and future true situations. Today, I am going to teach you how to use if to talk about past, present, & future imaginary situations.

We can use if when we talk about present & future imaginary situations. When you talk about an unreal or improbable situation in the present or future, we use if + past verb, would/could + present verb. Could suggests one possibility among others I am imagining, an would suggests one particular situation or dream. Look at these examples:

  • If I won the lottery, I could buy a yacht. I imagine a yacht as one of the things I could possibly buy.
  • If I won the lottery, I would buy a yacht. I am certain that I a yacht is the thing I would buy and I am not imagining buying other things.

Here are a few more examples:

  • If I knew her name, I would tell you.
  • If I were* an animal, I would be a dog.

*Note that after if, we use were, not was, so we don’t say “If I was an animal ~”

We can also use if when we talk about past imaginary situations. When you talk about an unreal or improbable situation in the past, we use if + had + pp verb, would/could + have + pp verb. We often use this grammar when we have a regret about the past or we wish that the past situation had been different.

  • If I had known her name, I would have told you
  • If I had won the lottery, I would have bought a yacht.
  • If I had married her when I had the chance, I would have been happy.
  • If I had known about the exam, I would have studied.

How about trying to write an original sentence using one or both of the above patterns. Use the comment box below!



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English Lesson: Conditional Sentences Using “If” in Present & Future True Situations.

English Lesson Conditional Sentences Using “If” in Present & Future True Situations

We use if in conditional sentences to talk about a variety of topics in the past, present, and future. Today, I am going to teach you about two of these patterns today: using if to talk about present and future true situations.

We use if when we talk about present, true situations or “usual truths”. These are things or situations that usually happen or are always true. The structure is if + present verb, present verb:

  • If the temperature falls below 0°C, water freezes.

In the above example, the situation is always true. Water always freezes whenever the temperature falls below 0°C. Here are a few more examples:

  • If you put oil in water, it floats to the top.
  • Glass breaks if it is dropped on a hard surface.
  • Plants grow well if there is enough sunlight.

We also use if when we talk about what will happen, or can happen, or might happen, or is likely to happen in the future. The structure is if + present verb, will/can/might/may + present verb:

  • If it rains tomorrow, we will cancel the picnic.

It is likely that the picnic will be cancelled because of bad weather.

Be careful of the structure!

We do not use will in the same clause as if. If it will rain tomorrow, we will cancel the picnic.

Here are a few more examples:

  • If I have time tomorrow, I will call you.
  • If you finish work before 6:00pm, we can see the movie.
  • If Jack gets a new car, he might take us for a ride.

Do you know any other “usual truths?” Leave a comment here and let me know. Next time, we will look at the other ways to use if.



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English Lesson: Feel, Look, Seem, Smell, Sound, & Taste

This flower smells nice

This flower smells nice

Some of my students have told me that they have trouble using the verbs of the senses, specifically, feel, look, seem, smell, sound, & taste. Today, I’m going to show you how to use these words in your conversation.

We use these verbs feel, look, seem, smell, sound, & taste + an adjective:

  • The silk scarf feels smooth.
  • The new James Bond movie looks interesting. Let’s go see it.
  • You seem tired. Are you ok?
  • Does this cheese smell strange to you?
  • That music sounds relaxing.
  • Jack said the steak in this restaurant tastes delicious.

We can also use those verbs with adverbs like so & too, and determiners like a little & a bit, etc plus an adjective:

  • The silk scarf feels so smooth.
  • The new James Bond movie looks so interesting. Let’s go see it.
  • You seem a little tired. Are you ok?
  • Does this cheese smell too strange to you?
  • That music sounds too relaxing. I might fall asleep.
  • The fried rice here tastes a bit salty.

We also use these verbs + like + an noun phrase, like this:

  • The silk scarf feels like a dream.
  • The new James Bond movie looks like an interesting film. Let’s go see it.
  • This seems like a nice restaurant. Let’s go there.
  • This cheese smells like walnuts.
  • That music sounds like old pop music.
  • The fried rice here tastes like my mother’s fried rice.

So, there are three patterns here. How about trying to make a sentence with each pattern in the comment section below!



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One Point English Lesson: Using “A Little”

Happy slept a little this afternoon.

Happy slept a little this afternoon

The phrase a little is used in English to mean “a small amount.” This phrase can be used with both nouns and verbs.

We use a little before a non-countable noun to mean “a small amount of noun”:

  • Do you have a little time to chat today?
  • Jack had a little red wine and then fell asleep.
  • I need a little information about your English classes.

We also use a little after a verb to mean “a small amount of action”

  • We talked a little, then left the café.
  • Jack drank a little water before falling asleep.
  • I try to exercise a little every day.

Do you make a little time to study English everyday? Leave a comment here and let me know.



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