2. Conditional sentences: Unreal condition in the present or future
Условные предложения: Нереальное условие в настоящем или будущем
Past Subjunctive in the if-clause; would + infinitive in the main clause Past Subjunctive в придаточном условия; would + инфинитив в главном предложении
(I don't know her telephone number.) If I knew her telephone number, I would call her.
(Я не знаю ее номер телефона.) Если бы я знал ее номер телефона, я бы позвонил ей.
(It's unlikely that I will see him tomorrow.) If I saw him tomorrow, I would ask him about it.
(Маловероятно, что я увижу его завтра.) Если бы я увидел его завтра, я бы спросил его об этом.
(She is not here.) If she were here, she would help us.
(Ее нет здесь.) Если бы она была здесь, она бы помогла нам.
He wouldn't have to go there by bus if he had a car.
Ему не пришлось бы ехать туда автобусом, если бы у него была машина.
If I were you, I would go to Spain.
Если бы я был на вашем месте, я бы поехал в Испанию.
I would buy a new car if I were you.
Я купил бы новую машину, если бы я был на вашем месте.
What would you do if you had a million dollars? – I would quit my job and go travelling around the world.
Что бы вы сделали, если бы у вас был миллион долларов? – Я бы уволился с работы и отправился путешествовать по свету.
What would you do if you lost all your money? – If I lost all my money, I would probably have to sell my house.
Что бы вы делали, если бы вы потеряли все ваши деньги? – Если бы я потерял все мои деньги, мне наверное пришлось бы продать мой дом.
What would happen if someone pressed this button accidentally?
Что бы произошло, если бы кто-то случайно нажал эту кнопку?
Where would you like to live if you had the choice?
Где бы вы хотели жить, если бы у вас был выбор?
How would you feel if someone said such a thing about you?
Как бы вы себя чувствовали, если бы кто-то сказал такую вещь о вас?
Past Subjunctive in the if-clause; could/might + infinitive in the main clause Past Subjunctive в придаточном условия; could/might + инфинитив в главном предложении
(She doesn't speak English.) If she spoke English, she could get a good job at a travel agency.
(Она не говорит по-английски.) Если бы она говорила по-английски, она могла бы получить хорошую работу в агентстве путешествий.
(It is unlikely that he will repair his car soon.) He might give us a ride to the train station if he repaired his car soon enough.
(Маловероятно, что он починит свою машину скоро.) Он мог бы подвезти нас до вокзала, если бы он починил свою машину достаточно скоро.
If she weren't busy now, she could go to the movies with us.
Если бы она не была занята сейчас, она могла бы пойти в кино с нами.
If it were a little warmer (now), we might go for a walk.
Если бы было немного теплее (сейчас), мы могли бы пойти на прогулку.
TYPE 2
Exercise 1. Translate the following sentences from English into Russian.
1. If I knew his address, I’d write him. 2. If he had more spare time, he would help us. 3. If we received this letter tomorrow, we would answer immediately. 4. If he were here, he would answer your question. 5. If she were here, they would ask her a few questions. 6. If I were you, I wouldn’t dare to argue. 7. He would certainly agree if he were in your place. 8. Phil would travel if he had more money. 9. If they didn’t want to go they wouldn’t. 10. I’d go out if it weren’t snowing. 11. If she didn’t come to their party next week, they would be very angry. 12. What would you do if your house were broken into? 13. Ellen wouldn’t give me any money if I asked her. 14. Would you give me money if I asked you? 15. What would you do if you found somebody’s purse? 16. Unless they offered more, I wouldn't accept the job.
Exercise 2. Paraphrase the sentences according to the pattern.
A Pattern: The weather isn’t warm today. We won’t go hiking. –
If the weather were fine today, we would go hiking.
1. He doesn’t know us well. He won’t invite us. 2. We don’t like chicken. We won’t buy it. 3. I'm not cold. I won’t put on a sweater. 3. Dave doesn’t smoke. He won’t take cigarettes. 4. She doesn't like ballet. She won’t go to the ballet house with us. 6. He doesn’t know my cousin, he won’t meet her at the station. 7. She doesn't like coffee. She never buys it. 8. He doesn't read English books in the original. He won’t improve his English. 9. He doesn’t try to save money. He won’t travel in summer. 10. I have no appetite. I won’t take more meat. 11. They are not here. I won’t talk to them. 12. It isn't windy today. We won’t fly a kite. 13. Mary doesn't earn much. She doesn't buy anything new. 14. Jane hasn’t got a VCR. She doesn’t watch many films.
B Pattern: He knows the town very well. He often shows strangers about it. –
If he didn't know the town so well, he wouldn’t show strangers about it.
1. Betty is fond of reading. She has so many books at home. 2. He lives near the university. It takes him ten minutes to get there. 3. The weather is nasty. We’ll stay indoors. 4. He earns a lot of money. He travels a lot. 5. Dan has a dog. He knows much about dogs. 6. Bell has got a lot of free time. She watches TV three hours a day. 7. Chris lives far from his office. He gets up very early. 8. He is a very interesting person. I always enjoy talking to him. 9. This book is very useful. I want to buy it. 10. I like this film. I’ll buy the cassette. 11. I think that the play will be interesting. I’ll go to the theatre. 12. The plant is going to close down. Many people will be out of work. 13. The road is repaired. It will take us less time to get home. 14. We are moving into a new flat. We won’t have to spend so much time on going to work.
Exercise 3. Open the brackets.
A 1. If I (have) enough money, I (buy) this overcoat. 2. Larry (write) them if he (have) enough time. 3. If you (travel) first class, it (cost) over $750. 4. If you (ask) Esther, she (help) you. 5. If I (stop off) in Boston, I (stay) with my friends. 6. If you (see) her now, you (not recognise) her. 7. What you (do) if you (ask) to help us? 8. If I (go) to the doctor, he (give) me a certificate? 9. If I (be) you, I (choose) a different topic. 10. What you (do) if you (be) in his place?
B 1. How long it (take) you to get to the university if you (move) into this flat? 2. They (not be pleased) if we (come) without asking. 3. I (not be surprised) if the money (find) at his place. 4. If he (ask) about this case, he (not tell) anything. He is too frightened. 5. What (happen) if there (be) a serious nuclear accident? 6. If there (be) a flood in this area, you (not get) a penny in compensation. 7. If we (not waste) so much energy, our resources (last) longer. 8. I (not be) in this job unless I (be) a Ph. D.! 9. Unless we (think) new research was necessary, we (not spend) money on it. 10. Just imagine what the world (be) like if we (not have) electricity!
C 1. There (not be) so many articles on astrology unless so many people (be) interested in it. 2. If my car (be struck) in a traffic jam, I (be) very angry. 3. I never (hit) anybody unless they (hit) me. 4. If you (watch) TV, you (choose) a western or a comedy? 5. You (not get) this job unless you (have) some qualifications. 6. I (not let) you marry my daughter unless you (start) earning money. 7. You (make) a scene if you (provoke)? 8. I (refuse) to go unless the company (pay) my expenses. 9. Who you (ask) if you (not know) what to do? 10. I (buy) this car if I (be) richer. 11. I don't agree with his economic policy. I (not vote) for him unless he (change) it. 12. If I (be) you, I (see) a doctor about those headaches. 13. If you (have) an argument with your friend, you (apologise) first? 14. What you (do) if one day a millionaire (ask) you to marry him/her?
Exercise 4. What would you do if you were...? Practise using verb forms in contrary-to-fact sentences with if.
Pattern: — What would you do if you were a house painter? — If I were a house painter, I would (paint houses, paint your house, etc.)
1. a bird 2. a mountain climber 3. an artist 4. at/in (a particular place) 5. a good cook 6. ninety years old. 7. a police officer 8. a parent 9. ambitious 10. a magician 11. at home 12. (name of a famous person) 13. a professional athlete 14. a billionaire 15. the leader of your country
