IEC, Nov. 19/21 Unit 28. Celebrate

The present unreal conditional is used to express a present (or future) condition. We call it unreal because it tells us what would happen or how things would be if the situation were different:

I don't have a car. I don't visit you often. (real situation)
If I had a car, I would visit you often. (condition)

The present unreal conditional is made up of an if-clause (if I had...) plus a main clause with would (I would visit):

If clause (the past form of the verb, neg. or pos.) + main clause (would/would not + infinitive)

You work so hard. You're tired all the time. (real situation)
(BUT) If you didn't work so hard, you wouldn't be tired all the time. (condition)

Fur coats are so expensive. I don't have one. (real situation)
(BUT) If they weren't so expensive, I would have one. (condition)

The form of the verb in the if-clause is the same as the past tense form of the verb.

NOTE: the verb be takes 'were' for all persons:

I am / if I were
You are / if you were
He is / if he were.
If I were you, I would be more careful.
If you were leaving earlier, I would go with you.

Past Unreal Conditional

The past unreal conditional consists of two clauses, an if clause and a would clause.
The if-clause refers to an unreal past event or condition:

If I had arrived on time... (however, the reality was that I didn't)
If it hadn't rained yesterday... (however, it did)
The would clause describes the consequence:
...I wouldn't have missed the train.
...we would have gone to the beach.

It wasn't warm yesterday. We didn't go to the beach.
If it had been warm yesterday, we would have gone to the beach.

An unreal past condition may have a consequence in either the present or the past.

If you had listened to my advice, you wouldn't be in trouble now. (consequence in the present - now)
If it had rained an hour ago, we would have stayed inside.
If it had rained an hour ago, the streets would be wet. (now)

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Greeting Card Expressions

For your silver wedding anniversary
As you tie the knot
F0r your bridal shower
A bar mitzvah wish for you
With warmest thanks
Happy anniversary to the one I love
For your baby shower
Congratulations
Belated Birthday wish
Bon voyage
For your bridal shower
Happy holidays
With sympathy in your time of sorrow
I am here for you
In appreciation of your thoughtfullness
Keep in touch
Missing you
We can work it out
Welcome back
Wishing you a quick recovery
Thinking of you

HOMEWORK

Write a detailed plan for a perfect party (when, where, for whom, the occasion, music, food, drinks, anything else) . At least 15 sentences.