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Unreal Conditional

This document discusses using continuous verb forms in unreal conditional sentences to express actions in progress. It provides examples of present and past unreal conditional sentences using continuous forms in one or both clauses. It also discusses using "if it weren't for.../if it hadn't been for..." to make unreal conditional statements expressing regret or relief about outcomes that would or would not have occurred under different circumstances.

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Andrea Pérez
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104 views

Unreal Conditional

This document discusses using continuous verb forms in unreal conditional sentences to express actions in progress. It provides examples of present and past unreal conditional sentences using continuous forms in one or both clauses. It also discusses using "if it weren't for.../if it hadn't been for..." to make unreal conditional statements expressing regret or relief about outcomes that would or would not have occurred under different circumstances.

Uploaded by

Andrea Pérez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Unreal conditional

sentences
Contiunous forms
Grammar
Use continuous verb forms in unreal
conditional sentences to express
actions in progress  Present Continuous
 Past Continuous
 Present Perfect Continuous
 Past Perfect Continuous
 Future Continuous
 Future Perfect Continuous
Present unreal conditional sentences
You can use were (or weren’t) + a presente participle in the if clause. You can use
would be (or wouldn’t be) + a presente participle in the resul clause.
Note: The verbs forms should reflect What you want express. You don’t have to use
continuous form in both clauses
Examples:
 If I were walking in traffic, I wouldn't be talking on my cell phone.[continuous
forms in both clauses]
 If he walked there, he would be going through the most dangerous section of
town. [continuous form only in the result clause]
Past unreal conditional sentences
You can use had been (or hadn't been) a present participle in the if clause. You can
use would have been (or wouldn't have been)+ a present participle in the result
clause. You don't have to use continuous forms in both clauses.
Examples
 If he'd been using his webcam during the conference call, he would have been
wearing a tie.[continuous forms in both clauses)
 If I hadn't been checking my messages, I wouldn't have known the flight was
delayed. [continuous form only in the if clause)
Remember
 Be carefull Don't use would in the if
Conditional sentences usually have
clause in any unreal conditional
two clauses: an if (or "condition")
sentence
clause and a result clause. The
clauses in conditional sentences can
be reversed.
Real (or "factual") conditional
describe the results of real
conditions. Unreal conditional
describe the results of unreal
conditions.
Means Danger!
Unreal conditional
statements
With if it were for…/ if it hadn’t been for
Grammar
Make a present or past unreal conditional statement with if it weren't for/if It hadn't been
for + an object to state an outcome that would occur or would have occurred under other
circumstances. It's common to use this structure to express regret or relief.

REGRET OR RELIEF
REGRET
EXAMPLES
 "If it weren't for the traffic, we would be at the airport by now." (-Under other
circumstances, we would be at the airport by now, but unfortunately the traffic
caused us not to be. We regret this.)
 "If it hadn't been for my bad grades in science, I would have studied medicine." (-
Under other circumstances, I would have studied medicine. Unfortunately, my
bad grades in science prevented that. I regret this.)
RELIEF
EXAMPLES
 "If it weren't for this five-hour nonstop flight, the entire trip would take ten
hours." (-Under other circumstances, the trip would take ten hours. Fortunately,
this nonstop flight caused the trip to be shortened by five hours. I'm relieved
about this.)
 "If it hadn't been for your help this morning, we would have missed the train."
(Under other circumstances, we would have missed the train. Fortunately, your
help prevented our missing the train. We're relieved about this.)
Remember
You can also express strong regret
with If only. If only can be followed by
were or the past perfect.
If only there weren't so much traffic,
we would be at the airport by now.
If only I had had better grades in
science, I would have studied
medicine.

Means Danger!

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