Communicative Grammar, Class 2

 By Nate Feldman

If I had studied, I would have gotten a better score.

If I had eaten dinner, I wouldn’t have been so hungry this morning. 

 

If you had listened to me, you would have done better.

 

If Mark had paid attention in class, he would have understood the lesson better.

 

If I hadn’t studied hard for the exam, I’m sure I wouldn’t have gotten the high scores I did. 

 

If I had stayed at home like I was supposed to, I wouldn’t have gotten into that accident. 

 

If I had stayed home like I thought I might, I would have missed an amazing experience. 

 

If I had stayed at home, I wouldn’t have had the great time we had together. 

 

If I were from your country, I would understand your culture better.

 

If I hadn’t started working here years ago, I wouldn’t have met so many interesting people over the years.

 

Joe: I got a really good score on the exam!

Cathy: Yeah, I bet you studied a lot.

Joe: Of course! I wouldn’t have done well otherwise!

Joe was a student at the university.  He had a very important exam, but he partied all night with his friends in the dorm, so he failed miserably.  If Joe had studied like his mother hold him, he would have gotten a great score, but he didn’t, and now he will fail in life. 

 

1.      What happened to Joe?  Why?

 

2.      Joe:

 

A.       Succeeded

B.       Failed

C.       Listened to his mother

D.       Studied hard

Grammar Practice (unreal conditional in the past) 

1. I am glad I studied for that exam because if I (not study) _____________________, I certainly (fail) ___________________________because it was so difficult.

2. If I (sleep) __________________________better last night, I (get up) ___________________________at a normal time today.

3. My teacher was unprepared yesterday.  If he (prepare) _______________________the lesson more carefully, then perhaps it (not be) _________________________as confusing as it was.

4. If my parents (send) _______________________me to English lessons when I was young, perhaps I (not need) ___________________________to come to ELS.  We'll never know! 

5. If you (listen) ________________________to me, you (have) _____________________a better result, but you never listen to me!