Angol nyelvhasználat tanítóknak és óvodapedagógusoknak

- Home
- 1. Introduction to time, tense and aspect
  - 1.1 The difference between times and tenses
  - 1.2 Aspects
  - 1.3 State verbs and action verbs
- 2. Past time
  - 2.1 Past simple
  - 2.2 Past continuous
  - 2.3 The difference between the past simple and the past continuous
  - 2.4 Past perfect
  - 2.5 The difference between the past simple and the past perfect
  - 2.6 Past perfect continuous
  - 2.7 The difference between the past perfect and the past perfect continuous
  - 2.8 Present simple to express past
  - 2.9 USED TO for past habits
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- 3. Present time
  - 3.1 Present simple
  - 3.2 Present continuous
  - 3.3 Present perfect
  - 3.4 Present perfect continuous
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- 4. Future time
  - 4.1 Future simple
  - 4.2 Future continuous
  - 4.3 Future perfect
  - 4.4 Future perfect continuous
  - 4.5 BE GOING TO
  - 4.6 Present simple for fixed future events
  - 4.7 Present continuous for fixed future arrangements
  - 4.8 The difference between WILL, BE GOING TO and the present continuous for future events
  - 4.9 Future time clauses
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- 5. Modals
  - 5.1 Types of modals
  - 5.2 Modals to express ability: CAN, COULD, BE ABLE TO
  - 5.3 Modals to express advice: SHOULD, OUGHT TO, HAD BETTER
  - 5.4 Modals to express criticism: CAN, COULD, MIGHT, SHOULD
  - 5.5 Modals to express deduction: MUST, CAN'T, COULDN'T
  - 5.6 USED TO
  - 5.7 Modals to express intentions: BE GOING TO, WILL
  - 5.8 Modals to express obligation: MUST, HAVE (GOT) TO
  - 5.9 NEED
  - 5.10 Modals to express obligation: SHOULD, OUGHT TO
  - 5.11 Modals to express offers: CAN, COULD, WILL, SHALL, MAY
  - 5.12 Modals to express permission / prohibition: CAN, COULD, MAY, MIGHT, BE ALLOWED TO, MUSTN'T
  - 5.13 Modals to express possibility: MAY, MIGHT, COULD
  - 5.14 Modals to express predictions: BE GOING TO, WILL
  - 5.15 Modals to express requests: CAN, COULD, WILL, WOULD
  - 5.16 Modals to express suggestions: SHOULD, COULD, MIGHT, SHALL
  - 5.17 The modal WOULD to express unreal situations
  - 5.18 Overview of modals
  - 5.19 Modals and adverbs
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- 6. Conditionals and unreal tenses
  - 6.1 Unreal tenses
  - 6.2 Conditionals
    - 6.2.1 Zero conditional
    - 6.2.2 First conditional
    - 6.2.3 Second conditional
    - 6.2.4 Third conditional
    - 6.2.5 Mixed conditionals
    - 6.2.6 IF, EVEN IF, ONLY IF, AS LONG AS, PROVIDED, SUPPOSING, UNLESS, IF NECESSARY, IF SO etc.
  - 6.3 WISH / IF ONLY
  - 6.4 IT'S (HIGH) TIME
  - 6.5 AS IF / AS THOUGH
  - 6.6 WOULD RATHER / WOULD SOONER
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- 7. Indirect speech
  - 7.1 The difference between direct and indirect speech
  - 7.2 Punctuation in direct speech
  - 7.3 Changes in indirect speech
  - 7.4 Reporting questions
  - 7.5 Reporting statements
  - 7.6 Reporting imperatives
  - 7.7 Reporting verb + THAT-clause
  - 7.8 Reporting verb + THAT-clause with SHOULD + infinitive
  - 7.9 Reporting verb + THAT-clause with the present subjunctive
  - 7.10 Reporting verb + gerund
  - 7.11 Reporting verb + TO-infinitive
  - 7.12 Reporting verb + object + TO-infinitive
  - 7.13 SAY, TELL and ASK
  - 7.14 Impersonal reporting
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
  - Exercise 6
- Progress test 1
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- 8. Passive voice and causative structures
  - 8.1 Passive voice
    - 8.1.1 The difference between the active and passive voice
    - 8.1.2 Form: passive voice
    - 8.1.3 Verbs which cannot be used in the passive voice
    - 8.1.4 Ditransitive verbs in the passive voice
    - 8.1.5 The agent with the passive voice
    - 8.1.6 The use of the passive voice
    - 8.1.7 The passive with GET
    - 8.1.8 Passive voice with reporting verbs
  - 8.2 Causative structures
    - 8.2.1 Causative structures without an agent
    - 8.2.2 Causative structures with an agent
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
  - Exercise 6
- 9. Non-finite verb forms
  - 9.1 The difference between finite and non-finite verb forms
  - 9.2 The infinitive
    - 9.2.1 The forms of the infinitive
    - 9.2.2 The "subject" of the infinitive
    - 9.2.3 The TO-infinitive to replace a relative clause
    - 9.2.4 The TO-infinitive after passive reporting verbs
    - 9.2.5 The infinitive after modals
    - 9.2.6 DO, DOES, DID + bare infinitive
    - 9.2.7 SEE, WATCH, HEAR, LISTEN, FEEL, SMELL, NOTICE + object + bare infinitive
    - 9.2.8 APPEAR, HAPPEN, PROVE, SEEM, TEND, TURN OUT + TO-infinitive
    - 9.2.9 HAVE, GET, LET, MAKE + object + infinitive
    - 9.2.10 Verb + TO-infinitive
    - 9.2.11 Verb + object + TO-infinitive
    - 9.2.12 Adjective + TO-infinitive
    - 9.2.13 The infinitive of purpose
    - 9.2.14 The infinitive of result
    - 9.2.15 Question word + TO-infinitive
    - 9.2.16 Introductory infinitive clauses
  - 9.3 The gerund
    - 9.3.1 The forms of the gerund
    - 9.3.2 The "subject" of the gerund
    - 9.3.3 The gerund as subject
    - 9.3.4 The gerund as a subject complement
    - 9.3.5 The gerund as the object of a verb
    - 9.3.6 Verb + gerund
    - 9.3.7 Preposition + gerund
    - 9.3.8 Verb + preposition + gerund
    - 9.3.9 The gerund used in compound nouns
    - 9.3.10 Other expressions followed by the gerund
    - 9.3.11 Verbs followed by the TO-infinitive or gerund with no difference in meaning
    - 9.3.12 Verbs followed by the TO-infinitive or gerund with a difference in meaning
  - 9.4 The participle
    - 9.4.1 The forms of the participle
    - 9.4.2 The "subject" of the participle
    - 9.4.3 The present participle used to form the continuous aspect
    - 9.4.4 The past participle used to form the perfect aspect
    - 9.4.5 The past participle used to form the passive voice
    - 9.4.6 The present and past participles used as adjectives
    - 9.4.7 SEE, WATCH, HEAR, LISTEN, FEEL, SMELL, NOTICE + object + present participle
    - 9.4.8 CATCH, FIND, LEAVE + object + present participle
    - 9.4.9 COME, GO + present participle
    - 9.4.10 SPEND, WASTE + object + present participle
    - 9.4.11 HAVE, GET + object + past participle
    - 9.4.12 Participle clauses
  - 9.5 The difference between the gerund and the present participle
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- 10. Relative clauses
  - 10.1 What is a relative clause?
  - 10.2 Defining relative clause
  - 10.3 Non-defining relative clause
  - 10.4 The difference between defining and non-defining relative clauses
  - 10.5 Sentential relative clause
  - 10.6 Relative pronouns: WHO, WHOM, WHOSE, WHICH, THAT
  - 10.7 Relative adverbs: WHERE, WHEN, WHY
  - 10.8 Prepositions in relative clauses
  - 10.9 Non-finite relative clauses
  - 10.10 WHAT and WHATEVER
  - 10.11 Cleft sentences
  - 10.12 Pseudo-cleft sentences
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
  - Exercise 6
- 11. Inversion
  - 11.1 What is inversion?
  - 11.2 Subject-verb inversion
    - 11.2.1 Subject-verb inversion after place adverbials
    - 11.2.2 Subject-verb inversion in direct speech
    - 11.2.3 Subject-verb inversion in news headlines
  - 11.3 Subject-auxiliary inversion
    - 11.3.1 Subject-auxiliary inversion after negative adverbials
    - 11.3.2 Subject-auxiliary inversion in questions
    - 11.3.3 Subject-auxiliary inversion in question tags
    - 11.3.4 Subject-auxiliary inversion in echo tags
    - 11.3.5 Subject-auxiliary inversion with SO and NEITHER/NOR to express agreement
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- 12. Articles and nouns
  - 12.1 Articles
    - 12.1.1 The indefinite article (A, AN)
    - 12.1.2 The definite article (THE)
    - 12.1.3 The zero article (-)
  - 12.2 Countable and uncountable nouns
    - 12.2.1 The difference between countable and uncountable nouns
    - 12.2.2 Nouns with countable and uncountable meanings
    - 12.2.3 Determiners with countable and uncountable nouns (SOME, ANY, NO, MANY, MUCH, FEW, LITTLE etc.)
    - 12.2.4 Partitive expressions with uncountable nouns
    - 12.2.5 Nouns which are always plural
    - 12.2.6 Nouns with a plural form and a singular meaning
    - 12.2.7 Nouns with the same singular and plural forms
    - 12.2.8 Irregular plural forms
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
  - Exercise 6
  - Exercise 7
- Progress test 2
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- Appendix
  - Irregular verb forms
  - Spelling rules

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# 6.2.3 Second conditional

`if + past subjunctive | would + infinitive (simple or continuous)`

The second conditional can describe an unreal situation with reference to the present. We imagine a hypothetical situation which contrasts with reality:

> If I knew the answer, I'd tell you.

Here If I knew the answer means that I don't know the answer.

In the if-clause, we use the past subjunctive form of the verb, which is identical to the past simple tense except in the case of the verb be. Traditionally, the past subjunctive form of be is were for all persons including the first and third person singular. However, nowadays I/he/she/it was is more common, while were is mainly used in formal styles and in the set phrase if I were you:

> If I lived by the sea, I would be lying on the beach right now.
> If he was/were taller, he would make a good basketball player.
> If I were you, I'd stop smoking.

The second conditional can also express a theoretically possible but unlikely future situation. In the following examples, the conditions in the if-clause are possible but are not likely to be fulfilled:

> If the Third World War broke out, it would probably mean the end of humankind.
> I f you missed the 6 o'clock train, you wouldn't get here before 7.
> If I lost my job, I would be in serious trouble.

Compare the first and second conditionals when they refer to possible future actions:

> If you miss the 6 o'clock train, you won't get here before 7. (first conditional, the condition is probable, you may miss the train)

> If you missed the 6 o'clock train, you wouldn't get here before 7. (second conditional, the condition is possible but unlikely, you probably won't miss the train)

## Past continuous subjunctive in the second conditional

The past continuous subjunctive can be used in the if-clause of a sentence in the second conditional to express an unreal action in the present which is imagined as continuous:

> If it wasn't raining, we would have lunch outside. (it is raining)
> If we were staying at the other hotel, we wouldn't have such a nice view of the river. (we are not staying at the other hotel)
> If the kids weren't shouting all the time, perhaps I wouldn't feel so stressed. (the kids are shouting all the time)

## Modals in the second conditional

### Main clause

We can use modals other than would in the main clause of a sentence in the second conditional:

> If no one was late, we could start the meeting on time. (ability)
> If you asked George, he might be able to help you. (possibility)

### If-clause

We can use could in the if-clause to express ability, possibility or permission:

> I'd go to the beach with you if I could swim. (ability)
> If you could be a famous person, who would you be? (possibility)
> I wouldn't go to bars if people could smoke inside. (permission)

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