Conditional Sentences

FIRST CONDITIONAL :
If + present tense with will 

-- talk about probable or possible present or future situations
* If I leave at 5.30, I will be there at 6.15.

SECOND CONTITIONAL:
If + past tense with would
-- talk about unreal situations or improbable present or future situations
* If I were the manager, I would introduce a coffee break

THIRD CONDITIONAL:
If + past perfect tense with would have + past participle
-- to talk about unreal situations in the past and their result
* If I had seen you, I would have said hello but I didn't see you. 

http://englishallyear.com/grammar25/exercise73.html

Exercise:
http://englishallyear.com/grammar25/exercise73.html

Present Perfect Continuous (Listening)

Have been +ing

This tense is used to talk about an action or actions that started in the past and continued until recently or that continue into the future:

We can use it to refer to an action that has finished but you can still see evidence.

• Oh, the kitchen is a mess. Who has been cooking?
• You look tired. Have you been sleeping properly?
• I've got a a stiff neck. I've been working too long on computer.

It can refer to an action that has not finished.

• I've been learning Spanish for 20 years and I still don't know very much.
• I've been waiting for him for 30 minutes and he still hasn't arrived.
• He's been telling me about it for days. I wish he would stop.

It can refer to a series of actions.

• She's been writing to her regularly for a couple of years.
• He's been phoning me all week for an answer.
• The university has been sending students here for over twenty years to do work experience.

The present perfect continuous is often used with 'since', 'for', 'all week', 'for days', 'lately', 'recently', 'over the last few months'.

• I've been wanting to do that for ten years.
• You haven't been getting good results over the last few months.
• They haven't been working all week. They're on strike
• He hasn't been talking to me for weeks.
• We've been working hard on it for ages.
• I've been looking at other options recently.
• He's been working here since 2001.

Exercises:

Who Say What

http://englishallyear.com/listening26/exercise76.html

Match the sentences

http://englishallyear.com/listening26/exercise77.html

Reorganize the sentences

http://englishallyear.com/listening26/exercise78.html

Present Perfect (listening)

(Please note that British and American English have different rules for the use of this tense. The explanation and exercises here refer to British English. In American English, it is often acceptable to use the past simple in some of these examples.)

We use the present perfect when we want to look back from the present to the past.

We can use it to look back on the recent past.

• I've broken my watch so I don't know what time it is.
• They have cancelled the meeting.
• She's taken my copy. I don't have one.
• The sales team has doubled its turnover.

When we look back on the recent past, we often use the words 'just' 'already' or the word 'yet' (in negatives and questions only).

• We've already talked about that.
• She hasn't arrived yet.
• I've just done it.
• They've already met.
• They don't know yet.
• Have you spoken to him yet?
• Have they got back to you yet?

It can also be used to look back on the more distant past.

• We've been to Singapore a lot over the last few years.
• She's done this type of project many times before.
• We've mentioned it to them on several occasions over the last six months.
• They've often talked about it in the past.

When we look back on the more distant past, we often use the words 'ever' (in questions) and 'never'.

• Have you ever been to Argentina?
• Has he ever talked to you about the problem?
• I've never met Jim and Sally.
• We've never considered investing in Mexico.

Exercise:

True or False

http://englishallyear.com/listening25/exercise73.html

Listen and Match

http://englishallyear.com/listening25/exercise74.html

Complete the Dialogue

http://englishallyear.com/listening25/exercise75.html

Simple Past (Listening)

Click on what you heard
http://englishallyear.com/listening24/exercise70.html

True or False
http://englishallyear.com/listening24/exercise71.html

Complete the dialogue
http://englishallyear.com/listening24/exercise72.html

Would (listening)

What Would You Do

If, if, if....

True or False
http://englishallyear.com/listening23/exercise67.html

Listen and complete the sentences
http://englishallyear.com/listening23/exercise68.html

Listen and reorganize the sentences
http://englishallyear.com/listening23/exercise69.html

Past Simple Tense

We use the past simple to talk about actions and states which we see as completed in the past.

We can use it to talk about a specific point in time.

• She came back last Friday.
• I saw her in the street.
• They didn't agree to the deal.

It can also be used to talk about a period of time.

• She lived in Tokyo for seven years.
• They were in London from Monday to Thursday of last week.
• When I was living in New York, I went to all the art exhibitions I could.

You will often find the past simple used with time expressions such as these:

• Yesterday
• three weeks ago
• last year
• in 2002
• from March to June
• for a long time
• for 6 weeks
• in the 1980s
• in the last century
• in the past

Exercises:

Complete the Sentences

http://www.englishallyear.com/grammar18/exercise52.html

Fill in the brackets

http://www.englishallyear.com/grammar18/exercise53.html

Put in Order

http://www.englishallyear.com/grammar18/exercise54.html

Second Conditional IF

The Second Conditional is used to talk about 'impossible' situations.

• If we were in London today, we would be able to go to the concert in Hyde Park.
• If I had millions dollars, I'd give a lot to charity.
• If there were no hungry people in this world, it would be a much better place.
• If everyone had clean water to drink, there would be a lot less disease.

Note that after I / he/ she /it we often use the subjunctive form 'were' and not 'was'. (Some people think that 'were' is the only 'correct' form but other people think 'was' is equally 'correct' .)

• If she were happy in her job, she wouldn't be looking for another one.
• If I lived in Japan, I'd have sushi every day.
• If they were to enter our market, we'd have big problems.

Note the form 'If I were you' which is often used to give advice.

• If I were you, I'd look for a new place to live.
• If I were you, I'd go back to school and get more qualifications.

The Second Conditional is also used to talk about 'unlikely' situations.

• If I went to China, I'd visit the Great Wall.
• If I was the President, I'd reduce taxes.
• If you were in my position, you'd understand.

Note that the choice between the first and the second conditional is often a question of the speaker's attitude rather than of facts. Compare these examples. Otto thinks these things are possible, Peter doesn't.

• Otto – If I win the lottery, I'll buy a big house.
• Peter – If I won the lottery, I'd buy a big house.
• Otto – If I get promoted, I'll throw a big party.
• Peter – If I got promoted, I'd throw a big party.
• Otto – If my team win the Cup, I'll buy champagne for everybody.
• Peter – If my team won the Cup, I'd buy champagne for everybody.

Note that the 'If clause' can contain the past simple or the past continuous.

• If I was still working in Brighton, I would commute by train.
• If she were coming, she would be here by now.
• If they were thinking of selling, I would want to buy.

Note that the main clause can contain 'would' 'could' or 'might.

• If I had the chance to do it again, I would do it differently.
• If we met up for lunch, we could go to that new restaurant.
• If I spoke to him directly, I might be able to persuade him.

Also note that sometimes the 'if clause' is implied rather than spoken.

• What would I do without you? ("if you weren't here")
• Where would I get one at this time of night? ("if I wanted one")
• He wouldn't agree. ("if I asked him")

Exercises:

Right or Wrong

http://englishallyear.com/grammar17/exercise49.html

Read and Complete

http://englishallyear.com/grammar17/exercise50.html

Put in Order

http://englishallyear.com/grammar17/exercise51.html