Past Unreal conditional

Abril 15, 2023

Past Unreal conditional

We use past unreal conditionals to talk about things in the past that were not true (but hypothetically could have been) and the results of what would have happened if that was the case. Simply put: it was possible, but it did not happen.

Structure 

Would have (Pasado participio) / if had + ( Pasado participio) 

Activities 

1. 

1. What would you have donde if you had missed the train?

2. We wouldn't have had this digital video conference if an internet connection hadn't been available. 

3. If our huge old camcorder hadn't broken, we wouldn't have bought this smaller one. 

4. If she hadn't taken her smart phone, she wouldn't have known they canceled her flight. 

5. If they hadn't had good weather, they wouldn't have landed in Alaska this morning. 

6. If the weather had been better, we would have gone to the beach. 

2. 

1. On Monday you bought a new Blendini sports car because its advertising said it was very cheap However, on Friday you read this headline in the newspaper: "Blendini company fined for lying about statistics. Car consumes more fuel than all others in its class .

R/ If I had seen the newspaper headline earlier, I wouldn't have bought the sports car.

2. You forgot to close the windows in your house before a weekend trip. There was a terrible rainstorm. When you got home, some of your furniture was damaged by the water. Your family blamed you because you were the last to leave the house.

R/ If I hadn't forgotten to close the windows, the furniture wouldn't have been damaged by the storm water.

3. There was a big sale at the Morton Street Mall. Everything in every store was half price. You didn't know and you went shopping elsewhere. When you got home, a friend called to tell you about all the bargains she got.

R/ If I had known about the sales at Morton Street Mall, I wouldn't have shopped elsewhere. 

4. You bought insect repellent for a trip to the mountains. When you got there, the mosquitoes were brutal. Before spraying the repellent on yourself and your children, check the label. It read: "Caution. Not for use on children under 12 years of age." 

R/ If I had read the label sooner, I would have bought a repellent for children under 12 years of age.