UNIT 6
Different worlds
Mixed conditionals
Negatives and positives
Inverted conditionals
Phrasal verbs
Describing places
Past regrets
Are a combination of the second and third conditionals
If + past simple / continuous, + would(n't) have+ past participle
If + past perfect, + would(n't) + infinitive
Miexed conditionals can be used to:
Speculate on the present results of a hypothetical past situation or event and show regret or criticism
Hypothesise on the past consequences of an imaginary present situation
We can also use inverted conditional forms for more formality in the if clause
We can also use the past simple to talk about real situations and their consequences in the past
If I hand't lived in France, I wouldn't be able to speak such good French.
I would have had more fun at the camp if I wasn't so shy.
He always tried to cheer me up if I was a bit down.
In more formal contexts, we sometimes leave out if and invert the subject and auxiliary
Examples:
Had she known it was so wet there, she would have taken an umbrella. = If she had known it was so wet there, ...
Were I to return to Argentina, I would definitely learn the tango. = If I were to return to Argentina, ...
If you'd started your homework earlier, you wouldn't still be doing it.
As well as using third conditional and mixed conditionals to express regret about the past, we use the following structures, which can also imply criticism.
Should have + past participle
Would rather / sooner
Wish + past perfect
If only + past perfect
To express mild regret or criticism regarding something in the past.
You should have spoken to her before you borrowed her phone.
To show mild regret or criticism relating to a past situation.
To express a stronger regret about a past situation.
We use it in the same way as wish for a regret about something in the past, although if only can sound like a stronger regret.
I'd rather/sooner you hadn't told me the answer. I wanted to work it out myself.
She wishes she hadn't bought that guitar. She's never played it.
If only you'd tried it beforeyou bought it. It's too late to change it now.
We can use would rather/sooner + past simple/perfect or would rather/sooner + have + past participle if the subject is the same in both parts of the sentence.
slam - praise
disregard - pay attention to
poorer - better off
troubled - unconcerned
detrimental - advantageous
decay - growth
hostile - friendly
ruin - enhance
bargain for
run through
turn out
run into
miss out on
give away
take on
make out
point out
grow on
pick up
see through
budget (accommodation, transport)
rolling (sand dunes)
lively (café, marketplace)
tropical (beach, forest)
heavy (traffic, rain)
dense (forest, fog)
steep (valley, mountain)
rough (sea, lagoon)
más pobre - mejor económicamente
criticar - elojiar
ignorar - prestar atención a
hostil - amigable
perjudicial - beneficioso
preocupado - despreocupado
declive - crecimiento
arruinar - mejorar
hear or undestand, especially with difficulty
expect
indicate or emphasise
start to do something difficult
Not be able to experience something
prove to be the case (used when a situation has a particular result)
discuss or repeat something
meet unexpectedly
reveal
become more appealing
improve
continue to the end
