Hypothetical conditions

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 606.

Conditionals (2)

Language Focus: Grammar

Say it again

Re-express the following sentences from the Listening text, using the framework given.

1 The traditional life of the local fishermen is soon going to be a thing of the past.

The local fishermen are ………………………………………… of life.

2 The local people have come up with an answer.

The problem ………………………………………… the local people.

3 When the salmon are ready to reproduce they come to the river mouth.

The salmon ………………………………………… about to reproduce.

4 The decline of the world's fisheries is not inevitable.

It is possible for us ………………………………………… declining.

These may refer to the past, present or future. The hypothetical result does not always relate to the same time period as the condition.

1 Read the examples below and underline the verb forms. Think about what time period – past, present or future – each refers to.

1 If government fishing quotas had been observed, fish stocks would not have collapsed.

2 If humans had to ay for the services they received free from nature, the bill would be $2.9 billion annually. (text, p. 99)

3 If efforts hadn't been made to protect wild salmon stocks at Bristol Bay, Alaska, the salmon industry would no longer exist today.

4 If mankind were less shortsighted, we would not have done so much damage to the environment.

5 More species might have become extinct if environmental groups were not so active.

2 Which sentences have:

a) an if-clause referring to the present, and a result in the present?

b) An if-clause referring to the past, and a result in the past?

c) An if-clause referring to universal time (past/present/future), and a result in the past? (two examples)

d) An if-clause referring to the past, and a result in the present?

2)

1 Think of as many present results as you can for each of the following hypothetical past conditions.

1 If the sea had not been over-fished, …

… stocks would still be abundant.

… species which feed on fish would not be threatened.

2 If the car had not been invented, ………………………………………

3 If I'd been born ten years earlier, ………………………………………

4 If it hadn't been for my parents, I ………………………………………

2 Think of as many past results as you can for each of the following hypothetical conditions.

1 If species such as the panda or elephant were less appealing, …

… less effort would have been put into saving them.

…they might have become extinct by now.

2 If people had a greater awareness of environmental problems, we wouldn't have ………………………………………

3 If I were Prime Minister/President of my country, I would have ………………………………………

4 If I were rich, ………………………………………