language learning center · B2 · Lesson 2
Hypothetical outcomes
Explore unreal present and past situations and connect them to possible consequences.
Understand and learn
Work from a natural example to useful language, one small pattern, a spoken attempt, and a response that is relevant to your life.
Noah
If the city invested more in public transport, fewer people would need to drive.
Noah imagines a different present policy and its result.
Amara
True. If the last expansion had been planned better, we might already have a stronger network.
Amara imagines a different past with a present consequence.
Noah
Even if funding increased tomorrow, the change would still take years.
Noah concedes a possibility while limiting its effect.
Amara
Still, I would rather start late than keep postponing it.
Amara compares two imperfect alternatives.
Notice, try, and speak
Understand a natural example and learn a small set of useful words, phrases, and patterns.
Useful words and phrases
These items were selected by the lesson curriculum for practical use—not extracted as an every-word list.
If… were…, … would…
Imagine an unreal present.
If… were…, … would…
If… had…, … might have…
Imagine a different past result.
If… had…, … might have…
Even if…
Show that the result may not change.
Even if funding increased tomorrow, the change would still take years.
I would rather… than…
Choose between alternatives.
I would rather… than…
Otherwise,…
State the consequence of not acting.
Otherwise,…
Notice, try, and speak
Which sentence connects a different past decision to the present?
Make it yours
Discuss a hypothetical change in English and include one present and one past condition.
Use a real decision from your life, community, or work that could have developed differently.
Use it with someone
Explore alternatives in English
- 1. If… were…, … would…
- 2. If… had…, … might have…
- 3. Even if…
- 4. I would rather… than…
- 5. Otherwise,…