Speaking hypothetically

Speaking hypothetically

by Patricia Abud

​Speak hypothetically about present or future

​Use the 2nd conditional.

​* if/ unless + past simple tense + could/ would/ might + base form.

​Unless the clients paid on time, we could give them a discount

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​Note: the use of was/were is possible; however, were (subjuctive) is more formal.

​If the company were to go bankrupt, it would have huge implications.

​Speak hypothetically about the past

​* Use the 3rd conditional

​If / unless + past perfect + would have / could have / might have + past participle.

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​If we hadn't landed the new contract, we might have had to make some staff redundant.

​Condition can be understood without being said:

​How would you deal with a costumer who didn't pay?

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(we understand : if this situation arose)

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​Mixed conditionals

​One part speaks about the presetn/future and the other about the past:

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​If I hadn't done that MBA course last year, I wouldn't be working here now.

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​I wouldn't have replied to that mail if it wasn't (weren't) part of company policy to reply to all correspondence.

Multiple Choice

Complete with the correct option of the verb in brackets:

Do you advertise your products on television? -No, if we _______ (advertise) on TV, I think we _____ (find) our costs too high.

• advertised/ found

• advertised/ would find

• advertising/ found

• advertise / would find

Multiple Choice

• hadn't managed/ would have gone

• hadn't managed/ would had gone

• hadn't manage/ would had gone

• haven't managed/ would had gone