Beginner Levels - Lesson 27 - Practical English Drama

Beginner Levels - Lesson 26 - English Practice Drama

B2 Grammar: Third Conditional

Third conditional

The third conditional is used to talk about:

·    something which did not happen in the past and

·    its results, which are imaginary.

If I had lived in the 19^th century, I would have gone to school by horse. (If I had lived in the 19^th century (something which did not happen – I am alive now), I would have gone to school by horse (an imaginary consequence because I didn’t live in the 19^th century).

If I hadn’t reacted quickly, the hippo would have killed me (I reacted quickly, so the hippo didn’t kill me).

The third conditional has the following form:

If + past perfect tense, - would have + (done / been / eaten, etc.):

If you had phoned me this morning, I would not have been late for school.

If you had gone to the concert, you would have enjoyed it a lot.

Beginner Levels - Lesson 25 - Practical English Drama

Beginner Levels - Lesson 24 - Practical English Drama

Beginner Levels - Lesson 23 - Practical English Drama

Father's Day

Father's Day is on Sunday 18th June this year in the United Kingdom and is a day dedicated to honouring fathers across the country. Father's Day originated in the United States,  to match up to similar celebrations like Mother's Day. It is celebrated on the third Sunday of June here in the UK, but the date differs from country to country.

So, what exactly do I do with my Dad on this day? Well, he always asks for a "nice card" and so, during past Father's Day celebrations, I have created my own card to give to my father, usually with a photo or funny memory that we share and even with a poem or funny joke in. He says that this is "enough" and doesn't expect a present but I always like to give him something small as a gift to thank him for being a great dad! However, this gift usually ends up being the predictable present of a tie, pair of socks or new shirt for work so I have tried to be a bit more creative lately and make him something or find him something a bit different!

In the past, I have also made him breakfast which is always very warmly welcomed, especially as in the UK we are famous for our "big breakfasts" and, being a Sunday, we have time to spend together as a family. My brother and I usually try and do something nice with our Dad such as take him out somewhere nice or go for a nice walk together with our Mum. We treat him to lunch or dinner or even make him a picnic with his favourite food if we can! As you can see, my Dad likes to eat nice food! Every family celebrates Father's Day differently but I personally think that it's a nice day to spend together as a family and show your dad how much they mean to you. Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Beginner Levels - Lesson 22 - Practical English Drama

B2 Grammar: Wish, if, only and hope

Wish, if only and hope

Use wish / if only + past simple to say we would like a present situation to be different: I wish I had a bigger car (because my car is too small). If only it was the summer holidays (but it isn’t – I’m still at school).

Use wish / if only + would to say:

·    We want something to happen: I wish my car would start (I can’t make it start and I want it to start). If only the lesson would en (I want it to end).

·    We want someone to start doing something they do not do: If only you’d listen to me! Or we want someone to stop doing something which annoys us: I wish you wouldn’t borrow my clothes! If only my mum wouldn’t phone me every five minutes!

Use wish / if only + past perfect to talk about things which we are unhappy about which happened in the past: He wishes he had studied harder when he was at school (he didn’t study hard enough – perhaps if he had studied harder he would have gone to university). If only they hadn’t scored that goal! (they scored a goal and as a result we probably won’t win the match).

If only means I wish. When talking about other people we use he wishes, they wish, etc. We use if only when we feel something very strongly. Otherwise we use I wish.

Use hope when we want something to happen or to be true, and usually have a good reason to think that it might: I hope you have a good holiday. She hopes she’ll get a high grade in her exams. He hopes to go into politics in the future.

We can use hope when we want something t o be true about the past, but we don’t know if it is true: I hope you had a good flight (but I don’t know if you had a good flight). I hope you had good weather for your party (but I don’t know if the weather was good).

wish or

hope?

Pessimistic about something happening, or sure it won’t happen? Use wish.

Optimistic about something? Use hope.        

Talking about a present situation? Use wish + past simple.

Talking about something you would like to happen or something you would like someone to do? Use wish + would.

Talking about past time? Use wish + past perfect.

I hope the weather will improve so we can go fishing this afternoon.

I wish I lived in London. She wishes she was / were richer.

I wish you wouldn’t play such loud music. He wishes his daughter would come home earlier.

I wish I hadn’t eaten so much cake – I’m feeling sick. She wished she had gone to university.             

Beginner Levels - Lesson 21 - Practical English Drama

Beginner Levels - Lesson 20 - Practical English Drama

Beginner Levels - Lesson 19 - Practical English Drama

Beginner Levels - Lesson 18 - Practical English Drama