LANGUAGE REFERENCE
124
12
GRAMMAR
G1
SECOND CONDITIONAL
You use the second conditional to talk about the
result of an action. The action is unreal, i.e. it can’t
happen or is very unlikely to happen.
If we practised more, we would be better at hockey.
(= We don’t practise, so we aren’t good at hockey.)
If we had more time, we would practise.
(= We don’t have the time, so we don’t practise.)
If I was rich, I’d buy a sailing boat.
(= I’m not rich, so I can’t buy a sailing boat.)
!
It is also possible to use
If I/he/she were
in the
second conditional.
If
she were
younger, she’d become a sports teacher.
If
I were
you, I’d start taking some exercise.
You can also use the second conditional to talk about
possible future actions, but the actions are unlikely
to happen.
What would you do if you won a million dollars?
If I won a million dollars, I wouldn’t go to work any
more!
!
You usually put a comma after the
if-
clause.
You can also use
might
or
could
in the main clause.
If they spent more money on sports, we
might win
more medals.
If you stayed with me in the summer, we
could visit
Athens together.
You can also put the main clause first. If you do
this, you don’t use a comma.
They’d spend more money if people showed more
interest.
G2
TOO
AND
ENOUGH
Use
too much/many
+ noun to mean ‘more than we
need or want’.
We’ve spent
too much money
.
There are
too many adverts
on TV.
Use
enough
+ noun to mean ‘the correct amount’.
I’ve had
enough chocolate cake
for now, thank you.
Use
not enough
+ noun to mean ‘less/fewer than we
need/want’.
There
aren’t
enough opportunities
for women.
(= fewer than we want)
Use
too much
with uncountable nouns and
too many
with countable nouns.
I’ve got
too much work
at the moment.
This company has got
too many problems
!
Use
(not) enough
with both countable and
uncountable nouns.
We didn’t have
enough good sportspeople
at the
last games.
Have you got
enough time
?
You can also use
too
and
(not) … enough
with
adjectives.
Mark doesn’t do any sport. He’s
too lazy
.
James will win the race. He’s
fast enough
.
Gill won’t pass the exam. She’s
not clever enough
.
!
Be careful of the word order with
too
and
enough
.
too much / too many / enough
+ noun:
We haven’t
got
enough people
for the team.
too
+ adjective:
I’m
too tired
.
adjective +
enough
:
You aren’t
quick enough
.
KEY LANGUAGE
KL
ANSWERING COMPLEX QUESTIONS
Er, …, Hmm, OK, Right, Well, …
Let me see, …
Let me think, …
I think I’d …
That’s a difficult one
That’s a tricky question
To be honest, I’d …
VOCABULARY
V1
SPORTS
archery, badminton, basketball, cycling, dragon-boat
racing, fencing, football, gymnastics, hockey, judo,
polo, sailing, skiing, swimming, table tennis
V2
LINKING WORDS
although, but, despite, during, however, if, since, so
V3
PERSONALITY TYPES
careful, cautious, competitive, individualistic,
non-competitive, risk-seeking, self-sufficient,
sociable, unsociable
If
-clause (condition)
Main clause (result
)
If
+ past simple,
would / wouldn’t
+
infinitive without
to
If they
showed
more
they
’d
(would) get more
interest,
help.
If I
didn’t
get the job,
I
’d
(would) be really
unhappy.
