unit11 english b2

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Unit 11. Dreams

If you touch fire, you get burntSi tocas el fuego, te quemas.

if subject verb Present Simple object, if clause main verb clause

They oversleep if they go to bed late Duermen más de la cuenta si se van a dormir tarde.subject verb Present Simple if subject Present Simple tense

GrammarConditional sentences

Test

VocabularyHealth and sports

Vocabulary practice exercise

ReadingThe magic potions

Reading comprehension

Listening

Listening comprehension

WritingHow to write a CV /

résuméNow you write

Grammar

Conditional sentences

A conditional sentence is a sentence that expresses hypothetical situations and their consequences. In English, as in Spanish, there are different types of conditional sentences because hypothetical situations can be expressed in a number of different manners, and therefore, using different tenses. In all conditional sentences we have two clauses, one is the “if clause” and the other one is “the main verb clause”. The order of the clauses does not alter the sentences meanings.

Zero conditional

The Zero conditional is called “zero” conditional because, in spite of having the structure of a conditional sentence, there is no real hypothetical situation or conditional. Here you have an example:

If water reaches 100 degrees, it boils. Si el agua alcanza los 100 grados, hierve.

This means that whenever this happens (when water reaches 100 degrees) there is the same consequence (it boils). Therefore, it is a “general truth”.

Structure of the Zero conditional: If + subject + verb in the Present Simple tense, subject + verb in the Present Simple tense

In the “Zero conditional” both sentences are in the Present Simple tense.

What is it used for?

The Zero conditional is used to describe a general, or particular, truth (verdad general o particular). Let’s see some more examples:

Note: in this case the hypothetical situation is true for everybody.

Note: in this case the hypothetical situation is only true for the speaker.

© Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, S. A. (UNIR)

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If they find her dog, she will give them a reward Si ellos encuentran a su perro, ella les pagará una recompensa.If subject v. present tense, subject will v. infinitive

If they found her dog, she would pay them a reward Si ellos encontrasen a su perro, ella les pagaría una recompensa.If subject v. present tense, subject would v. infinitive

If you buy the boat, I won’t talk to you. Si te compras el barco, no te hablaré.

If they study hard, they will pass the exam. Si estudian duro, pasarán el examen.

If you bought the boat, I wouldn’t talk to you. Si te comprases el barco, no te hablaría.

If they studied harder, they would pass the exam. Si estudiasen más duro, pasarían el examen.

If I were rich, I would travel all over the world. Si yo fuese rico, viajaría por todo el mundo.

First conditional

Study this example: If it rains, I will stay at home. Si llueve, me quedaré en casa.

Structure of the First conditional:

If + subject + verb in the Present Simple tense, subject + will + verb in the infinitive


The First conditional describes a hypothetical situation whose consequence is very likely to happen, that is why we use “will”. Let’s see some more examples:

Second conditional

Study this example: If I had money, I would do many things. Si tuviera dinero, haría muchas cosas.

Structure of the Second conditional:

If + subject + verb in the Past Simple tense, subject + would + verb in the infinitive


The Second conditional describes a hypothetical situation whose consequences are not very likely to happen, that is why we use “would” and not “will”. It contemplates the subjective point of view of the speaker.

Some grammarians distinguish between two types of Second conditional clauses:

® The first is the hypothetical conditional (something like a dream) as in the sentence:

If I were rich, I would buy a mansion. Si fuera rico, compraría una mansión.

® The second one is the impossible conditional as in the sentence: If I had a credit card, I could buy the tickets (but as I don’t have one I can’t do it). Si tuviera una tarjeta de crédito compraría las entradas (pero como no la tengo no lo puedo hacer). In this case, the situation is not hypothetical, it’s a fact: I can’t do something, therefore, it’s impossible.

Let’s see some more examples:

Could, might and may, can be used instead of “would”. For example:

I could sleep some more if I didn’t have to get up so early. Podría dormir más horas si no tuviese que despertarme tan pronto.


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Use of commas in conditional sentences

If the “if clause” is at the beginning of the sentence then use a comma before the second clause. For example:

If you go to London, I will visit you. Si vas a Londres, te visitaré.

Don’t use a comma if the “if clause” is in the second clause of the sentence. For example:

I will visit you if you go to London. Te visitaré si vas a Londres.

How to remember the structures of the different conditionals

What are the differences between the different conditionals?

In the case of the verb to be (fuera, fuese) we use “were” for all the persons, though many native speakers do not respect this rule. For example:

If she were here, we could go swimming. Si ella estuviera aquí podríamos ir a nadar.

If I were you, I wouldn’t do that. Yo que tú no haría eso.

Conditional Example Tip to remember

ZeroIf you work too much, you get tired.

Si trabajas demasiado, te cansas.Both clauses use the Present Simple tense. In Spanish, the same verb tenses are used.

FirstIf she rings the bell, they will come.

Si ella toca el timbre, ellos vendrán.

The “if clause” always has a verb in the Present tense. The tense of the other clause is always with “will”. In Spanish the same verb tenses are used.

SecondIf they came, we could go out.

Si ellos viniesen nosotros podríamos salir.

The verb tense that goes with the “if clause” is always in the Past tense. In Spanish it is the subjective mood, “si fueses, tuvieses, vinieses, etc.” The tense of the other clause always takes “would” (or could, might or may).

Conditional When do we use this conditional? Example Translations. Remarks

ZeroDescribes general, or particular,

truths.

If the temperature drops below zero (0ºC), water

freezes.

Si la temperatura baja por debajo de cero grados, el agua se

congela.

FirstDescribes situations which are very

likely to happen in the future, that’s why we use “will”.

If she comes, we will go to the cinema.

Si ella viene, iremos al cine.

Second

Describes situations that are not very likely to happen and are subjective, they depend on the speaker’s point of view, that’s why we use “would”.

If you ate less, you would lose weight.

Si comieses menos, perderías peso.

You should always try to remember which tense goes with the ‘’if clause”


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Test

A. Zero conditional

Match the two parts of the sentences.

B. First Conditional

Complete the sentences using the words in the brackets.

C. Second conditional

Fill the gaps using one of the options.

1. People are more relaxed2. If the weather is hot,3. I always sit in the aisle seat4. If there is a natural disaster,5. If you send someone an email,6. You need water7. If the clocks change in autumn and spring,8. If your friend has a birthday,9. If you have a problem,10. The bus is often late

A. if I am flying long distance.B. you reset the time.C. the international community offer aid.D. you buy a present.E. when they are on holiday.F. if the traffic is bad.G. complain to customer service.H. the plants need water.I. if you want to make a coffee.J. they receive it almost immediately.

1. If I had a lot of money, I ...... spend it.A. were.B. would.C. was.

2. If I ........... the job of my dreams, I would celebrate.A. got.B. get.C. would.

3. I would ........ around the world if my job required it of me.A. travelled.B. moved.C. travel.

4. I would build my own house if I ............... the time to do it.A. hadn’t.B. had. C. have.

5. If trains ......... more reliable, people would use them more often.A. were.B. weren’t.C. wasn’t.

6. If plastic surgery were illegal, there would ....... a lot of underground clinics.A. are. B. is.C. be.

7. Governments ....... change their policies if they really listened to the people. A. were. B. would.C. be.

8. Bank CEOs would ……… higher taxes if there were any justice in the world.A. paid.B. not paid.C. pay.

9. If the economy were doing well, there ........ be more jobs available.A. wouldn’t. B. would.C. weren’t.

10. The world ........... be cleaner if there were better incentives for producing clean energy.A. wouldn’t.B. would.C. were.

1. If you break the vase, she ............... (be) angry.

2. If she flies in the morning, she ............... (be able to) go to the 2 o’clock meeting.

3. If they book the ticket now, they ............... (get) a discount.

4. If he gets lost, he ............... (use) his sat-nav to get home.

5. If sea levels rise, the earth’s coastline ............... (change) shape.

6. Governments will have to take drastic action ...................... (the economy/deteriorate).

7. People won’t be able to drive cars ..................... (fuel prices/increase).

8. Internet crime will increase ...................................(governments/ not impose) stricter regulations.

9. I’ll phone him back ......... (he/ring) before lunch.

10. They’ll fix the engine ............... (it/break down) again.

Watch a video about the conditionals in English.


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Vocabulary

Health and sports

Word Example Word Example

headachedolor de cabeza

She has a headache. Ella tiene dolor de cabeza.

soccer fútbol (Amer.)

They decided to play soccer. Decidieron jugar al fútbol.

backachedolor de espalda

This backache is killing me. Este dolor de espalda me está

matando.

track and field atletismo

Track and field events are my favourite sports.

El atletismo es mi deporte favorito.

toothachedolor de muelas

He had to go to the dentist because he had toothache. Tuvo que ir al dentista porque

tenía dolor de muelas.

hurdles salto de valla

The 100 m. hurdles is an Olympic track and field athletics discipline

run by women. El salto de valla de 100 m. es un

deporte olímpico femenino.

feverfiebre

She had a fever last night. Ella tuvo fiebre anoche.

horse riding montar a caballo

When are we going to go horse riding?

¿Cuándo vamos a montar a caballo?

coldresfriado, catarro

You are going to get a cold if you don’t wear a sweater.

Vas a coger un catarro si no te pones un jersey.

mountaineering alpinismo

People in Tibet do a lot of mountaineering.

La gente en el Tíbet hace mucho alpinismo.

flugripe

I get the flu every winter. Cojo la gripe todos los inviernos.

ice skating patinaje sobre hielo

The lake froze and they went ice skating.

El lago se congeló y estuvieron patinando.

coughtoser

He has been coughing all night. Ha estado tosiendo toda la noche.

scuba diving bucear

I would like to go scuba diving. Me gustaría ir a bucear.

hurtdoler

My back hurts. Me duele la espalda.

paindolor

I have a terrible pain in my joints. Tengo un terrible dolor en las

articulaciones.

to be under the weather

estar pachucho, sentirse mal

He hasn’t slept and now he is feeling under the weather. Él no ha dormido y ahora está

pachucho.

Vocabulary practice exercise

Translate the following sentences:

1 Si tengo dolor de muelas debo ir al dentista.

2 En el Caribe hay muchos lugares donde puedes bucear.

3 Él fuma y tose mucho.

4 Si te duele la pierna toma esta pastilla.

5 El atletismo requiere mucho entrenamiento.

6 No a todos los americanos les gusta el fútbol.

7 Si coges la gripe tienes que quedarte en casa.

8 Me gustaría ir a montar a caballo.

9 El patinaje sobre hielo no es tan popular como el fútbol.

10 Alguna gente siempre tiene dolor de cabeza.

Listen to the list of vocabulary related to health and sports.


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Reading

‘Sarah, do you know that if you heat water to 100 degrees it will boil?’ Steven asked his 9 year old sister.

‘Yes, I know,’ she said. ‘I was taught that at school.’

‘Do you want to study chemistry with me?’ Steven asked her.

‘No, I don’t,’ Sarah replied. ‘I want to draw a picture.’

‘Well, you can draw in my laboratory,’ Peter said.

‘Really?’

‘Yes, I also have a lot of magic potions to look at.’

‘Do you?’

‘If you come with me, I’ll show you.’

They both headed towards Steven’s laboratory. Sarah had already been in there, but she didn’t know that her brother had “magic potions”.

They went downstairs into the cellar. The place was a little dark and cold and very mysterious. It looked like an old chemist’s than a modern laboratory, as it had old wooden floors and heavy wooden furniture. There was an old microscope and a lot of test tubes filled with different coloured liquids.

‘These are my magic potions,’ said Steven, showing Sarah a set of three test tubes each with a different colour inside.

‘And what do they do?’ Sarah queried.

‘If you drink this one,’ he said, pointing to a tube with green liquid, ‘you will be able to buy anything you want.’

‘Even a great big castle?’ Sarah asked.

‘Yes, even a great big castle.’

‘And if you drink this one?’ she asked, pointing to a tube with blue liquid.

‘You can travel anywhere in the world.’

‘Really?’ she asked, her eyes now wide open.

‘Yes.’

‘And what does the yellow one do?’

‘Well, the yellow one makes you invisible,’ said Steven.

‘Really?’ she questioned, with a look of amazement on her face.

‘Yes, but you shouldn’t drink any of them because they are dangerous.’

‘Why?’

‘They all give you something that you really want, but, in return, they take something away from you.’

‘Ah ha…,’ she said doubtfully.

‘If you want you can draw here with these crayons while I read up on one of my experiments,’ he suggested.

His sister agreed but as she started drawing a big castle under the light of the old desk lamp, she couldn’t stop thinking about the liquids in the tubes.

When she had finished drawing in the lab and had returned upstairs with her brother, she made the decision to go back to the laboratory alone that night.

She waited until everybody had fallen asleep and then went downstairs with a torch.

She decided to drink the yellow liquid to become invisible. But when she took the tube in her hands, she heard a voice say:

‘If you drink me, you will never be visible again.’

So she decided to drink the blue liquid instead. Again, as she lifted the next test tube, she heard a voice, it said:

‘If you drink me, you will never be able to go home again’.

The first two curses frightened her, so she decided to drink the green liquid.

Just as she was putting the tube to her lips a voice said:

‘If you drink me, you will never be able to sell anything’.

She didn’t understand the true import of this last liquid’s curse. Was it bad to be unable to sell anything?

Then she saw a light coming from the cellar’s door and there was her brother staring at her.

‘Sarah, don’t you dare drink the green liquid!’ he shouted. ‘If you can only buy things, but can never sell anything you will be a very poor person.’

The next thing she knew was that she was back in her room. She didn’t really know what the significance of her strange dream was but she knew she would always listen to what her brother said.

The magic potions


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Vocabulary

Go downstairs to the cellar: bajaron al sótano (bodega).Chemist (Brit. n.): farmacia Pharmacy (Amer.).Wooden (adj.): de madera.Furniture (n.): muebles. Test tubes (n.): tubos de ensayo.Point to (v.): apuntar.Anywhere: cualquier lugar. Eyes wide open: ojos muy abiertos.Make someone invisible (v.): volverse invisible.In return: a cambio.Take away (v.): quitar.

Everybody had fallen asleep: se habían quedado dormidos. Torch (n.): linterna Curse(s) (n.): maldición. Frighten (v.): asustar.Was it bad to be unable to do something?: ¿Era malo no ser capaz de..?Stare (v.): mirar fijamente.Dare (v.): atreverse.What the significance of something was: cuál había sido el significado.

Reading comprehension

1. What tempts Sarah into her brother’s laboratory?A. A water boiling experiment.B. Drawing pictures. C. Seeing magic potions.

2. Where was the laboratory positioned in the house?A. The top. B. The middle.C. The bottom.

3. What does the laboratory look like?A. Antiquated.B. Modern.C. State-of-the-art.

4. Which liquid makes it impossible for you to be seen?A. Blue.B. Yellow.C. Green.

5. Why are the potions dangerous?A. They can hurt you.B. They are evil.C. Their powers come at a cost.

6. What did Peter do while Sarah drew?A. Experimented with potions. B. Some reading research.C. Helped his sister.

7. When did Sarah decide to return to the laboratory?A. In the laboratory.B. In bed.C. When they were back upstairs.

8. Why didn’t she drink the first two potions?A. She didn’t like the powers. B. She was scared of the consequences.C. She wanted to buy lots of things.

9. What would happen to her if she drank the third potion?A. She would have money.B. She would be lonely. C. She would be broke.

10. What did Sarah learn from the dream?A. To listen to her brother.B. Don’t touch what you don’t understand.C. Everything you do has a result.

Listening

Listening comprehension

1. How many future possibilities does the first speaker consider?A. One.B. Two.C. Three.

2. What are they?A. Result of effort and a dream.B. What is available and a dream.C. Result of effort and what is available.

3. What job would the speaker like on graduating?A. Merchandising. B. Marketing.C. Media.

4. How many people would they like to work with?A. Four. B. Five.C. Fourteen.

5. How many interviews do they have lined-up?A. Four.B. Five.C. Six.

6. Which city would they like to work in?A. Lima. B. London.C. Los Angeles.

7. Where would their dream location be?A. In the mountains.B. By the sea.C. In the Polar Regions.

8. What business would they run there?A. Adventure activities. B. Yoga retreat.C. Artists’ retreat.

9. How would it be different from other businesses?A. Run business courses.B. Run yoga classes.C. Run workshops.

10. What would the place produce?A. It’s own book label. B. It’s own record label.C. It’s own energy.

Watch a video about two people using the Second Conditional “If I were you, I would…”.

Listen and then choose the correct answer from the options below.

After reading the text choose the correct answer.


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Now you write

Instructions:

Write your own CV as if you were applying for a job in your industry.

Writing

How to write a CV/résumé

In English we have two words for the Spanish word “curriculum” or CV. It is called a CV in British English and a résumé in American English.

Remember a CV is a marketing tool you use to “sell yourself”. Therefore, it should be carefully and clearly laid out, targeted on the specific job in question, as well as being concise and accurate in content, spelling and grammar.

The wording of these documents -CV or résumé- is slightly different, so when addressing a company you should first find out whether you are writing to an American or to a British company and adapt your CV/résumé to the British or American style.

Study this example:

Information that a CV/résumé should include

® Name. ® Introductory paragraph (include who

you are and what you want and can offer, keeping in mind what position you are applying for).

® Work experience (most recent first). ® Education and qualifications (degree

title, qualification achieved and university (Brit.)/college (Amer.) name).

® Interests and achievements. ® Additional Information. ® Referees/References.

Beatriz Sánchez Rodríguez Teacher

I have recently graduated in Teaching from the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona. My ambition is to work with Young Learners within a school environment. Work experience within this �eld and training in the dramatic arts has prepared me to give creative and interactive classes in these important foundation years.

Secretary to Association of Disabled Children of Murcia.I enjoy running and I played basketball at University for the Ladies’ team.Other interests include reading English novels, watching sports, and listening to music.

Interest and achievements

Contact details: Calle Murcia, 3, 28028 Madrid (Spain).Telephone: (0034) 91 644 26538.Email: [email protected]

Languajes: Spanish –native. English – Intermediate spoken. French – Intermediate spoken.

Full, clean driving license.

Additional information

Substitute teacher at Colegio Sagrados Corazones. Worked with all age groups from Reception through to Year 6. Developed learning assistance programs focused on individual needs. Planned and implemented English lessons.

Summers Camp Instructor, Camp USA.Specialist activity instructor in summer camps throughout the USA, teaching drama and creative arts.

Work expirienceJan 2007 – Oct 2009

Jun 2007 – Sept 2009

Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona. BA Hons Teaching Young Learners (1st class).

First AidComputing Skills: Windows XP, Vista, 7, Excel, PowerPoint.Drama: Puppet Theatre for children.

Education andqualifications2006 – 2010

Other qualifications/skills

References

Watch a video about how to write a CV.


unit11 english b2

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