Hello! In a few days I hope to write a longer post about the Third Conditional, but for now I wanted to share an interesting video and an article I found related to time:
As you may know, in the US and other English-speaking countries, the people change the clocks by an hour two times every year. It's called Daylight Saving/Savings Time, and it's often an interesting or confusing cultural aspect. This year they'll change the clocks again on November 6th. The video above explains the logic behind Daylight Savings Time, but the narrator also speaks pretty quickly. If you're having trouble understanding everything, don't worry: I also didn't understand parts of it!
It's pretty interesting and I know that it's even controversial sometimes. I personally think Daylight Savings Time is great because it means that it's light until 8:30 or 9:00 PM in the evening in Colorado.
So, thanks for reading, and check back in a few days for more information about conditional tenses. Have a great day!
Hello again! In a few days I'll post more about the Third Conditional, but for today we have another False Friend. If you're not sure what a False Friend is, check out this introductory post. I want to look at the difference between asistir in Spanish and assist in English. My students commonly confuse these two words:
False Friend: asistir vs. assist
This SPANISH word...
Looks like this ENGLISH word...
...but they are DIFFERENT because...
asistir
assist
In English, assist is usually used as a verb. It is similar to the word help. For example: "If you have English problems, please tell me and I'll be happy to assist you."
In Spanish, asistir is a verb that often means to go to or to attend. BUT, it can also mean to help, depending on the context.
As nouns in English, an"assistant" is a helper, and "assistance" is help. Note that "attendance" is a noun form of "attend." Compare: "When her car broke down, Jane called her insurance company to ask for assistance." "It's important to go to every English class because 10% of my final grade is based on class attendance."
As nouns in Spanish, asistencia can mean either "attendance" (in a class) or "assistance" (help, like in the photo above).
I hope that helps you. If you're confused or have any questions, please leave a comment below and I'll be happy to try to assist you! If you have suggestions for other False Friends or Common Errors, please tell me.
Hello! A few days ago we talked about the use of the First Conditional in English, and today we'll talk about the use of the Second Conditional. I'll keep the format of these posts similar so it's easy to compare them. The last post had a video to help illustrate how to use the tense, and so will this one. Listen to this song by Beyoncé and see what you can understand (if you want, you can also follow the lyrics here):
This is a very popular song to illustrate the second conditional, and my students have used it in different classes. So, the big question: In the song, is there a real possibility that Beyoncé can become a man? No, definitely not. So in this case, we're talking about an unreal possibility. That's what the Second Conditional is all about:
The Second Conditional (Unreal, Improbable Possibility)
Second conditional phrases are used in situations that are not likely to happen. Similar to the first conditional, they have two parts:
1. The "if" part (also called the "if phrase," "if clause," or "condition")
2. The "fantasy" part (also called the "would clause" or "result")
For example, I can say:
If a day had 25 hours, everyone would sleep more.
Obviously, this is an impossible, unreal situation because a day always has 24 hours. But it's nice to imagine alternate realities sometimes, isn't it?
Like in the first conditional, second conditional phrases can usually be inverted:
Everyone would sleep more if a day had 25 hours.
In both sentences, the "if" part expresses the improbable condition (a day with 25 hours), and the result expresses the outcome (everyone would sleep more).
In the second conditional, the condition is written in a past tense (past simple or past continuous), and the result is written using would/could/should/might + a base verb. Also notice that it's acceptable or at least common to use was or were with the "if" phrase:
If I found a million dollars, I would travel around the world.
If Jane had more friends, she might not be so strange at parties.
Tom would be a better basketball player if he were taller.
If Costa Rica won the World Cup, the entire world would be amazed.
In other words,
If (past tense), then (would + base verb) .
Can you complete the following phrases?
If I had a Lamborghini, ___________ .
Mary would feel happy if ___________ .
If Jake never had to work again, ___________ .
I might be better at English if ___________ .
As a side note, it's important to mention that there are some situations where both the first and second conditional are possible. It often depends on the speaker's attitude or perspective.
For example, let's talk about an iPhone:
If I buy an iPhone, I will sell my old phone.
In this case I'm using the First Conditional, which indicates that there's a real possibility I will buy an iPhone. But what if I don't want to buy a phone, and I only want to speak theoretically? In that case, I would use the Second Conditional:
If I bought an iPhone, I would sell my old phone.
Notice that the sentences are very similar, so the conditional tense can often indicate the speaker's attitude about the possibility. If you want more examples and summaries of the second conditional, check out this page or this page.
For more practice, listen to the song again and try to find some phrases that use the second conditional (there are a lot--remember that I would can be contracted to I'd). Here are the lyrics (I'll put the second conditional phrases at the end of this post so you can check your answers):
Beyoncé - "If I Were A Boy"
If I were a boy even just for a day
I'd roll out of bed in the morning
And throw on what I wanted and go
Drink beer with the guys
And chase after girls
I'd kick it with who I wanted
And I'd never get confronted for it
'Cause they'd stick up for me
If I were a boy
I think I could understand
How it feels to love a girl
I swear I'd be a better man
I'd listen to her
'Cause I know how it hurts
When you lose the one you wanted
'Cause he's taking you for granted
And everything you had got destroyed
If I were a boy
I would turn off my phone
Tell everyone it's broken
So they'd think that I was sleeping alone
I'd put myself first
And make the rules as I go
'Cause I know that she'd be faithful
Waiting for me to come home, to come home
If I were a boy
I think I could understand
How it feels to love a girl
I swear I'd be a better man
I'd listen to her
'Cause I know how it hurts
When you lose the one you wanted
'Cause he's taking you for granted
And everything you had got destroyed
It's a little too late for you to come back
Say it's just a mistake
Think I'd forgive you like that
If you thought I would wait for you
You thought wrong
But you're just a boy
You don't understand
And you don't understand, oh
How it feels to love a girl
Someday you'll wish you were a better man
You don't listen to her
You don't care how it hurts
Until you lose the one you wanted
'Cause you're taking her for granted
And everything you had got destroyed
But you're just a boy
How many second conditional phrases did you find? Many start with the phrase "If I were a boy," although she doesn't repeat the "if" clause or even the "I'd" for every result:
"If I were a boy... -I'd roll out of bed in the morning -(I'd) throw on what I wanted -(I'd) go drink beer with the guys"
"If I were a boy, I think I could understand how it feels to love a girl..."
For some of the instances, the people involved change:
"If I were a boy, I would turn off my phone, (and) tell everyone it's broken so they would think that I was sleeping alone."
"If you thoughtI would wait for you, you thought wrong."
And in some of the instances, the "if clause" is actually not even included; that's common with second conditional phrases, especially in songs:
"...you'll wish you were a better man"
Many other songs use second conditional phrases-- do you know of any others? I like Barenaked Ladies' "If I Had $1,000,000" and "If" by Red Hot Chili Peppers (but neither have videos).
So, that's it for now! As usual, if you have any questions or problems, please leave a comment below or contact me.
Thanks for reading, and check back soon for information about the thirdconditional-- yes, there's a third one, too! Have a great day!
To start today's post, watch this video and try to understand as much as you can
(If it's too difficult, or if you hate ice cream, you can also follow the lyrics here):
In this song, do you think there's a real possibility that the singer will run? The song's title is "If I Run"; when we use the word "if," we're expressing a possibility. Sometimes the possibility is real, and sometimes the possibility is unreal. Sentences with "if" are also called "conditional sentences" because they express an idea or a desire for the future, but they also mention a condition or requirement for the idea or desire to happen.
In the next few days we'll look at three common ways to use conditionals in English. Today we'll talk about the First Conditional:
The First Conditional (Real, Probable Possibility)
First conditional phrases talk about real, possible situations. These phrases have two parts:
1. The "if" part (also called the "if phrase," "if clause," or "condition")
2. The "future" part (also called the "future clause" or "result")
For example, I can say:
If you learn some grammar, your English will improve.
In this case, the condition is first, and the result is second. You can also generally reverse the order of the two parts (but remove the comma):
Your English will improve if you learn some grammar.
In both sentences, the "if" part expresses the condition or requirement (you learn some grammar), and the result expresses what will happen (your English will improve).
In the first conditional, the condition is written in a present tense (present simple, present continuous, or present perfect), and the result is written in a future tense (will, going to, can, must):
If Ken misses the bus, he will walk home.
If Ken is learning English, he's going to learn conditional tenses.
If Ken hasn't eaten, he can buy a sandwich in the cafeteria.
In other words,
If (present tense), then (future tense) .
Can you complete the following phrases?
If I feel bored tonight, ___________ .
Mary will feel happy if ___________ .
If everyone in class passes the exam, ___________ .
Now that you've learned a bit more about these phrases, listen to the song again and try to find some phrases that use the first conditional. Here are the lyrics (I'll put the first conditional phrases at the end of this post so you can check your answers):
Semisonic - "If I Run" Morning comes and morning goes
Now it's me against the sun
The day goes by and darkness grows
And it's over before it's done
Well I know it'll be alright if I just get on the road
If I run I can free my worried mind
Yeah I know on the day I die I will lose my heavy load
But I wouldn't want to leave you behind
All my time keeps creeping on
Now I've grown into a man
But Mr. Child still wants to run
From the cradle to the van
Keep thinking it'll be alright if I just get on the road
If I run I can free my worried mind
Keep thinking of the day I die when I lose my heavy load
But I wouldn't want to leave you behind.
Did you find the first conditional phrases? They are:
"I know it'll be alright if I just get on the road"
"If I run I can free my worried mind"
Do you know other songs that use the first conditional? One that I like is Garth Brooks' "If Tomorrow Never Comes," but it's a bit more complicated because he also mixes in the second conditional (which we'll talk about in a few days). If you want more information about the first conditional, check out this page or this page.
So, that's it for today! If you have any questions or problems, please tell me. Sometimes it's difficult to make grammar interesting and easy to understand!
Thanks for reading, and keep checking Sitzman ABC in the coming days to learn more about second and third conditionals!
Are these birds having a discussion? An argument? Read on to find out! (Photo Credit)
Hello! Today we have another False Friend to discuss. If you're not sure what a False Friend is, check out this introductory post. Today we'll be looking at the difference between discusión in Spanish and discussion in English. Like most False Friends, they look very similar and in fact sometimes there's no difference in meaning. Still, there are some contexts where they mean different things. Let's look:
False Friend: discusión vs. discussion
This SPANISH word...
Looks like this ENGLISH word...
...but they are DIFFERENT because...
discusión
discussion
In English, a discussion is usually the same thing as a conversation. It can be positive or negative, depending on the context.
In Spanish, a discusión is usually a negative thing. In other words, if you use this word, it indicates that people were possibly yelling and getting very angry. Basically, it's like a verbal fight.
If you want to say discusión in English, try to use a word like "an argument" or even "a fight." Those are closer to the meaning in Spanish.
I'll be posting more False Friends in the days and weeks to come, but if you have any suggestions for other False Friends or Common Errors, please tell me.
Thanks for reading, and have a great day full of interesting discussions--but hopefully no arguments!
