unreal situation | Learn English quickly with podcast | Episode 46

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Episode 46: Unreal Situations

Introduction

Hello English learners! Welcome back to another fantastic lesson here at English Pod. My name is Marco, and joining me is Katherine. Today, we’ve got a somewhat unusual lesson because we're diving into hypothetical situations—essentially, an "unreal situation" or scenarios that may or may not happen!

Get ready to hear all about this in today’s dialogue. We’ll play it a couple of times and then break it down for you, so you'll understand how to talk about these engaging topics with friends!

The What-If Game

Let’s jump right into a fun conversation:

• Katherine: What would you say if Eric asked you out on a date?
• Marco: Duh! I would say yes. Eric is the most popular kid in school.
• Katherine: What would you do if you won the lottery?
• Marco: I would buy two tickets for a trip around the world!

As you can see, this is a great example of the "What if?" game, which is a fun way to explore hypothetical situations. And yes, guys play it too!

Understanding Conditionals

The main focus of today’s lesson is on conditionals, specifically the structure “what if.” In these situations, the result depends on something else happening.

Language Takeaway

Here are some vocabulary highlights from today’s discussion:

For instance, when discussing what your parents might say about getting married, they might “freak out.” This common phrase indicates an extreme reaction, typically negative.

Types of Unreal Situations

We can categorize hypothetical situations into two groups:

1. Very Unrealistic Situations: These are scenarios that are highly unlikely to happen.
2. More Probable Situations: These are situations that could realistically occur.

Examples of Very Unrealistic Situations

Here’s an example from our dialogue:

• If you won the lottery, what would you do?

Another example could be:

• If you were stuck on a deserted island, who would you want with you?

Common Probable Situations

For more probable situations, we can use present tense. For example:

• If it rains tomorrow, I will stay home.
• If we have lunch tomorrow, what will we eat?

It’s important to note the difference between these two types. Unrealistic situations often use past tense, while more realistic situations typically use present tense.

Listening Practice

Let's listen to some phrases and identify which type of conditional they represent:

• If it stops raining, we’ll go for a walk later.
• If you catch a cold, you’ll be miserable for days.

Understanding these examples will help reinforce your grasp of conditionals!

Conclusion

As we wrap up today’s lesson, remember that these types of hypothetical conversations are common in English, making it essential to know how to use them.

We’ll listen to the dialogue one last time to reinforce everything we’ve discussed today. Happy learning!