Language Functions

2025年09月26日

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Language Functions

Expressing Real Conditions

Based on our experience or knowledge,we know that something may happen only under certain conditions.If the condition can be met,it is called a real condition.To express real conditions,we may follow the examples below:

If the IMF is to carry out a reform,what will it be?

If you don’t work hard,how can you make much money?

Suppose/Supposing(that)it’s hazy tomorrow,we’ll have the

volleyball match indoors.

I’ll do it on condition(that)you help me.

I’ll sign the contract provided/providing(that)you lower the

price by 20 percent.

Given(that)you promise to give me a pay rise,I’ll stay.

As/So long as we don’t lose heart,we will win.

Don’t come unless I call you.

Expressing Unreal Conditions

An unreal condition refers to a purely hypothetical condition or condition that is unlikely to be realized.To express unreal conditions,we may follow the examples below:

If I were the head of the IMF,I would engage in an overhaul.

If I were you,I would put all the money into the bank.

If I were to do it,I would start with improving efficiency.

If I had left earlier,I would have caught the flight.

Should there/If there should be an earthquake,we would

dispatch a rescue team immediately.

Had you/If you had invested in my business,you would have

made a lot of money.

If not for/But for/Without your generous help,I would have

lost the job.

If only I could travel around the world!

Considering“What if…”

Nobody is 100 percent sure about what will happen in the future.But people can daydream and imagine what might happen or have happened based on their dislikes and dislikes,logical reasoning,or simply intuition.The following are some useful ways to encourage people to imagine:

Just imagine if you became a billionaire,what would you do?

What if the IMF rejected your proposal?

Supposing you inherited a lot of money,what would you do?

Imagine if you won a big lottery,how would you feel?

Suppose the IMF carried out a reform,what would it be like?

What would you have done if you had made a fortune?

What might have happened if your parents had stopped giving

you financial support?

How would you have felt if you had lost your job?

What if your company had gone broke then?

Responses to“What if…”

We often find it difficult to give a quick answer to questions of“what if…”,but here are some possible ways to start a response:

Oh,I guess I would/

Well,of course.I might…

Oh,I expect I’d…

Me?I think I’d…

Oh dear,I don’t know,I guess I would have…

It’s really hard to say,but I think I would have…

Difficult to say,but I guess I’d have…

Well,I might have…,but I wouldn’t have…

Tough question.I think I could have…

Good question.I suppose I might have…

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