Hello, all. No episódio de hoje, eu falo sobre a maneira coloquial de se dizer o segundo condicional do inglês.
Transcrição
Hello, all! How’s it going? Here’s a new episode of the Inglesonline podcast. Please subscribe to this podcast using the Podcasts app for iPhone or iPad, or listen to the episodes using the Inglesonline Android app. To download or just listen to other episodes and download transcripts, go to inglesonline.com.br and click Podcast Inglesonline.
So let’s use today’s episode to hone our “conditional” skills. To hone a skill means to perfect that skill, to make it more efficient, more accurate. And just a side note: notice how I said “perfect”, the verb, and not “perfect”, the adjective. Two different pronunciations there. So here I’m saying that we are going to hone our “Conditional” skills, and by that I mean we are going to perfect our skills. We’re actually going to focus on the second conditional – and if you don’t which conditional that is, not a problem. I’m talking about this structure: If I had the money, I would buy a new car. Or If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world.
Just a quick recap – this is the structure that communicates a wish, only… it’s an imaginary situation like the examples I’ve just given you. If I had the money… I would buy a new car. Do I have the money? No. Therefore I’m not going to buy any new cars right now, but if I had the money, I would. I would buy a new car.
So here’s the deal, everyone: most of the time what we’ll hear in conversation, in movies, or sitcoms, isn’t this very clearly pronounced “If I had the money, I would buy a new car”. No, what we’ll hear most of the time is the contracted form of I and would, or he and would, or they and would, and so on and so forth. This is what you’ll hear most of the time: If I had the money, I’d buy a new car. There’s a D sound in there, and it’s the D for WOULD. Again: If I had the money, I’d buy a new car. If I won the lottery, I’d travel around the world.
So if you’re familiar with the second conditional; if you know what I’m talking about and if you’re still with me – and what I mean by that is, if you understand what I’ve said up to now, then let’s go ahead and get you a little bit more used to those contractions in second conditional structures. When you say If I won the lottery, I’d travel around the world, the D sound is very quick, sometimes almost imperceptible. And as you get used to hearing this structure and understanding it, you won’t even miss that D sound. You’ll totally get what’s being said.
So here we go – listen to these examples without any contractions first: (1) If she owned a house, she would be in a better situation. (2) If we had dinner earlier, we would be able to watch the show. (3) If I saved money, I would feel better about spending it. (4) If I had a dog, I would walk it myself. (5) If they had more patience, they would find a better house. (6) If I liked lettuce, I would eat it every day.
Got it? Cool. So now listen to those examples with the contractions. (1) If she owned a house, she’d be in a better situation. (2) If we had dinner earlier, we’d be able to watch the show. (3) If I saved money, I’d feel better about spending it. (4) If I had a dog, I’d walk it myself. (5) If they had more patience, they’d find a better house. (6) If I liked lettuce, I’d eat it every day.
Listen again to the second half of each sentence: She’d be in a better situation. OK – just a reminder… Make sure that you’re following this and that you understand what I’m saying. So, she’d be in a better situation. We’d be able to watch the show. I’d feel better about spending it. I’d walk it myself. They’d find a better house. I’d eat it every day.
If I had three computers, I’d sell one of them. Yeah. If this was Brazil, it’d be sunny outside. It’s not Brazil, so it’s not really sunny. But if it was, it’d be sunny. If today was Saturday, I’d be hanging out somewhere in the city. If my friend didn’t like her job, she’d be looking for a new one.
Were you able to fully understand the second conditional examples I just gave you? So let me ask you this: how familiar are you with this particular contraction? Have you incorporated it into your speech yet? If the answer is no, have another listen, and another, and another, and help yourself become more familiar with the way the second conditional is used most of the time.
Any examples of your own? Let us know in the comments, as always, and talk to you next time!
Keywords
uso do 2nd conditional com contração
Glossary
and so on and so forth = e assim por diante
I would walk it (the dog) myself = eu mesma o levaria pra passear
Ana criou um blog de dicas de inglês em 2006, e depois de muito pesquisar o que faz alguém ganhar fluência numa segunda língua, criou seu primeiro curso de inglês em 2009.
This is my example: “If you listened to the podcasts of inglesonline everyday, you’d be with your English on the tip of the tongue”.
Thank you once more!
