Gramática ~54 min del núcleo restante

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Puedo hablar de algo irreal o poco probable y dar un consejo con «yo que tú».

Comenzar la lección Núcleo 54 min · pasos: 6 · opcional: +2

Tiempo declarado del núcleo. Dos bloques del núcleo no llevan cifra, por lo que la lección real es más larga que esta suma.

Gramática

15 min

En A2 #27 la condición era real: If it rains, I'll stay at home: es muy posible que llueva. Pero a menudo hablamos de lo que no es: «si tuviera tiempo», «si viviera junto al mar». Para eso está el segundo condicional.

La forma: if + pasado; en la parte principal, would + forma básica.

afirmación If I had more time, I'd learn Italian.
negación If I didn't have to work, I wouldn't get up at six.
pregunta What would you do if you won the lottery?
respuesta corta Yes, I would. / No, I wouldn't.

'd es la contracción de would, la misma que en I'd like (A2 #17). Las partes pueden cambiar de orden: I'd learn Italian if I had more time. La coma solo hace falta cuando la parte con if va primero. En lugar de would puede ir could, «podría»: If I had a car, I could drive to work.

Aquí el pasado no significa pasado. If I had more time habla de hoy. La forma de pasado aleja el hecho de la realidad, igual que en el educado Could you…? (A2 #17). En español pasa algo parecido: en «si tuviera tiempo», «tuviera» es un pasado de subjuntivo, aunque se habla de ahora.

Cuándo se usa.

De lo que ahora no es: If I lived by the sea, I'd swim every day. No vivo junto al mar.

De un futuro poco probable o inventado: What would you do if you won a million pounds? Ganar es casi imposible, por eso, segundo condicional.

Para un consejo: If I were you, I'd…; de eso, más abajo.

Compara el primer y el segundo condicional. La diferencia no está en «si», sino en cuánto cree el hablante en la condición:

If I get the job, I'll move to Bristol. Una posibilidad real: la entrevista fue bien.
If I got the job, I'd move to Bristol. Una posibilidad pequeña: casi no tengo esperanzas.

La situación es la misma, pero la elección del tipo dice cómo la valoras.

were para todas las personas. Detrás de if, be tiene una forma especial: were incluso con I, he, she: If I were rich…, If she were here… (como en español «si yo fuera», «si ella fuera»: una sola forma). En la conversación se dice a menudo también If I was rich; también es correcto, solo que más sencillo y menos culto.

El consejo: If I were you, I'd…: «yo que tú…», «yo en tu lugar…». Aquí los nativos dicen casi siempre were: If I were you, I'd talk to your manager. I wouldn't buy that car if I were you. Este consejo es más suave que You should… (A2 #11): no le enseñas nada a la otra persona, sino que te pones en su lugar. A menudo la primera parte se omite: I'd talk to your manager: el «yo que tú» se entiende igual.

would sin if. La parte principal también vive sola, cuando la condición se entiende por la conversación o no la hay en absoluto: It would be nice to have a garden.: «Estaría bien tener un jardín». I'd never do that.: «Yo nunca haría eso». Which city would you like to live in? Es la misma irrealidad, solo que el «si» no se dice. Por eso would se oye tanto en los sueños, las valoraciones y las preguntas educadas.

Más ejemplos:

If I knew her number, I'd call her. Si supiera su número, la llamaría.
If it wasn't so expensive, we'd go more often. Si no fuera tan caro, iríamos más a menudo.
I'd be happier if I didn't live so far from work. Sería más feliz si no viviera tan lejos del trabajo.
Would you live abroad if you could? ¿Vivirías en el extranjero si pudieras?

Así no se dice. ✗ If I had more time, I will learn Italian → ✓ If I had more time, I'd learn Italian. Si la condición es irreal, también lo es la parte principal: will no encaja con ella.

Ponte a prueba. ¿Qué significa If I had a car, I'd drive to work: hay coche o no? ¿Cómo se dice «yo que tú, no me preocuparía»? Las posibilidades de ganar son casi nulas: ¿cómo terminas If I ___ (win), I ___ (buy) a house?

mostrar las respuestas
no hay coche: el pasado detrás de if habla de lo irreal; If I were you, I wouldn't worry (o I wouldn't worry if I were you); segundo condicional: If I won, I'd buy a house.
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Errores de los hispanohablantes

escrito para tu idioma
1

would también detrás de if

✗ If I would have more time, I would learn Italian

✓ If I had more time, I would learn Italian

«Tendría» se traduce por would have, y en el habla de algunas zonas se oye incluso «si tendría tiempo». En inglés, como en «si tuviera tiempo, aprendería», el condicional va solo en la parte principal; detrás de if, el pasado.

2

would can

✗ If I had a car, I would can drive to work

✓ If I had a car, I could drive to work

«Podría» es el condicional de «poder», y parece pedir would + can. Pero can no admite would delante: «podría» en inglés es could.

3

Falta el sujeto

✗ If I had more time, would learn Italian

✓ If I had more time, I'd learn Italian

En «si tuviera tiempo, aprendería italiano» el español no repite «yo». En inglés cada parte necesita su sujeto: would no dice de quién se habla.

4

«Yo en tu lugar»

In your place, I'd talk to him se entiende, pero no es la forma habitual; la fórmula del consejo es ✓ If I were you, I'd talk to him. Y con on (✗ On your place…) ya es un error. «Yo que tú» y «yo en tu lugar» no se traducen palabra por palabra: aprende If I were you entero.

Pronunciación

4 min

would en la afirmación se reduce a /d/: I'd learn /aɪd ˈlɜːn/. De oído lo separa de I learn un solo sonido, así que apóyate en el if y el pasado de al lado: avisan de que detrás viene would.

El would completo es /wʊd/, rima con good, y la letra l no se pronuncia. Completo y acentuado aparece en la respuesta corta: Yes, I would. En la pregunta y después de un sustantivo, sin acento, es débil, /wəd/: What would you do? /ˈwɒt wəd ju ˈduː/. wouldn't es /ˈwʊdnt/, sin vocal entre /d/ y /n/.

were en If I were you es átono, /wə/: /ɪf aɪ wə ˈjuː/. El acento cae en you, y al final del consejo la voz baja: así suena amistoso y seguro.

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Texto

5 min

This week we asked our readers: what would you do if you didn't have to work for a year?

Megan, a nurse from Cardiff: "I'd learn Italian properly. I'd find a small flat in Bologna, and I wouldn't speak a word of English for twelve months. If I lived there, I'd go to the market every morning and cook real Italian food. It would be a big adventure."

Dev, a taxi driver from Leeds: "Honestly? I'd sleep for a week first. Then I'd walk round the whole coast of Wales. It's about 870 miles, so if I walked twenty miles a day, I could finish it in about six weeks."

Lucy, a student from Belfast: "I wouldn't travel — everybody says that. I'd make my own computer game. I already have the idea. If I had more time, I'd finish it in a few months."

One reader sent us a different question: "My job is boring, but it's safe. Should I leave?" Our advice: if we were you, we wouldn't leave without a plan. We'd start an evening course first. If you enjoyed it, you could change jobs next year.

Leer en voz alta

Ejercicios

30 min

1. Relleno de huecos.

  1. If I (have) more time, I (learn) to play the piano
  2. If she (live) closer, we (see) each other more often
  3. What you (do) if you (win) the lottery?
  4. If I (be) you, I (not / buy) that car
  5. I (go) to the party if I (not / have) to work
  6. If we (know) her address, we (send) her a card
  7. He (be) healthier if he (not / smoke)
  8. If I (can) speak French, I (apply) for that job in Paris
Mostrar las respuestas
had / would learn; lived / would see; would / do / won; were / wouldn't buy; would go / didn't have; knew / would send; would be / didn't smoke; could / would apply

2. Opción múltiple.

  1. If it (rain) tomorrow, we (stay) at home. (es muy posible)
  2. If I (live) in London, I (go) to the theatre every week. (no vivo allí)
  3. If you (hurry), you (catch) the bus. (se puede llegar a tiempo)
  4. If I (have) a garden, I (grow) vegetables. (no hay jardín)
  5. If she (call) tonight, I (tell) her the news. (seguramente llamará)
  6. If dogs (can) talk, they (tell) us a lot. (fantasía)
Mostrar las respuestas
rains / will stay; lived / would go; hurry / will catch; had / would grow; calls / will tell; could / would tell

3. Detección de errores.

  1. If I would have more money, I would travel.
  2. If I have more time, I would learn Italian.
  3. On your place I would talk to the manager.
  4. If she knew the answer, she will tell us.
  5. What you would do if you won the lottery?
  6. If I were you, I would to call him.
Mostrar las respuestas
If I had more money, I would travel / If I had more money, I'd travel; If I had more time, I would learn Italian / If I had more time, I'd learn Italian / If I have more time, I will learn Italian; If I were you, I would talk to the manager / If I were you, I'd talk to the manager / If I was you, I would talk to the manager / If I was you, I'd talk to the manager; If she knew the answer, she would tell us / If she knew the answer, she'd tell us / If she knows the answer, she will tell us; What would you do if you won the lottery?; If I were you, I would call him / If I were you, I'd call him

4. Reescribe como una condición irreal

  1. I don't have a car, so I don't drive to work.
  2. She doesn't speak French, so she can't work in Paris.
  3. We live in the city, so we don't have a garden.
  4. I'm not rich, so I can't buy a house by the sea.
  5. He works at weekends, so he can't come to the match.
  6. I don't know her number, so I can't call her.
Mostrar las respuestas
If I had a car, I would drive to work / If I had a car, I'd drive to work / If I had a car, I could drive to work; If she spoke French, she could work in Paris; If we didn't live in the city, we would have a garden / If we didn't live in the city, we'd have a garden; If I were rich, I could buy a house by the sea / If I was rich, I could buy a house by the sea / If I were rich, I would buy a house by the sea / If I were rich, I'd buy a house by the sea / If I was rich, I'd buy a house by the sea; If he didn't work at weekends, he could come to the match / If he didn't work at weekends, he would come to the match / If he didn't work at weekends, he'd come to the match; If I knew her number, I could call her / If I knew her number, I would call her / If I knew her number, I'd call her

5. Convierte la pista en un consejo

  1. I'm always tired. (go to bed earlier)
  2. My laptop is very slow. (buy a new one)
  3. I've got toothache. (see a dentist)
  4. My flat is too expensive. (look for a cheaper one)
  5. I'm thinking of leaving my job. (not / leave without a new one)
Mostrar las respuestas
If I were you, I'd go to bed earlier / If I were you, I would go to bed earlier; If I were you, I'd buy a new one / If I were you, I would buy a new one; If I were you, I'd see a dentist / If I were you, I would see a dentist; If I were you, I'd look for a cheaper one / If I were you, I would look for a cheaper one; If I were you, I wouldn't leave without a new one / If I were you, I wouldn't leave without a new job

6. Responde con oraciones completas

, sobre ti. Las respuestas de abajo son un modelo. 1) What would you do if you won a million pounds? 2) Where would you live if you could choose any city in the world? 3) What would you change in your life if you had more free time?

Mostrar las respuestas
I'd buy a house for my parents and travel round the world; I'd live in Lisbon — it's warm, and the food is great; I'd do more sport, and I'd read more

7. Traduce al inglés.

1) Si tuviera más tiempo, aprendería italiano. 2) Yo que tú, hablaría con tu jefe. 3) ¿Qué harías si ganaras la lotería? 4) Si viviera junto al mar, nadaría todos los días. 5) Si supiera su dirección, le escribiría.

Mostrar las respuestas
If I had more time, I'd learn Italian / If I had more time, I would learn Italian; If I were you, I'd talk to your manager / If I were you, I'd talk to your boss; What would you do if you won the lottery?; If I lived by the sea, I'd swim every day / If I lived by the sea, I would swim every day; If I knew her address, I'd write to her / If I knew her address, I would write to her
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Resumen

Visto en esta lección

  • el segundo condicional en todas sus formas
  • could en lugar de would
  • el pasado como distancia de la realidad
  • la elección entre el primer y el segundo condicional
  • were para todas las personas
  • el consejo con If I were you

A continuación, la lección 9: pesar y deseos.

Fin del núcleo

La lección se marca como completada una vez que se hagan los ejercicios. Todo lo que sigue es opcional.

Lección 81

opcional

Vocabulario para el mazo

15 palabras
  • reader /ˈriːdə/ lector
  • nurse /nɜːs/ enfermero, enfermera
  • properly /ˈprɒpəli/ bien, como es debido
  • market /ˈmɑːkɪt/ mercado
  • adventure /ədˈventʃə/ aventura
  • honestly /ˈɒnɪstli/ sinceramente, la verdad
  • mile /maɪl/ milla
  • boring /ˈbɔːrɪŋ/ aburrido
  • safe /seɪf/ seguro, estable
  • advice /ədˈvaɪs/ consejo, consejos
  • evening course /ˈiːvnɪŋ kɔːs/ curso nocturno
  • lottery /ˈlɒtəri/ lotería
  • win /wɪn/ ganar
  • toothache /ˈtuːθeɪk/ dolor de muelas
  • apply for /əˈplaɪ fɔː/ solicitar, presentarse a (un puesto)

Escritura

Cinco o seis oraciones: qué harías si no tuvieras que trabajar durante un año, y un consejo a un amigo con If I were you.

Modelo

If I didn't have to work for a year, I'd travel round France. I'd learn French on the way, and I'd write a blog about the trip. If I had enough money, I'd also buy a good camera. My friend Tom wants to leave his job, but he hasn't found a new one yet. I said to him: "If I were you, I wouldn't leave without a plan."

Lista de autocomprobación

El borrador se guarda en este dispositivo
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