If I were you…

English course · B1 · Intermediate · 6 short videos

Goal — I can imagine situations and give advice.

Grammar — second conditional (If + past, would), If I were you, I'd…, What would you do?

Words — offer, job, New York, take a job, miss, especially, lottery, ticket, travel, advice, million

The videos of this unit

Mia has big news.

Mia A company in New York offered me a job.

Priya Wow! Are you going to take it?

Mia I don't know. What would you do?

Priya If I were you, I'd think about what you really want.

Mia If I left, I'd miss everyone here.

Priya And we'd miss you. Especially your cakes.

Useful expression What would you do? — Ask it when you need advice about a big decision.

Ben has big dreams.

Leo What would you do if you won a million pounds?

Ben I'd buy a house by the sea.

Ben And I'd travel around the world!

Leo Did you buy a lottery ticket?

Ben …No.

Need help to decide?

Word advice /ədˈvaɪs/ — An opinion about what someone should do. You can't count it: no « an advice », no « advices ».

Stop saying “If I would have money”.

Common mistake ~~If I would have money, I would buy a car.~~ → If I had money, I would buy a car.

Why: After “if”, use the past (had, were, lived). “Would” goes in the other part.

Can you hear the tiny “d”?

Word I'd go /aɪd ɡəʊ/ / I go /aɪ ɡəʊ/

Astuce (I'd go) : In “I'd”, the “d” is very short, but your tongue stops for a moment before “go”.

B1 final quiz: 5 questions!