Speaking: Functional Language B2 - Lesson 3: Hypothesizing & Speculating About Past/Future

Speaking: Grammar in Speaking B2

Using 3rd & Mixed Conditionals in Discussions

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use the 3rd and Mixed conditionals to discuss hypothetical situations, regrets, and alternative outcomes.

Talking About "What If..." 🤔

To have deeper, more nuanced conversations, we need to go beyond talking about what is real. Advanced speakers often talk about hypothetical situations, especially when expressing regret, analyzing past mistakes, or imagining a different present.

Conditional Structures for Speculation (Click 🔊)

The 3rd Conditional (Past → Past)

Function (មុខងារ): To speculate about how the past could have been different. Both the condition and the result are impossible past situations.

Structure (រចនាសម្ព័ន្ធ):

If + Past Perfect, ...would have + Past Participle

Example (Regret):

"If I had saved more money last year, I would have bought a new motorbike." (Reality: I didn't save money, so I didn't buy a motorbike.)

The Mixed Conditional (Past → Present)

Function (មុខងារ): To connect an unreal past condition to a present result. It shows how a past choice affects the situation now.

Structure (រចនាសម្ព័ន្ធ):

If + Past Perfect, ...would + Base Verb

Example (Present Consequence):

"If I had taken that job in Bangkok, I would be a manager now." (Unreal Past: I didn't take the job. → Present Result: I am not a manager now.)

Building a Strong Opinion (with Conditionals)

You can use conditionals to make your opinions stronger, especially when analyzing past events. Follow this structure:

Step 1: State your opinion.
e.g., "I think the government made the right decision..."

Step 2: Support it with a 3rd Conditional.
e.g., "...because if they had waited, the problem would have gotten worse."

"I believe it was a bad idea, because if they had invested in education, our economy would be stronger today." (Mixed Conditional)

Tips for Sounding Natural

🗣️ Pronouncing Conditionals Fluently

To sound natural, native speakers almost always use contractions with these conditionals. Listening for these is key to understanding fast speech.

• If I had... → "If I'd..."
• ...would have... → "...would've..." (sounds like /wʊdəv/)
• ...should have... → "...should've..." (sounds like /ʃʊdəv/)
• ...could have... → "...could've..." (sounds like /kʊdəv/)

Practice: "If I'd known, I would've come earlier."

Practice Your Conditionals 🎯

Practice Quiz: Choose the Correct Ending

Read the first part of the sentence, then choose the correct ending. Click "Check Answers" when you're done.

1. If I hadn't spent so much money on my trip last month,...

A) I would have more money now. B) I would be having more money now. C) I would have had more money.

2. The team would have won the game...

A) if the star player hadn't been injured. B) if the star player wasn't injured. C) if the star player wouldn't be injured.

3. He wouldn't be so tired today...

A) if he went to bed earlier last night. B) if he would have gone to bed earlier last night. C) if he had gone to bed earlier last night.

Key Vocabulary

• Hypothetical (Adjective) | សម្មតិកម្ម
  Imagined or suggested but not necessarily real or true.
• Regret (Noun/Verb) | ការសោកស្ដាយ
  A feeling of sadness about something that has happened, especially a mistake.
• Conditional (Noun) | ល្បះលក្ខខណ្ឌ
  A type of sentence that expresses a condition and its result.
• Speculate (Verb) | សន្និដ្ឋាន
  To form an opinion about something without knowing all the details or facts.
• Consequence (Noun) | ផលវិបាក
  The result or effect of a particular action or condition.

Your Mission: The "Sliding Doors" Challenge ⭐

Your mission is to speculate about how your life could be different.

1. Think of an important decision you made in the past (e.g., your university major, your first job, a city you moved to).
2. Part 1 (Past Speculation): Record yourself for 60 seconds answering: "What would your life be like now if you had made the opposite decision?"
   Example: "If I had studied IT instead of accounting, I would have spent my university years learning to code."
3. Part 2 (Future Hypotheses): Record yourself for 60 seconds answering: "What might happen in your career in the next three years?"
   Example: "If I continue performing well, I will likely get a promotion. I might even have a chance to lead a team..."