🔄 B1 Task: Giving Advice & Discussing Hypotheticals
Welcome to this practical task lesson! Today, we are not learning new grammar rules. Instead, we are going to do a consolidation1 exercise. We will use the grammar you already know to perform two very important communication skills: giving good advice, and talking about hypothetical2 or imaginary situations.
Part 1: The Tools for Giving Advice
When a friend has a problem, you need the right language to help them. Here are some tools you have learned:
- Using 'should' / 'shouldn't': This is the most common way to give a direct opinion or recommendation.
Example: "You should talk to your teacher about the problem." - Using 'If I were you...': This is a great way to give advice by imagining yourself in their situation.
Example: "If I were you, I would apologize." - Using a question: This is a softer, more gentle way to give a suggestion.
Example: "Why don't you take a short break?"
Part 2: The Tools for Discussing Hypotheticals
'Hypothetical' means imaginary. We often discuss these situations using the Second Conditional3. This structure helps us talk about an unreal situation and its unreal result.
Structure: If + Past Simple, ... would + infinitive
- "If I had a million dollars, I would travel the world." (The reality is: I don't have a million dollars.)
- "If I could have any superpower4, I would choose to be invisible." (The reality is: I can't have a superpower.)
Your Task: What Would You Say?
Read the following scenarios5 and think about what you would say in English.
Scenario 1: Your friend is always tired. They stay up late every night watching videos on their phone. They complain that they feel sleepy in class and at work.
Your Task: Give them some advice using "should," "shouldn't," and "If I were you..."
Scenario 2: A tourist in Battambang stops you. They say, "I only have one afternoon here. Should I visit the Bamboo Train or Wat Banan?"
Your Task: Give them a recommendation. You can use a hypothetical like, "If you like history, you should..."
🧠 Practice & Example Answers
Here are some possible answers for the scenarios above.
Scenario 1 (Tired Friend):
- "You should try to get at least eight hours of sleep."
- "You shouldn't look at your phone so late at night."
- "If I were you, I would turn off my phone at 10 PM."
Scenario 2 (Tourist in Battambang):
- "That's a tough choice! Both are great. If you like adventure and seeing the countryside, you should go to the Bamboo Train. If you prefer history and amazing views, you ought to visit Wat Banan."
📝 Homework: Solve a Problem
Think about a common problem that you or your friends have (e.g., being bored, having no money for something you want, not having enough time to study). Write a short paragraph (3-4 sentences) giving advice for this problem. Try to use "should," "shouldn't," and "If I were you..."
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Example Problem (Not enough time to study): "If you don't have enough time to study, you should make a weekly schedule. You shouldn't wait until the last minute before an exam. If I were you, I would try to study for one hour every day instead of five hours just on Sunday."
Vocabulary Glossary
- Consolidation: (Noun) - ការបង្រួបបង្រួម (kaa bâng'ruəp'bâng'ruəm) - The process of combining several things into a single, more effective whole. ↩
- Hypothetical: (Adjective) - ជាការសន្មត (chéa kaa san'mât) - Imagined or suggested but not necessarily real or true. ↩
- Second Conditional: (Noun Phrase) - លក្ខខណ្ឌទីពីរ (leăk'khăn tii-pii) - A grammar structure used to talk about unreal or imaginary situations (If + Past, ... would + Verb). ↩
- Superpower: (Noun) - អំណាចវិសេស (âm'nach vĭ'seh) - An extraordinary power, like flying or being invisible. ↩
- Scenario: (Noun) - សេណារីយ៉ូ (se'na'ri'yo) - A description of a possible course of events; a situation. ↩