Past, Present and future

Back to the future! Time Contrasts and Conditional Sentences By Profr. Jose Ma. Jaramillo Salazar January, 2008

GENERAL TERAN A BEAUTIFUL AND QUIET TOWN!! In the past:

In the past, people used to live in old houses.

A few years ago, people in Teran used to sit in the evenings on the sidewalks.

A few years ago, the people used to send letters by mail.

10 years ago, the students visited the library to search some information.

50 years ago, people in Teran drove their carts.

In the present:

These days General Teran is growing .

Nowadays, teenagers and adults visit cyber cafes.

Today, our town has a better high school.

These days, the people drive their cars to commute.

Nowadays, everyone have their own cellular.

In the future:

In twenty years, Teran might be a big city.

In the future, students are going to take classes at home.

Soon, there will be smart classroom in all the schools.

In the future, Teran will have subways and better service transportation.

In ten more years, people might buy groceries at home.

MONTERREY A HUGE CHANGE!!

In the past, Monterrey wasn’t very crowded.

Fifty years ago, didn’t have good stadiums.

People used to walk on the streets.

Fifty years ago, poeple used to work in their fields.

In the past, there weren’t too many cars.

In the present:

Nowadays, is a big and modern city.

In these days, visitors can enjoy its tourist atractions.

Today, Monterrey has many universities.

Nowadays, is one of the most important cities in Mexico.

In these days, Monterrey is growing too fast.

To describe how our lives have changed during the years, we can use different times for it. For example: Past tense

In the past, I used to wear tennis shoes and shorts.

A few years ago, I was living in U.S.A.

10 years ago, I didn’t have a car.

In the 2002, I started working in the High School.

Present

Nowadays, I wear casual clothes.

In these days, I am living in Mexico.

Now, I have a new car.

Today, I am working in the high school and in the secondary.

Future

In the future, I am going to wear formal clothes.

In ten more years, I will live in Europe.

Soon, I might buy a Ferrari.

In 5 more years, I will work at the “Tecnológico de Monterrey”

Describe how your life have changed in the last ten years. Make sentences using Past, Present and Future. Then practice with a partner. Past Present Future

How would your life change if you win a million dollar? You won’t have to work anymore You will be able to take a tour in Europe You might get a bodyguard You will buy the TEC’s house You will have to open a bank account. You might get a BMW You will be able to study abroad. You may have your own plane.

Conditional Sentences / If Clauses Conditional Sentences are also known as Conditional Clauses or If Clauses. They are used to express that an action in the future will only happen if a certain condition is fulfilled by that time. E.g.

Possible situation

If I fall in love,

if I am happier,

If I work better,

If I get a raise,

If I get married,

If I have a lot of kids,

If I have more expenses,

If I don’t buy a new car,

Consequence

I wil be happier.

I will work better.

I will be able to get a raise.

I may get married.

I will have a lot of kids.

I might have more expenses.

I won’t be able to buy a new car.

I will be so sad.

This is the most typical structure used with possible future situations and consequences. IF + SIMPLE PRESENT + SUBJECT + WILL / WON’T If you eat candy, you’will gain weight We can say these in a different order: You’ll gain weight, if you eat candy We can also use may and might as consequences, to show that the consequence is less likely: If you eat candy, you may gain weight You might gain weight, if you eat candy We can express possibilities using will be able to : If you save some money, you’ll be able to travel. We can express necessities using will have to : If you travel abroad, you’ll have to get a visa.

Complete the Conditional Sentences using the verbs in parenthesis. Example: If I _____ (to go) to the cinema, I _________(to watch) an interesting film. If I go to the cinema, I will watch an interesting fim.