Second conditional

The Second Conditional is used to talk about 'impossible'

situations.
If we were in London today, we would be able to go to the concert in
Hyde ark.
If I had millions dollars, I'd gi!e a lot to charity.
If there were no hungry people in this world, it would be a much better
place.
If e!eryone had clean water to drink, there would be a lot less disease.
"ote that after I # he# she #it we often use the sub$uncti!e form
'were' and not 'was'. %Some people think that 'were' is the only
'correct' form but other people think 'was' is e&ually 'correct' .'
If she were happy in her $ob, she wouldn't be looking for another one.
If I li!ed in (apan, I'd ha!e sushi e!ery day.
If they were to enter our market, we'd ha!e big problems.
"ote the form 'If I were you' which is often used to gi!e ad!ice.
If I were you, I'd look for a new place to li!e.
If I were you, I'd go back to school and get more &ualifications.
The Second Conditional is also used to talk about 'unlikely'
situations.
If I went to China, I'd !isit the )reat *all.
If I was the resident, I'd reduce ta+es.
If you were in my position, you'd understand.
"ote that the choice between the first and the second conditional
is often a &uestion of the speaker's attitude rather than of facts.
Compare these e+amples. ,tto thinks these things are possible,
eter doesn't.
,tto - If I win the lottery, I'll buy a big house.
eter - If I won the lottery, I'd buy a big house.
,tto - If I get promoted, I'll throw a big party.
eter - If I got promoted, I'd throw a big party.
,tto - If my team win the Cup, I'll buy champagne for e!erybody.
eter - If my team won the Cup, I'd buy champagne for e!erybody.
"ote that the 'If clause' can contain the past simple or the past
continuous.
If I was still working in .righton, I would commute by train.
If she were coming, she would be here by now.
If they were thinking of selling, I would want to buy.
"ote that the main clause can contain 'would' 'could' or 'might.
If I had the chance to do it again, I would do it differently.
If we met up for lunch, we could go to that new restaurant.
If I spoke to him directly, I might be able to persuade him.
/lso note that sometimes the 'if clause' is implied rather than
spoken.
*hat would I do without you0 %1if you weren't here1'
*here would I get one at this time of night0 %1if I wanted one1'
He wouldn't agree. %1if I asked him1'
Third conditional
*e can use the Third Conditional to talk about 'impossible' conditions,
impossible because they are in the past and we cannot change what has
happened.
If I had worked harder at school, I would ha!e got better grades.
If I had had time, I would ha!e gone to see him. .ut I didn't ha!e
time.
If we had bought that house, we would ha!e had to rebuild the
kitchen.
If we had caught the earlier train, we would ha!e got there on time
but we were late.
"otice that the main clause can contain 'would', 'could' or 'might.
If I had seen him at the meeting, I would ha!e asked him. %.ut he
wasn't there so I didn't.'
If I had seen him at the meeting, I could ha!e asked him. % .ut he
wasn't there so it wasn't possible.'
If I had seen him at the meeting, I might ha!e asked him. %.ut I'm not
sure. erhaps if the opportunity had arisen.'
If I had paid more attention in class, I would ha!e understood the
lesson.
/lso notice that sometimes the 'if clause' is implied rather than spoken.
I'd ha!e done it. %1if you had asked me but you didn't.1'
I wouldn't ha!e said that. %1if I'd been there.1'
He wouldn't ha!e let him get away with that. %1if he had tried that with
me.1'

May / might
may
*e can use 'may' to ask for permission. Howe!er this is rather
formal and not used !ery often in modern spoken 2nglish
3ay I borrow your pen0
3ay we think about it0
3ay I go now0
*e use 'may' to suggest something is possible
It may rain later today.
I may not ha!e time to do it today.
ete may come with us
might
*e use 'might' to suggest a small possibility of something. ,ften
we read that 'might' suggests a smaller possibility that 'may',
there is in fact little difference and 'might is more usual than
'may' in spoken 2nglish.
She might be at home by now but it's not sure at all.
It might rain this afternoon.
I might not ha!e time to go to the shops for you.
I might not go.
4or the past, we use 'might ha!e'.
He might ha!e tried to call while I was out.
I might ha!e dropped it in the street.

Should 2
*e can use 'should' after 'reporting !erbs' such as
demand insist propose recommend suggest
He demanded that we should pay for the repair.
She insisted that she should pay for the meal.
I ha!e proposed that he should take charge of the
organi5ation.
The committee recommends that (ane should be
appointed.
*e ha!e suggested that 3ichael should be gi!en a reward
for his hard work.
Howe!er, it is also possible to say e+actly the same thing by
omitting the 'should' and $ust using the infiniti!e form without 'to'
. Some people call this the 'sub$uncti!e' form.
He demanded that we pay for the repair.
She insisted that she pay for the meal.
I ha!e proposed that he take charge of the organi5ation.
The committee recommends that (ane be appointed.
*e ha!e suggested that 3ichael be gi!en a reward for his
hard work.
*e can use 'should' after !arious ad$ecti!es. Typical e+amples
are 6
funny interesting natural odd strange surprised
surprising typical
It's funny that you should say that. I was thinking e+actly
the same thing.
It's interesting that they should offer him the $ob. "ot an
ob!ious choice.
It's natural that you should be an+ious. "obody likes
speaking in public.
Isn't it odd that he should be going to the same tiny
hotel0 *hat a coincidence.
It's strange that you should think so. "obody else does.
*e can use 'should' in 'if clauses' when we belie!e that the
possibility of something happening is small.
If you should happen to see him before I do, can you tell
him that I want to speak to him urgently0
If there should be a problem, $ust gi!e me a call and I'll
sort it out.
If anyone should ask where I am, say I'm in a meeting.
*e use 'should' in !arious fi+ed e+pressions.
To show strong agreement
They're paying you compensation0 I should think so.
To express pleasure when you receive a gift
*hat a fantastic present. 7ou really shouldn't ha!e.
To emphasize a visible emotion
7ou should ha!e seen the look on her face when she
found out that she had got the promotion.

Should have
*e can use 'should ha!e' to talk about past e!ents that did not
happen.
I should ha!e let her know what was happening but I forgot.
He should ha!e sent e!erybody a reminder by email.
They should ha!e remembered that their guests don't eat pork.
*e can also use 'should ha!e' to speculate about e!ents that
may or may not ha!e happened.
She should ha!e got the letter this morning. I e+pect she'll gi!e us a
call about it later.
He should ha!e arri!ed at his office by now. Let's try ringing him.
They should ha!e all read that first email by this stage. It's time to
send the ne+t one.
*e can use ' should not ha!e' to speculate negati!ely about
what may or may not ha!e happened.
She shouldn't ha!e left work yet. I'll call her office.
He shouldn't ha!e boarded his plane yet. *e can probably still get hold
of him.
They shouldn't ha!e sent the report off for printing yet. There is still
time to make changes.
*e can also use 'should not ha!e' to regret past actions.
I shouldn't ha!e shouted at you. I apologise.
*e shouldn't ha!e left the office so late. *e should ha!e anticipated
this bad traffic.
They shouldn't ha!e sacked him. He was the most creati!e person on
their team.
do sentence
examples
Does whenever it induces in its possessor the belief that he
cannot be checked by any existing larger accumulation of power.
Do something to get the gradient more precise.
Do next.
Don't tell me you got the blues.
I think: " just let the hiv do what 's it going to do what 's it
going to do.
Do to help the sick and vulnerable.
Doing nothing.
I don't know what they had done wrong.
Done to stop it getting worse in the future?
Done under general anesthesia.
Does whenever it induces in its possessor the belief that he
cannot be checked by any existing larger accumulation of power.
Do something to get the gradient more precise.
Do next.
Don't tell me you got the blues.
I think: " just let the hiv do what 's it going to do what 's it
going to do.
Do to help the sick and vulnerable.
Doing nothing.
I don't know what they had done wrong.
Done to stop it getting worse in the future?
Done under general anesthesia.
Does whenever it induces in its possessor the belief that he
cannot be checked by any existing larger accumulation of power.
Do something to get the gradient more precise.
Do next.
Don't tell me you got the blues.
I think: " just let the hiv do what 's it going to do what 's it
going to do.
Do to help the sick and vulnerable.
Doing nothing.
I don't know what they had done wrong.
Done to stop it getting worse in the future?
Done under general anesthesia.
Do a bloody amaing job ! never forget that.
Do most of their parents.
Do much when i get home just after "pm.
Do a bloody amaing job ! never forget that.
Do most of their parents.
Do much when i get home just after "pm.
Do a bloody amaing job ! never forget that.
Do most of their parents.
Do much when i get home just after "pm.
Do things against my will?
Do more in my role?
Do that is to walk away from god# away from jesus# and
therefore ultimately away from heaven.
Do things against my will?
Do more in my role?
Do that is to walk away from god# away from jesus# and
therefore ultimately away from heaven.
Do things against my will?
Do more in my role?
Do that is to walk away from god# away from jesus# and
therefore ultimately away from heaven.
I do not see anything which shows how technology
will do anything to make us wiser# gentler# more peaceful or
more happy.
$hat do you think she'll do best in?
I do not see anything which shows how technology
will do anything to make us wiser# gentler# more peaceful or
more happy.
$hat do you think she'll do best in?
I do not see anything which shows how technology
will do anything to make us wiser# gentler# more peaceful or
more happy.
$hat do you think she'll do best in?
Do some gym work instead or the odd variation in your
training should not be a problem.
Do no worse.
Do some gym work instead or the odd variation in your
training should not be a problem.
Do no worse.
Do some gym work instead or the odd variation in your
training should not be a problem.
Do no worse.
Present perfect continuous
%8emember that .ritish and /merican 2nglish ha!e different rules for the use of
the present perfect. The comments and the e+ercises here refer to correct
grammar for .ritish 2nglish. In /merican 2nglish, it is often considered
acceptable to use the past simple in some of these e+amples.'
The past simple is used to talk about actions in the past that ha!e finished. It
talks about 'then' and definitely e+cludes 'now'.
The present perfect simple to look back on actions in the past from the
present. It always includes 'now'.
These sentences are in the past with no connection to the present.
I first got to know him 9: years ago.
I started work here in 9;<;.
I had too much to eat at lunchtime.
"ow look at these same situations seen from the present.
I'!e known him for 9: years.
I'!e worked here since 9;<=.
3y stomach hurts. I'!e eaten too much.
*e use time e+pressions like 'yesterday', 'ago', 'last year', 'in 9;;;' with the past
simple.
*e spoke to him yesterday.
He came in a few moments ago.
*e made our last purchase from them o!er a year ago.
She $oined the company in 9;;;.
*e use time e+pressions like are 'e!er', 'ne!er', 'since' with the present perfect.
I'!e ne!er seen so many people here before.
Ha!e you e!er been more surprised0
I'!e done a lot since we last talked about it.
Typical time e+pressions used with the present perfect in .ritish 2nglish but often
used with the past simple in /merican 2nglish are 'already', '$ust', 'yet'.
I ha!en't done it yet. %>?'
I didn't do it yet. %>S'
I'!e $ust done it. %>?'
I $ust did it. %>S'
I'!e already done it. %>?'
I already did it. %>S'
*e can use the time phrase 'for' with both forms, but with different meanings.
I li!ed in aris for a couple of years before I mo!ed here.
I'!e li!ed in aris for a couple of years and still lo!e it.
The imperative
*e can use the imperati!e to gi!e a direct order.
9. Take that chewing gum out of your mouth.
@. Stand up straight.
A. )i!e me the details.
*e can use the imperati!e to gi!e instructions.
9. ,pen your book.
@. Take two tablets e!ery e!ening.
A. Take a left and then a right.
*e can use the imperati!e to make an in!itation.
9. Come in and sit down. 3ake yourself at home.
@. lease start without me. I'll be there shortly.
A. Ha!e a piece of this cake. It's delicious.
*e can use the imperati!e on signs and notices.
9. ush.
@. Bo not use.
A. Insert one dollar.
*e can use the imperati!e to gi!e friendly informal ad!ice.
9. Speak to him. Tell him how you feel.
@. Ha!e a &uiet word with her about it.
A. Bon't go. Stay at home and rest up. )et some sleep and reco!er.
*e can make the imperati!e 'more polite' by adding 'do'.
Bo be &uiet.
Bo come.
Bo sit down.
Suppose 2
'Supposed to be' can be used to mean 'it is said#belie!ed'.
The new (ames .ond mo!ie is supposed to be e+cellent.
He is supposed to ha!e been rude to 3ark but I don't belie!e it.
It is supposed to be the best restaurant in town.
'Supposed to be' can also be used to talk about what is arranged, intended or
e+pected. It is a bit like 'should'.
I'm supposed to get to work by <.
(ohn is supposed to turn off all the lights when he lea!es.
I'm supposed to pay my rent on the first of the month.
It's not supposed to be here.
,ften there is a suggestion that the action 'supposed to' happen does not
actually happen.
I'm supposed to be there before < but I'm often late.
7ou were supposed to phone me.
I'm supposed to be getting on a plane to Tokyo at this !ery minute.
'"ot supposed to' often suggests that something is not allowed or prohibited.
7ou're not supposed to smoke in here.
I'm not supposed to tell you.
*e're not supposed to use the Internet for personal reasons at work.
'Suppose' can also be used as a con$unction to mean 'what if'. "otice that the
!erb which follows it is sometimes, but not always, put 'more in the past'.
Suppose we take the earlier train to 3unich0 It would gi!e us more time there.
Suppose we took the plane instead0 That would gi!e us e!en more time.
There's nobody in reception to let our !isitors in. Suppose I sit there until somebody
comes0
I'm going to ask him for a pay increase. C Suppose he said 'no'0 *hat would you do0
#2 (permalink) Tue Jan 22, 2008 20:31 pm meaning of 'for one' (Sentence: I for one very much like to see
what happens.)

Hi Swimming,
*elcome to the site. To start with I suggest you say6 'I for one would !ery much
like .....'
The construction 'I for one' is similar to6 Speaking personally I#4rom my point of !iew#/s
I see it. It gi!es the idea that the speaker is $ust talking about what they think and
nobody else thinks.
2+amples6 I for one ha!e no ob$ection#I for one can't see any problem in that#I for one
wouldn't dream of going that fast
Will have done
*e can use 'will ha!e done' to talk about what will ha!e been achie!ed by a
certain moment in time.
*e'll ha!e been in these offices for eight years ne+t month.
She'll ha!e !isited ten countries in twel!e days by the time she gets back.
I'll ha!e finished this pro$ect by 4riday.
If we want to emphasise the continuity of the acti!ity, we can use the continuous
form.
I'll ha!e been working here for AD years by the time I retire.
She'll ha!e been dri!ing for more than fifteen hours straight by the time she gets here.
They'll ha!e been working with us for 9D years by the end of this year.
*e can also use 'will ha!e done' to predict what we think has already happened
at present.
He'll ha!e already read the report by now. Too late to change it.
She'll ha!e boarded her plane. It's too late to contact her.
They'll ha!e decided by now. *e should hear the result today or tomorrow.
Past perfect continuous
*e use the past perfect continuous to look back at a situation in progress.
It was a good time to in!est. Inflation had been falling for se!eral months.
.efore I changed $obs, I had been working on a plan to reduce production costs.
*e had been thinking about buying a new house but then we decided to stay here.
*e use it to say what had been happening before something else happened.
It had been snowing for a while before we left.
*e had been playing tennis for only a few minutes when it started raining.
He was out of breath when he arri!ed because he had been running.
*e use it when reporting things said in the past.
She said she had been trying to call me all day.
They said they had been shopping.
I told you I had been looking for some new clothes.
wish! if only
wish! f only"


Wishes about the present

We use wish with past Tense forms #simple and continuous$ to
express regret about present situations%
& wish was taller ' #(m not very tall$
& wish was going with you ' #but )m not$

wish you were more help" ' #you are not$ wish were can
replace wish was"
To many people! wish were sounds more correct%
wish were taller"

We use wish with could to express a wish for a present
situation to be different%
wish could use a computer well"
* wish would tell her about it"
wish could tell her about it"

Past Simple present wish +new the answer" #' don(t
+now$
Past Simple present wish was /were better at sports"
#' )m not$
Past ,ontinuous present wish was /were going with
you" #' )m not$
,ould present wish could give you an answer" #'
can)t$
Would future wish you would be -uiet" #' .our tal+ing
irritates me"$
Past Perfect past wish had +nown you then" #' but
didn)t$
,ould have past wish could have explained" #' wasn)t
able to$

Wishes about the future

We use wish with would to say how we would like somebody to
behave in the future:
X I wish you to stop talking.
/I wish you would stop talking.
X I wish that they will stop arguing.
/I wish they would stop arguing.

We can also use this pattern in situations that do not involve
people:
I wish this car would go faster.

Wishes about the past

We use wish with the Past Perfect when we have
egrets about the past:
I wish I hadn!t taken your advice. "# but I did$
I wish she could have come. "# but she didn!t$

If only

If only can be more emphatic than I wish. %he verb forms after
if only are the same as the patterns with wish:
If only I had more money& "# but I haven!t$
If only I was going on holiday with you&
If only you were here. "# but you re not$
If only the sun would come out&
If only you could be here& "# but you!re not$
If only I!d listened to you& "#but I didn!t $
If only he could have e'plained& "#but he wasn!t able to$

guess sentence
examples
Listen See in Dictionary See in Tesaurus
Guess that's what they got.
$hether this was out of love or out of a desire to be rid of me i can only
make an educated guess.
%ut beyond that is anyone's guess# although devonshire did let slip that
injury doubt brian connor would be considered# if fit.
$hether it's a protest against the cup or the club is anyones guess.
$here the rainbow six series goes from here is anybody's guess.
Guess who made 'em up?
Guess password is &werty.
I'll haard a guess that the answer is no.
$hat the future holds for the crown princess and her family is
anybody's guess.
$here these stories come from is anyone's guess.
Guess that just shows how much they are enjoying being there... sigh.
Guess# it's probably in the top five or ten.
$e derived a similar figures from analysis of pedestrian collisions ( here ).
" a bit of a wild guess.
Guess what my top telly show is?
Guess the mods will delete this thread and ban me tomorrow# after the
april fool amnesty expires.
%ut he won the chocolate ( with a score of * ! a lucky guess# but hey# who
cares?
Guessing which route william gibson's gone down.
+nce you've opened the image you can make an informed guess about
what that profile should be.
Guess whose music they play... forever coltrane hope to record a cd at the
end of may.
Guess where she moved to there were plenty of forks.
____________________________________________________
For
*e can sometimes use for / ing to talk about the purpose of a thing. *hen we
do, it means the same asto / infinitive.
*hat is that for0 It is for opening en!elopes
This bell is for calling the waiter.
This bell is to call the waiter.

*hen we talk about the purpose of somebody's actions, we cannot use for /
ing"
I went there to ask for help.
7ou will ha!e to &ueue a long time. to get tickets.

Howe!er, it is sometimes possible to use for / noun for this.
I went there for help.
7ou will ha!e to &ueue a long timefor tickets.

*e can also use for / ob0ect / infinitive to talk about a purpose.
I ga!e her a notebook for her to write down new 2nglish words she found.
They sent a form for me to sign.

*e also use the pattern for / ob0ect / infinitive in sentences after is or was.
The plan is for us to get to .arcelona by lunchtime.
The ob$ecti!e was for them to get the work finished by the end of last month.

*e can add details to a noun by using the pattern for / ob0ect / infinitive
That is an e+pensi!e place for them to stay.
There is a lot of work for us to do.
There is no need for you to be so aggressi!e.

*e also use the pattern for / ob0ect / infinitive after certain !erbs and
ad$ecti!es.
I am waiting for him to make the first mo!e.
I ha!e arranged for you to see the bank manager tomorrow morning.
*e are keen for you to take the $ob.
I think it would be good for you to take a break now.

*e can use for to mean EbecauseF. *e only use this in !ery formal 2nglish.
The di!ers ha!e to be careful for a sudden change in conditions could be
dangerous.
8ead the instructions carefully for you will only get one chance to enter
the information.
*e can use for to talk about a purpose or a reason.
*hat did you that for0
*hat is that for0
Thank you for your letter.
I donFt ha!e enough money for the ticket.
I need treatment for my bad back.
1or can mean that you are in fa!our#fa!or of something.
He is for the idea of cutting ta+es.
I am for this change in the way we do things.
7ou need to stand up for what is right.
*e can use for with e+pressions of time and distance.
I walked for miles.
I waited for a long time.
*e will be away for the ne+t week.
Sometimes we can omit the for completely in these e+pressions without
changing the meaning.
I walked miles.
I waited a long time.
*ith the present perfect, for refers to a length of time. Since refers to the
starting point.
I ha!e studied 2nglish for se!en years.
I ha!e studied 2nglish since I was 9@.
Here are some useful e+pressions using for
I enclose a che&ue#check for 9:: euros
*hatFs another word for stupid0
IF!e known him for ages.
I am all for making this change.
)et ready. G*hat for0 G/nne is coming.
G
23T
,his next lesson is about using the verb -to let. combined with particles. /ere are
some more of the most common expressions:
-to let down. means to disappoint someone.
I promised to do it# I can.t let her down.
,hey let us down badly by not completing the work on time.
-to let in. means to allow someone to enter.
I have a front door key. I can let myself in.
,hey.re at the door. 0an you let them in?
-to let in. can also mean to allow water# light or air into something which is
normally sealed.
I opened the curtains to let in the sunshine.
I need some new boots for winter. ,hese let water in.
-to let in for. means to be involved in something difficult or unpleasant.
,his job is very hard. I didn.t realise what I was letting myself in for.
1he didn.t realise how much work she was letting herself in for doing this
course.
-to let in on. means to tell someone about something which is secret.
I don.t know what they.re doing. ,hey wouldn.t let me in on their plans.
1he let me in on her secret. 1he.s getting married2
-to let off. means to not punish someone when they have done something wrong.
/e was caught smoking in the office but they let him off because it was the
first time.
I.ll let you off this time but if you do it again# you.ll be severely punished.
-to let off. can also mean to allow someone to not do something they should do.
I owed him some money but he let me off. I didn.t have to pay him back.
I was supposed to work until *3 pm but my boss let me off at 4.
-to let out. means to allow someone to leave a place# usually by opening a door.
/e stopped at the traffic lights to let me out.
5et me out at the end of the road. I can walk the rest of the way.
-to let out. means to make a particular sound.
$hen she heard the news# she let out a huge sigh of relief.
,hey all let out a groan when they heard the bad news.
-to let up. means to cease or to decrease in intensity.
$e.ll go out for a walk if the rain lets up.
,he pressure at work is non!stop. It never lets up.
2et

*e can use let to mean to rent out a house.
o *e mo!ed to /ustralia and let our house in London.
/ ma$or use of let is for talking about EallowingF and EpermissionF.
o 3y mother let me come.
o I let her lea!e early.
,ne pattern is let followed by an ,.(2CT followed by a ./82 I"4I"ITIH2
o She let me ha!e the last one.
o 7ou must let us know when you are coming to "ew 7ork.
o I didnFt let my friend dri!e my car.
o *hy did you let (ane do that0
/nother pattern is let followed by an ,.(2CT followed by a C,3L232"T
o Let me past.
o The police arenFt letting anybody out of the building.
o BonFt let him get away.
o *hy did you let him in0
"otice that we can use refle+i!e pronouns to talk about what we allow
oursel!es to do.
o I let myself be influenced by her.
o She let herself out.
o I didnFt let myself be talked into it.
o Bid you let yourself in0
"otice that we do not make a contraction out of let us when asking for
permission.
o Let us help you.
o Let us pay for this.
o Let us buy that.
o Let us take the risk.
*e use let(s when we are making a suggestion.
o LetFs go to the cinema.
o LetFs stay at home.
o LetFs not argue. %formal'
o BonFt letFs argue. %informal'
Compare these
o Let us watch TH, please. %asking for permission'
o LetFs watch TH. %a suggestion'
There are many fi+ed e+pressions, idioms and phrasal !erbs using let"
2et alone means Emuch lessF
o IF!e ne!er been to /frica, let alone )hana.
o IF!e ne!er met any actor, let alone .rad itt.
2et go can mean to dismiss
o 3y company let @: people go.
o I was let go three weeks ago.
2et your hair down means to lose your inhibitions.
o /t the office party, e!erybody let their hair down and we had fun.
4on(t let it get you down means to stay cheerful although something
bad has happened.
o 2!erybody makes mistakes. BonFt let it get you down.
let you off(/let you off the hoo+ means that you are e+cused, e!en
though you did something wrong or had something bad to do.
o I made a mess but the boss let me off.
o I was supposed to tidy up after the party but I was let off the hook
as Sandra did it.
2etting off steam means to get rid of e+cess energy or frustration.
o /fter work I go to the gym and let off steam on the treadmill.
o *e need to go out after the e+ams and let off steam.
2et me see and let me thin+ are e+pressions used to gi!e you time to
think.
o 7ou want a raise0 Let me think. Can we discuss this later0
o / good place for lunch0 Let me see. How about the Italian
restaurant0
2et(s say and let(s suppose are used to talk about hypothetical
situations.
o LetFs say that you were boss. *hat would you do0
o LetFs suppose that we donFt get the contract. *hat do we do0
2et(s hope is used to e+press a hope.
o LetFs hope he gets the $ob.
o 7es, letFs hope so.
5bout

*e can use about to mean EconcerningF
I ha!e heard all about it.
There is nothing we can do about it.
The great thing about her is that she ne!er gi!es up.
*e can use about to mean Eappro+imatelyF. *e can also use around for
this but about is less formal.
/bout si+ hundred people were present.
/bout half the people agreed.
Come round at about si+.
*e can use 6ow about and What about to make suggestions.
*hat about asking Tom0
How about lea!ing that for the time being0
*hat about a break0
*e can also use What about % but not 6ow about' for more genuine
&uestions.
*hat about the workers0 Ha!e you thought about them0
*hat about the dog0 *hat do we do with her0
*e use about and on to talk about the sub$ect of a discussion. *e
use on for more formal situations..
They talked about the bad economic situation.
He ga!e a lecture on the economy.
5bout can mean Ehere and thereF.
She is always out and about.
He sits about doing nothing.
They go about inter!iewing the public.
7ust about means EalmostF.
I ha!e $ust about finished.
I ha!e had $ust about enough of him and his patroni5ing tone.
The money we get will $ust about pay for the new e&uipment.
8e about to means that something is on the point of happening.
I am about to change $obs.
He is about to gi!e in his resignation.
lease listen carefully. i am about to say something important.
Here are some useful e+pressions using about
no doubt about
There is no doubt about his ability but he doesnFt work well with other
people.
bring about change
*e need to bring about change &uickly or the company will go bankrupt.
everybody is tal+ing about it
2!erybody is talking about the argument they had.
be as+ed about
I am often asked about how I became so successful.
spea+ to them about
7ou need to speak to them about this and make sure they ne!er do it
again.
anything can do about it9
Is there anything I can do about my financial situation0
concerned about
iFm concerned about Simon. He is acting !ery strangely.
speculate about
*e can only speculate about what happened. *e will ne!er know for sure.
about to change
I am not happy with what has been happening. I must warn you that
things are about to change around here.
+now a lot about
/sk Sally. She knows a lot about that.
tal+ing about
*hat are you two whispering about0
+nown about
Little is known about what happened.
hear about
I know you ha!e $ust been to Hawaii. I want to hear all about it.
+eep your wits about you
.e !ery careful. There are lots of thie!es around. ?eep your wits about
you.