If I Could Change the World (J9B)
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EN: The Second Conditional is used to talk about hypothetical, unreal, or imaginary situations in the present or future. The structure is 'If + Subject + Past Simple (using 'were' for all subjects), Subject + would + base verb'.
If I were you, I would accept the job offer.
EN: The verb 'make' is a causative verb here, used in the pattern 'make + object + adjective' to mean causing someone or something to be in a particular state.
The funny movie made everyone happy.
EN: The verb 'wish' is followed by a clause in the past subjunctive (simple past tense) to express a desire for a situation in the present that is contrary to reality or unlikely to happen.
I wish I knew the answer to this question.
EN: The infinitive 'to read' acts as an adjective (adjectival infinitive) modifying the noun 'time', indicating the purpose or use of the time.
She has a lot of homework to do.
EN: The Second Conditional is used to talk about hypothetical, unreal, or imaginary situations in the present or future. The structure is 'If + subject + past simple (were for all subjects), subject + would + base verb'.
If I were rich, I would travel around the world.
EN: The phrase 'If I were you' is a common subjunctive idiom used to give advice. Even though 'I' normally takes 'was', 'were' is used here to emphasize the hypothetical nature of the advice.
If I were you, I would accept the job offer.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, giving advice using 'If I were you...' is considered polite and indirect. Instead of telling someone directly what to do (e.g., 'You should join'), this structure frames the advice as a personal perspective, making it sound less bossy.
EN: The verb 'wish' followed by a clause in the past tense (or using 'could' + base verb) is used to express a desire for something that is currently impossible or unlikely to happen in the present or future. It represents a hypothetical situation.
I wish I could play the piano like a professional.
EN: The adverb 'someday' refers to an indefinite time in the future, often used to express long-term hopes, dreams, or plans.
EN: Second Conditional (Hypothetical Present/Future): Used to talk about imaginary, unlikely, or impossible situations in the present or future. The structure is 'If + Subject + Simple Past Verb, Subject + would + Base Verb'.
If I had his phone number, I would call him right now.
EN: Comparative Adjectives: Used to compare differences between the two objects they modify (e.g., 'bigger'). The adverb 'more' is used here to modify the verb 'study', meaning 'to a greater degree or frequency'.
If we bought a larger table, we could host more guests.
EN: The verb 'wish' is used with the past subjunctive (were) to express a regret or a desire for a situation in the present that is contrary to reality. Even with singular subjects like 'today', 'he', 'she', or 'it', 'were' is traditionally used in formal English.
I wish I were on a beach right now.
EN: The preposition 'for' is used here to indicate purpose or the reason for wanting the weather to be sunny, linking the desired state to the planned event ('our trip').
We are preparing for the upcoming exam.
EN: In daily conversation, many native speakers might say 'I wish today was sunny' instead of 'were'. However, 'were' remains the standard and preferred form in formal writing, exams, and traditional grammar instruction.
EN: This sentence uses the Second Conditional (subjunctive mood) to talk about hypothetical, imaginary, or impossible situations in the present or future. The structure is: 'If + Subject + Past Simple Verb, Subject + would + Base Verb'. The past tense verb 'knew' indicates that the condition is currently untrue or unlikely.
If I had a car, I would drive to the beach.
EN: The verb 'wish' is used to express a desire for a situation that is different from the current reality. When expressing a present wish that is contrary to fact, we use the past subjunctive. For the verb 'be', 'were' is used for all subjects (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) in formal English, although 'was' is often heard in casual speech.
I wish I were taller.
EN: The phrase 'be better at' is used to describe having a higher level of ability or skill in a specific subject, activity, or field. 'At' is a preposition, so it must be followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund (V-ing).
She wants to be better at playing the piano.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, expressing vulnerability about one's academic weaknesses (like math) is very common and socially acceptable. Saying 'I wish I were better at math' is a polite and humble way to acknowledge a struggle without sounding overly negative, and it often invites encouragement or shared sympathy from others.
EN: This sentence uses the Second Conditional (subjunctive mood) to talk about hypothetical, imaginary, or unlikely situations in the present or future. The structure is 'If + subject + past simple verb, subject + would + base verb'. It shows that the condition (practicing daily) is not currently true or is unlikely to happen.
If she studied harder, she would pass the exam.
EN: The adverb 'fast' is used here to modify the verb 'improve'. In English, 'fast' can function as both an adjective and an adverb, meaning quickly or at high speed, without adding '-ly'.
He drives fast but safely.
EN: The verb 'wish' is used to express a desire for a situation that is different from the current reality. When wishing for a change in the present or future, we use the past subjunctive (simple past tense) in the following clause. For example, 'were' is used instead of 'are' to show that the situation is hypothetical or imaginary.
I wish I had a car.
EN: In subjunctive mood (hypothetical situations), 'were' is traditionally used for all subjects (I, you, he, she, it, we, they), including singular nouns like 'the holiday' or plural nouns like 'the holidays'. While 'was' is common in informal spoken English for singular subjects, 'were' remains the standard in formal writing and grammatically precise contexts.
I wish he were here with us.
EN: In Western culture, work-life balance is highly valued, and discussing the desire for longer holidays or vacations is a very common, lighthearted topic of small talk among colleagues and friends, especially right after a holiday ends.
EN: The Second Conditional is used to talk about hypothetical, unreal, or imaginary situations in the present or future. The structure is 'If + Subject + Past Simple (using 'were' for all subjects), Subject + would + base verb'.
If I were you, I would accept the job offer.
EN: The verb 'wish' is used with a past subjunctive clause (here, 'could' + base verb) to express a desire for a situation in the present or future that is contrary to reality or highly unlikely to happen.
I wish I could fly like a bird.
EN: The linking verb 'stay' is followed by an adjective ('young') to describe remaining in a particular state or condition.
Please stay calm during the meeting.
EN: The desire to 'stay young forever' is a universal human theme, often found in literature, pop songs (like Alphaville's 'Forever Young'), and folklore (the Fountain of Youth). It reflects a nostalgic appreciation for youth and vitality.
EN: The sentence uses an indirect question ('how the world could be better') acting as the noun clause object of the verb 'imagine'. Unlike direct questions, indirect questions follow statement word order (subject + verb) rather than question word order.
I wonder how we can solve this problem.
EN: The modal verb 'could' is used here to express possibility or hypothetical ability in a gentle, reflective tone, rather than past ability.
She wondered how they could help the community.
EN: Second Conditional (Hypothetical Present/Future): Used to talk about imaginary, unlikely, or impossible situations in the present or future. The structure is 'If + subject + past simple (were for all subjects), subject + would + base verb'.
If I were you, I would accept the job offer.
EN: In English, using 'were' instead of 'was' for the first person singular (I) in conditional sentences is a formal grammatical rule (subjunctive mood). While 'If I was' is increasingly common in casual spoken English, 'If I were' remains the standard for formal writing and professional contexts.
EN: The verb 'wish' is used with a past subjunctive clause (here, 'could' + base verb) to express a desire for a situation that is different from the current reality or is highly unlikely to happen. It expresses a present regret or an improbable future hope.
I wish I could speak French fluently.
EN: The determiner 'every' is used with a singular countable noun ('child') to refer to all members of a group individually. Even though it refers to multiple people, it grammatically takes a singular noun and singular verb agreement.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, discussing social equality and access to education is a common topic of advocacy. The phrase 'go to a good school' often carries a strong connotation of social mobility and equal opportunity for all children, regardless of their background.
EN: The Second Conditional is used to talk about hypothetical, imaginary, or impossible situations in the present or future. The structure is 'If + Subject + Past Simple, Subject + would + base verb'. Here, 'had' is the past simple form of 'have', representing an unreal present situation.
If I had wings, I would fly to you.
EN: The modal verb 'would' is used in the main clause of conditional sentences to express the hypothetical result of an unreal condition.
If she won the lottery, she would travel the world.
EN: The verb 'wish' is followed by a 'that'-clause containing a past subjunctive verb (e.g., 'were') to express a present regret or a desire for a situation that is different from reality. Even with plural or singular subjects, 'were' is traditionally preferred in formal English.
I wish I were on a beach right now.
EN: The reciprocal pronoun 'each other' is used to show that two or more people perform the same action toward one another. It functions as the object of the preposition 'to' in this sentence.
EN: The Second Conditional is used to talk about hypothetical, unreal, or imaginary situations in the present or future. The structure is 'If + subject + past simple (were for all subjects), subject + would + base verb'.
If I were you, I would accept the job offer.
EN: The structure 'the + adjective' can function as a plural noun to refer to a specific group of people in society (e.g., 'the sick' means sick people, 'the rich' means rich people).
The government should provide more support for the elderly.
EN: The verb 'wish' is used with a past subjunctive tense (e.g., 'were') to express a desire for a situation in the present or future that is contrary to reality or unlikely to happen. In formal English, 'were' is used for all subjects (including 'our planet', which is singular) instead of 'was'.
I wish I were on a beach right now.
EN: Comparative adjectives ('cleaner' and 'safer') are used to compare two states. For short adjectives, we add '-er' to the end. Since 'safe' already ends in 'e', we only add '-r'.
EN: Environmental awareness and sustainability are highly discussed topics globally. Expressing wishes about the planet's well-being reflects a common modern sentiment of eco-anxiety and hope for a better future.
EN: Second Conditional (Hypothetical Present/Future): Used to talk about imaginary, unlikely, or impossible situations in the present or future. The structure is 'If + past simple, would + base verb'.
If I had more free time, I would learn how to paint.
EN: Adverb Placement with Modal Verbs: The adverb 'surely' is placed between the modal verb 'would' and the main verb 'change' to emphasize the certainty of the hypothetical outcome.
She would definitely agree with your decision.
EN: The modal verb 'can' is used here to express possibility or potential. It indicates that 'small dreams' have the inherent capability of growing under the right conditions.
Even simple ideas can change the world.
EN: The subordinating conjunction 'if' introduces a conditional clause (adverbial clause of condition). In this sentence, 'if we truly believe' sets the condition required for the main clause 'Even small dreams can grow' to happen.
We will succeed if we work together.
EN: This sentence uses the Second Conditional (subjunctive mood) to talk about hypothetical, imaginary, or highly unlikely situations in the present or future. The structure is 'If + subject + past simple verb, subject + would + base verb'. Note that 'had' is in the past tense to show distance from reality, not past time.
If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world.
EN: The question structure in the main clause of a conditional sentence places the question word (What) and the auxiliary verb (would) before the subject (you). The 'if-clause' remains in the standard statement word order.
Where would you live if you could move anywhere?
EN: The concept of 'having one wish' is a common trope in Western folklore and fairy tales (often granted by a genie or a fairy godmother). In conversation, this question is a popular icebreaker used to explore someone's deepest values, dreams, or personality in a playful way.
EN: This sentence uses the Second Conditional (subjunctive mood) to talk about hypothetical, imaginary, or highly unlikely situations in the present or future. The structure is 'If + Subject + Simple Past Verb, Subject + would + Base Verb'.
If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, the concept of 'making a wish' (e.g., when blowing out birthday candles or seeing a shooting star) is a common and nostalgic theme. When asked 'What would you do if you had one wish?', people often balance personal desires with altruistic ones, such as helping family or achieving world peace.
EN: The verb 'wish' is used with a past tense modal verb (like 'could' or 'would') to express a desire for a situation in the present or future that is currently impossible or unlikely to happen. This is a type of subjunctive mood.
I wish I could fly like a bird.
EN: The determiner 'every' is used before a singular countable noun ('language') to refer to all members of a group of three or more, considering them individually.
Every student in the class passed the exam.
EN: In English-speaking cultures, expressing a wish to speak multiple languages is highly respected, as multilingualism is often seen as a valuable bridge to understanding diverse cultures and global communication.
EN: The Second Conditional is used to talk about hypothetical, unreal, or imaginary situations in the present or future. In the 'if' clause, the past subjunctive form 'were' is used for all subjects (including I, he, she, it) to emphasize the impossibility of the condition. The main clause uses 'would' + base verb.
If I were rich, I would travel around the world.
EN: The phrase 'follow one's heart' is an idiomatic expression meaning to act according to one's feelings, desires, or intuition, rather than relying solely on logical reasoning.
You should stop worrying about what others think and follow your heart.
EN: In Western culture, 'following your heart' is highly valued as it emphasizes individual happiness, personal passion, and self-actualization over social expectations or purely logical, financial choices.
EN: The verb 'wish' is used with a past tense verb (subjunctive mood) to express a desire for a situation in the present or future that is contrary to reality or unlikely to happen.
I wish I had a car.
EN: The noun clause 'the school had a music studio' acts as the direct object of the verb 'wish'. The conjunction 'that' is omitted here, which is very common in informal spoken English.
EN: In many English-speaking countries, school music programs and dedicated music studios (with instruments, recording gear, etc.) are highly valued as part of a holistic education, though budget constraints often make them a 'wish' rather than a reality for every school.
EN: Second Conditional (Hypothetical Present/Future): Used to talk about imaginary, unlikely, or impossible situations in the present or future. The structure is 'If + past simple, would + base verb'.
If I had more money, I would buy a new car.
EN: Uncountable Noun 'Courage': 'Courage' is an uncountable noun, meaning it cannot be pluralized and does not take the indefinite article 'a'. We use quantifiers like 'more' or 'some' with it.
It takes a lot of courage to speak in public.
EN: The verb 'wish' is followed by a clause in the past subjunctive (simple past tense) to express a present regret or a desire for a situation that is contrary to current reality.
I wish I had a car to drive to work.
EN: The structure 'question word + to-infinitive' (how to fix) functions as a noun phrase, acting as the direct object of the verb 'know'. It means 'the way or method to do something'.
She doesn't know where to go.
EN: The Second Conditional is used to talk about hypothetical, unreal, or imaginary situations in the present or future. The structure is: 'If + subject + past simple verb (were for all subjects), subject + would + base verb'.
If I had a car, I would drive to work.
EN: The adverb 'better' is the comparative form of 'well'. It is used here to modify the verb phrase 'play basketball', indicating a higher level of ability compared to the present reality.
She speaks English better than before.
EN: The verb 'wish' is used with a past subjunctive clause (here, 'could' + base verb) to express a desire for a situation that is impossible or unlikely to happen in the present or future, or to express a strong, nostalgic hope.
I wish I could fly like a bird.
EN: The adverb 'forever' is used as an adverbial modifier of time, typically placed at the end of the clause to emphasize the permanent duration of the action.
EN: This sentence uses the First Conditional (If + present simple, will + base verb) to talk about a real and possible future situation. The 'if-clause' presents the condition, and the main clause presents the likely result.
If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
EN: The adverb 'never' is a frequency adverb used before the main verb 'feel' to indicate that the action or state of feeling lost will not happen at any time.
She will never give up on her dream.
EN: In Western culture, 'dreams' often refer to personal aspirations, goals, and hope for the future. Keeping one's dreams alive is a common theme in literature and motivational speeches, emphasizing resilience and self-belief.
Key vocabulary words with IPA pronunciation, definitions, example sentences, and interactive quizzes.
Phrases with type tags, bilingual definitions, usage notes, and example sentences.
To do what you believe is right or what you truly want to do, rather than what is logical or expected.
Performing or appearing in front of an audience on a platform.
Without charge; costing nothing.