Speaking Hypothetically

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Speaking Hypothetically
A presentation for the Inha TESOL program. By
Chris Gunn
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When do we use it?

• We use hypothetical speech when we are
• (1) imagining/ supposing/ pretending
• (2) talking about unreal/untrue situations
• (3) talking about improbable/unlikely situations.

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Example 1 Imagining
Imagine you could have any super power. What
would it be? If I could have any super power, I
would choose the ability to fly.
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Example 2 Unreal Situations
If I were president, I would help the poor and
take care of the environment. . . . . . . . . . .
. . But I am not president so I wont.
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Example 3 Improbable Situations
If I won the lottery, I would quit my job and
travel the world. . . . . . . . . But I
probably wont win so Id better finish my work.
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Past Unreal Conditional

• Students most common experience of
• hypothetical speech comes from the past
• unreal conditional. (2nd conditional)
• If (past tense), (would)
• Ex) If I saw a ghost, I would scream.
• However, speaking hypothetically is much more
• than just the second conditional.

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Other Ways to Mark Hypothetical Speech.

• There are many ways to mark hypothetical
  situations. The past unreal conditional is just
  one way.
• Here are some others
• Imagine
• Suppose
• Say
• What if

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Imagine

• Imagine you were stranded on a deserted island.
  How would you survive?

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Suppose

• Suppose the price of oil increased to 300.00 a
  barrel. What would be the effect on the economy.
• Well, first of all, there would be a great deal
  of inflation. Second, people would drive a lot
  less. Third, industry and government would invest
  more money in alternative energy sources.

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Say

• Did you hear that Jack found a diamond worth
  20,000 on the road? He returned it to the owner.
  
• Say you found a 20,000 diamond on the road.
  Would you keep it or return it?

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Setting the Situation

• You set the situation using one of the markers
  plus the past tense.
• If past tense
• Say past tense
• Suppose past tense
• Imagine past tense.

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Giving the Hypothetical Consequences

• Once the situation is set, you use would and
  could to give the state the consequences.
• Situation If my boss asked me on a date
• Consequence I would refuse and complain.
• Situation Lets say I was in charge of this
  company
• Consequence I would provide incentives for
  employees to work hard.

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• Once you have set the situation, you should keep
  using would or could as long as you are speaking
  hypothetically.
• EX) If I won the lottery, I would travel the
  world and I would see many things. First, I would
  visit Europe because I have always wanted to
  visit the castles and cathedrals. Then I would
  fly to South America so that I could trek through
  the rain forest. Finally, I would take a long
  vacation on an island in the Pacific.

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• However, be careful! Sometimes, you slide in and
  out of hypothetical speech. What is wrong with
  following?
• If I could be an animal, I would be an eagle. If
  I were an eagle, I could fly over mountains and I
  could rest in tall trees. Eagles could see very
  far so I would be able to see my friends down on
  the ground below.

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• Eagles could can see very far so I would be able
  to see my friends down on the ground below.
• Eagles really can see very far. So that is not a
  hypothetical situation.

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Applications

• There are many applications. Here are a few
• (1) Giving advice.
• (2) Giving solutions to problems.

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Giving Advice

• If I were you, I would. . .
• If it were me, I would . . .
• If I were in your shoes, I would . . .
• I would . . .

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Solutions to Problems
If more people took public transportation, there
wouldnt be so much pollution. Also there
wouldnt be such traffics jams at rush hour.