How to use IF Conditionals Advanced English Grammar Lesson
Vanessa: Hello, hello.
Dan: Hi.
Vanessa: Welcome to today’s live English lesson
here on the Speak English with Vanessa YouTube
channel.
Today, as you can tell, I have a special guest.
Dan: Who?
Vanessa: It’s my husband, Dan.
He’s going to be giving us some different
perspective and hopefully help you to hear
some new example sentences, and to just have
a real English conversation.
So if you’re new here, I’m Vanessa, and I
teach English here on my YouTube channel.
Usually, I have a lot, a new lesson every
Friday.
So if you want to get new lessons every Friday,
you can subscribe and get a notification so
that you can continue to learn English with
me.
But, today’s lesson is super special for three
reasons.
The first reason is that I have a special
guest, Dan.
Dan: Hello, again.
Vanessa: My second reason is that you are
going to be mastering an advanced complex
sentence structure that native speakers use
a lot.
We’re going to be asking you a question, specifically
the question of if someone gave you $500 and
you had to use it for a tattoo, what would
you get?
Dan: Ooh.
Vanessa: If someone gave you $500, what tattoo
would you get?
We’re going to be talking about tattoos because
there is a super special reason, and I’m going
to share my screen with you so that you can
see why we’re going to be talking about tattoos.
Because I don’t have a tattoo, Dan doesn’t
have a tattoo, but-
Dan: No tats.
Vanessa: … I’m going to show you here on
my screen why we’re talking about tattoos.
All right.
You can see here that inside my course, the
Fearless Fluency Club, we’re going to be talking
about tattoos.
Now, we’re going to be talking with my friend,
Lana, who has a lot of tattoos.
She talks about the stories of her tattoos,
her colored hair, a lot of different things.
And this is our topic for October, 2018.
So, you’re going to be learning vocabulary,
grammar, pronunciation, and also enjoying
this interesting conversation with Lana.
So if you would like to continue to learn
more about tattoos, and this kind of controversial
topic … I know in some countries it’s not
something that is common or is something that
is maybe looked upon in a good way.
Dan: Acceptable.
Vanessa: Acceptable.
That’s a great word.
Yes.
So, we’re going to be talking about that in
October.
If you’d like to join Dan and I in the Fearless
Fluency Club, there is a link below this video.
That’s the second reason why today’s lesson
is special.
But, we have a third reason.
And the third reason is kind of crazy.
Well, as I mentioned, I don’t have any tattoos.
Dan doesn’t have any tattoos.
So, what are we going to do today?
Dan: I’m going to give Vanessa a tattoo.
Vanessa: All right.
Dan: But, it’s not a real tattoo.
Don’t worry.
I’m going to use henna.
Do you know what henna is?
Vanessa: Well, I know what henna is, and I
love henna.
Henna is kind of a traditional Indian type
of temporary tattoo.
Dan: Yes, it’s temporary, so it won’t stay
on her for very long.
Vanessa: Yes.
Yes.
While I’m giving you this lesson, Dan is going
to be drawing a secret tattoo on my arm.
I don’t know what it is.
Dan: Yeah, I don’t know what it is either.
This is going to be very spur of the moment.
It’s a little surprise.
Vanessa: Spur of the moment is a great idiom.
Dan: Yes.
Vanessa: Oh.
What’s spur of the moment mean?
Dan: It means that it’s not planned.
Vanessa: Spontaneous.
Dan: Yes.
I’m also not an artist, so maybe you should
have low expectations.
Maybe you should even expect a joke.
I don’t know.
We’ll see.
Vanessa: We’ll see what happens.
Dan: I’m just going to get started.
Vanessa: So while I’m giving you and talking
about this lesson today, Dan is going to be
trying his best.
Dan: But you got to be still.
Vanessa: Okay.
Are you going to … Are you starting?
Dan: I’m starting.
Vanessa: Okay.
It’s hard for me because you know how I love
to use gestures and how I love to move my
arms a lot.
Dan: Yes, you do.
Vanessa: But, I can’t move my arms while I’m
giving this lesson.
So, I’m sorry if it’s a little bit different
than normal.
But at the end of this lesson, you’ll get
to see what Dan’s interesting tattoo idea
is.
All right.
So, let’s get started with the topic of today,
which the generation topic is tattoos, but
I want to use this complex, advanced sentence
structure, which is if hypothetical questions.
These are used commonly in daily conversation,
often even in business situations when you’re
thinking about what might happen.
It’s not certain.
It’s just an idea.
That’s what hypothetical means, is that it’s
something that isn’t known.
It’s just an idea.
It’s not really concrete and happening now,
just an idea.
So, that’s what the questions is today.
I’m also going to be asking Dan, so he might
have to take a little break from his tattoo-
Dan: Artistic endeavor.
Vanessa: … artistic endeavor to answer the
question.
But, my question today is, if someone gave
you $500 … I’ve never had a tattoo, so I
don’t really know how expensive they are,
but I imagine with $500 you could get a pretty
tattoo.
So, I want to know, if someone gave you $500,
what would you get?
Let’s here what Dan has to say first, and
then I’m going to explain some of the grammar
so that you can make your own sentence with
this as well.
I’m not going to look at your tattoo.
What would you say to this question?
If your brother said, “Dan, you have to get
a tattoo with this $500.
You have no choice you have to- "
Dan: I’d say, “Just give me the money, please.”
Vanessa: But he said you have no choice.
You have to.
Dan: I have no choice.
Vanessa: This is a hypothetical question.
Obviously, your brother wouldn’t force you
to get a tattoo.
Dan: Yeah.
Vanessa: But, let’s just say that in this
hypothetical situation he gave you $500 and
said, “It’s my wish that you would get a tattoo.”
What would you get?
Dan: I would probably make sure that both
of us were getting a similar tattoo.
Vanessa: Oh, I have to do it, too?
Dan: Yeah, of course.
Because we’re married, obviously.
I love my wife a lot, so I’d have to be kind
of a bonding tattoo.
Vanessa: So would the tattoo have to be the
same between us or do I just have to get a
tattoo at the same time?
Dan: It has to be similar.
I’m thinking like I’d have like a tiger on
this arm, and then on your arm you’d have
another tiger, and they’re like reaching for
each other.
Vanessa: Oh, okay.
Dan: Or maybe they shape a heart.
Maybe the heart’s too cheesy.
Vanessa: It’s a valiant idea.
So for you, you said, “I would,” or, “Maybe
I would get a tiger on one arm,” and I would
have to get a tiger on the other arm.
You might notice that in this grammatical
sentence structure he used would to talk about
the hypothetical situation.
But if he made a full sentence, if my brother
gave me, that verb gave is the past tense,
gave me.
If my brother gave me $500, I would … So,
I want to know for you, can you make a sentence
using that same sentence structure?
Do you need to draw some more?
Dan: Yes.
You got to be still now.
Vanessa: Okay.
I’m going to try to be still.
Dan: Okay.
Here we go.
Vanessa: What would you get?
So make sure that you’re using the past tense
here.
Let’s talk about another question.
If the tattoo were words, if you were forced
to get a tattoo with words, which words would
get on your arm?
It could be in English.
It could be in another language.
What tattoo would you get?
I guess it doesn’t have to be on your arm.
It could be on your back, on your leg, on
your foot.
It could be something that’s hidden.
But, I want to know for you, what tattoo would
you get?
A lot of you are giving really great answer.
Some of you said, “I would like to get a tattoo
of my cats if my brother gave me $500.”
Dan: Aw.
Vanessa: Beautiful sentence.
In the sample sentence, those of you who are
following live … Those of you who are following
live are writing sample sentences at the moment.
Thanks so much.
You said the past tense, if my brother gave
me.
I want to let you know here that in this sample
sentence I just said that if clause is at
the end of the sentence, but you could also
put it in the beginning of the sentence.
If my brother gave me $500, I would get a
tiger tattoo.
Or we could say the if clause at the end.
I would get a tiger tattoo if my brother gave
me $500.
So here we’ve got two different places in
the sentences that you could add that if phrase.
So, it’s a little bit flexible.
Really, there’s no difference in the meaning.
That’s just your personal preference.
Some of you who are following live said, “I’d
like to get a butterfly tattoo.
I’d get a tattoo with the word Beatles on
it.
I’d get a tattoo that said world peace.”
Aw, these are really-
Dan: Ah, world peace.
Vanessa: … beautiful ideas.
So you like the Beatles, you would get a Beatles
tattoo.
You want world peace, you would get a world
peace tattoo.
I love it.
Now, I want to ask you, Dan, what if your
brother gave you $500 and said, “You have
to get a tattoo on your chest”?
Dan: On my chest.
Vanessa: So it’s a little bit more obvious.
It can really be hidden with a shirt, and
it has to be at least the size of your hand.
What tattoo would you get?
Would it be different or would it be the same?
Dan: Yeah, I think I would have the same tattoo.
Vanessa: Oh, a tiger?
Dan: Yeah, something similar.
It would also have to be very abstract.
Vanessa: Oh, it’s not going to be like a literal
picture of a tiger.
Dan: Yeah, it wouldn’t be a real picture.
It’d have to be kind of artistic, maybe some
swirls or sharp corners.
I don’t know.
It has to look … I think we call those a
tribal tattoo.
Vanessa: Oh, I see what you mean, so just
like-
Dan: Maybe.
Vanessa: … some sharp lines, not really
colors or a clear image.
Dan: Yeah.
Vanessa: Okay, so we-
Dan: Even on my chest I’d do something similar.
Vanessa: So we-
Dan: Although I wouldn’t be happy.
I don’t know that would look very good.
Vanessa: Yeah.
Dan: Chest tattoo.
Vanessa: Might be a little bit odd for you,
because you don’t have any other tattoos.
Dan: Even more odd for you.
Vanessa: Yeah.
It would be really, really odd.
Well, I like that in Dan’s sentence he said,
“I’d get the same tattoo.”
He’s using the contraction here, I would get,
but instead he said, “I’d get.”
This is one of the most common ways to say
I would.
I’d get a tiger tattoo.
I’d like to order the hamburger, please.
I’d like some coffee, please.
I’d like.
So, we’re using that contraction I would and
making it I’d.
I’d like a tiger tattoo.
For me, I think that if my sister gave me
$500 and I had to get a tattoo … This is
a tough question, because I don’t have any
tattoos, and there’s a reason why I don’t
have any tattoos, because I feel like it’s
so permanent.
My interests are always changing and my passions,
when I feel passionate about something, I
feel really passionate about it.
But then, maybe I feel really passionate about
something different after a couple months.
So to have a tattoo, it feels like that passion
needs to be long-lasting and be something
that continues for most of my life.
Dan: That’s why we have to get a couple tattoo.
Vanessa: But even then, it’s a little scary.
Dan: She’s not going to be with me forever.
That’s what she’s trying to say.
Vanessa: I hope so.
I hope we’re together forever.
But, it’s a little bit risky, you know?
So, I feel like for me I’d get … I’m using
that contraction.
I’d get a tattoo of maybe the world, and maybe
highlight some places that are meaningful
to me, so maybe some places that I’ve lived,
maybe the place that I grew up in the US,
maybe have a little special color for the
place I grew up in the US, or the city where
I studied abroad in the UK, or maybe where
I lived in France, or where we lived in Korea.
Those places have really special meanings
to me.
I feel like that meaning isn’t going to change
over time.
Dan: Yeah.
Maybe you could color in the new countries
you visit.
Vanessa: Oh, it’s kind of like a map that
I just color in as I visit new places.
Dan: Yeah.
Then eventually you have to color in the whole
world.
Vanessa: Oh, that could be an interesting
idea.
I guess if I did that, I could get a circle
because you couldn’t see all the places.
I’d have to be-
Dan: I needs to be on your back.
Vanessa: Oh, a giant map.
Dan: Like the map behind us.
Vanessa: Like this map just on my back.
So, I want to know for you, do you have any
tattoos?
If not, what kind of tattoo would you get?
Maybe for you, you would decide not to get
a tattoo at all.
Dan: Yeah, speaking of tattoos-
Vanessa: Yeah, how is …
Dan: … your tattoo is complete.
Vanessa: My tattoo is complete.
Dan: It’s done.
Vanessa: All right.
Dan: It’s simple.
Vanessa: It’s simple.
Okay.
Dan: It’s kind of ugly, too.
Vanessa: Well, the good news is it’s temporary.
So, I’m going to show you.
Dan: The big reveal.
Vanessa: The big reveal what Dan drew on my
arm.
Are you ready?
Dan: Are you ready?
Vanessa: I don’t know.
Whoa.
Dan: Oh, that’s so crooked, now that I look
at it.
Vanessa: I love English.
All right.
I don’t know if it’s-
Dan: It’s a true statement.
Vanessa: … if it’s reversed for you.
But for me, it’s the right way.
Dan: Yeah, it looks reversed on this video.
Vanessa: Oh, it’s okay.
Dan: I don’t know if it’s reversed for you
guys.
Vanessa: Well, for you, it’s clear.
For me it’s clear.
You can see that I love English.
Well, thank you.
Dan: Cupid has shot her heart and said, “She
loves English.”
Vanessa: Wow.
Well, if you have ever gotten a temporary
tattoo or a henna tattoo, like this, it only
stays for maybe a week, maybe two weeks if
you’re lucky, at least in my experience.
So, it won’t be there for very long.
But, it will be enjoyable while it lasts.
Dan: Enjoyable, yes.
Vanessa: Yes.
Dan: It was difficult because you were moving
a little bit.
Vanessa: Oh.
Dan: That’s why it’s not good.
Vanessa: That’s why.
I’m sure.
Dan: That’s the only reason.
Vanessa: I’m sure.
Yes.
Well, thank you so much for your hard work
making this tattoo.
I hope that for you you got to use some of
these hypothetical if sentences.
If I got a tattoo, it would be a heart.
Dan: A heart.
Vanessa: That says-
Dan: That says I love English.
Vanessa: … I love English.
I’m sorry, Dan.
In reality, I would never get this tattoo.
I’m glad it’s temporary.
Dan: You don’t love my art?
Vanessa: But I appreciate that it’s temporary.
Dan: Me, too, actually.
Vanessa: Yes.
So, thank you for being willing to do this
spontaneously.
If you would like to continue to learn English
with me and continue to learn English with
Dan … Today’s lesson was pretty silly, just
a fun, live lesson, a good interaction where
you can learn English for 20 minutes, challenge
yourself to hear something live, not planned,
completely spontaneous.
I’d like to let you know, if you would like
to join me to speak about tattoos, you can
join Alana where we talk about about tattoos.
For the month of October, 2018, you’re going
to learn vocabulary with Dan and I.
We have a one-hour vocabulary lesson every
month talking about the vocabulary that was
used in the conversation.
You’re also going to learn some important
grammar points and pronunciation as well.
So, I hope that you’ll really be able to master
English and practice as much as possible.
A lot of members also join our private Facebook
group and speak together.
That’s one of the benefits, is that you get
to meet really dedicated English learners.
We have a live lesson every Sunday on Facebook
for members of the Fearless Fluency Club.
Dan: Members only.
Vanessa: Yes.
I hope that you can join me and my tattoo
and that you can enjoy learning English in
a fun way.
Thanks so much for joining me today.
Thanks, Dan-
Dan: You’re welcome.
Vanessa: … for joining me.
Pretty silly lesson today, but I hope that
you enjoyed it.
Make sure that you subscribe so that you can
get future lessons every Friday.
You can join us here on YouTube, and you can
become my personal student in the Fearless
Fluency Club.
Thank you so much for joining me.
I’ll see you again the next time.
Bye.
Dan: Bye.