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This podcast is designed to give English students extra practice by discussing events, history, culture and language.
Love is Over – What Happens Next?
Kari: Hey everyone, welcome back to the VivaLing podcast where we learn English in a fun way! Robert is here today to speak with me about Valentine’s Day, but with a twist. Not everyone has a romantic Valentine’s Day. Sometimes, love is over!
Robert: Yes. Well, that sounds a bit depressing, perhaps, especially for a Valentine’s Day podcast.
Kari: No, don’t worry. Don’t worry. I think we can talk about relationships ending AND have some fun with it, too.
Robert: I’m willing to give it a go.
Kari: Okay. Now, often people can use the second condition to talk about relationships. I like to call the second condition the imaginary condition. We use it to talk about imaginary situations in the present. Robert, could you maybe explain the grammar?
Robert: Sure. Well, there are two basic parts of a conditional sentence: the if situation, which is the condition and the consequence. For second conditional sentences, use “IF + the past” and for the consequence, use “WOULD + the verb base.” For example, “If I loved her, I would marry her.”
Kari: So, it’s imaginary because the truth is, you don’t love her.
Robert: Exactly.
Kari: Oh, poor girl, poor girl. Now the third conditional is maybe the most common condition used to talk about relationships gone bad. I call it the regret condition – how we would have done things differently …. but we didn’t.
Robert: Yes, exactly. That’s a good way to think of it. The grammar is a bit more challenging. You use “IF + past perfect,” and for the consequence, use “WOULD HAVE + the verb base.” Like this: If I had taken her to the theatre, she would have been really happy.
Kari: Ahhh … So, you are saying that in the past, maybe last week, your girlfriend wanted to go to the theatre, but you didn’t take her. You took her, I don’t know, for example, to the football match, and she was the opposite of happy.
Robert: Precisely. Yes, but now I know better.
Kari: Yes, I’m sure you do. Okay. Let’s practice. How about let’s take turns telling a romance gone bad story, and the other person must use a conditional to talk about it.
Robert: Sounds good to me.
Kari: Okay, here’s the first situation:
Imagine this: You were the generous one in the relationship. You bought gifts, fancy dinners and surprise concerts. But now? It’s over. Upon leaving, your partner mentions that all he or she really wanted was to travel and experience the world with you.
Robert: Well, the relationship is over, so it’s third conditional – a regret. Hmm, if I hadn’t spent so much money on gifts, we could have traveled more.
Kari: Not bad. Not bad, Robert. Here’s another one:
Be honest—how many times have you stared at your phone after a breakup, reading and re-reading the messages. And let’s be real, those late-night texts won’t help! Just press that block button and sleep peacefully!
Robert: Well, it’s second conditional because I am doing this now…. so, if I blocked the number, I wouldn’t see the messages.
Kari: Ah, yes, good … and get some sleep. Good sentence AND good advice, I guess. Now, do you have a situation for me?
Robert: I sure do. Now, let me have a quick think. Your best friend warned you about him, but you didn’t listen. And now? You’re single again, and you wasted two years of your life. Next time, trust your bestie. Kari: That’s a typical dating and relationship problem, I think, and it’s definitely a regret. Hmmm. If I had listened to my best friend, I wouldn’t have dated that jerk in the first place.
Robert: Sounds like maybe you have had this experience before?
Kari: Not telling. Not telling. Do you have one more?
Robert: I think I do. Okay. Imagine that you’re famous, and your firey breakup has become front page news. All you want is to be sad in private, but you can’t even go out the door without cameras in your face.
Kari: Not a problem I think I will ever have, but I am imagining about a different life now – so second conditional. If I weren’t a movie star, I wouldn’t have my personal business in all the magazines.
Kari: Not too bad. Thank you, Robert. I that was fun, a nice take on Valentine’s Day. What do you think?
Robert: Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
Kari: Well, that’s all from us at this Valentine’s holiday time. We hope you enjoyed our twist on Valentine’s Day and learned how to use second and third conditionals just a little bit better. That’s all for now.