On Screen Unit 4c - Grammar - pp 64-65

 Vibrant Vocabulary

Language is a living breathing thing that constantly evolves and changes. If a new word becomes popular, it spreads through our lexicon. This is becoming especially true in our modern digital age, where technology has rapidly accelerated a linguistic process that in the past would take decades. Nowadays, for example, thanks to social media, if we share expressions and vocabulary online enough, they unquestionably take on a life of their own in both cyberspace and beyond! What’s more, providing that they get used enough, they might even end up being added to the dictionary, as was the case with words such as YOLO, LOL and selfie! Bear in mind, however, that even if those words were not officially recognised, people would use them anyway. So, if you dismissed them first time round, it will probably come back to haunt you! Technology has become the most prevalent factor in people’s access to and use of language in a strikingly short period of time. In fact, had I told you this fifteen years ago, you would most likely not have believed it! Of course, some people might wish that this wasn’t so, but it’s something that we should all embrace. After all, we had better keep up with new words and expressions or risk being left behind! With such astonishingly rapid developments, even the hippest wordsmith might wonder if people in the future will even understand the cutting-edge lingo that’s so exciting to us today!

In this case will expresses uncertainty. (...might wonder if people in the future will... = might wonder whether people in the future will...) 

22b) Rewrite the sentences omitting if. Use the Grammar button to refer to the theory.

 

1. 1 If I were you, I wouldn’t get a tablet with facial recognition software.
      Were I you, I wouldn't get a tablet with facial recognition software.
2. 2 If you should go to the electronics fair, could you get me a programme about the exhibits?
      Should you go to the electronics fair, could you get me a programme about the exhibits?
3. 3 If buildings in the neighbourhood had stayed the same, the local community wouldn’t have lost so much of its character.
      Had buildings in the neighbourhood stayed the same, the local community wouldn't have lost so much of its character.
4. 4 If I were more outgoing, I’d work overseas for a multinational company.
      Were I more outgoing, I'd work overseas for a multinational company.
5. 5 If I should see Sandy, shall I tell her to call you?
      Should I see Sandy, shall I tell her to call you?

4b) Join the sentences. Use the phrases in brackets.

 

1. 1 People can adapt to change. They remain flexible and open-minded. (on condition that)
      People can adapt to change on condition that they remain flexible and open-minded.
2. 2 You’ve faced lots of problems. You’ve settled into your new position very well. (given that)
      You've settled into your new position very well given that you've faced lots of problems.
3. 3 I received a scholarship. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have studied computer science. (but for)
      But for receiving a scholarship, I wouldn't have studied computer science.
4. 4 Contactless debit cards may become the norm. Would cash stop being produced? (suppose)
      Suppose that contactless debit cards become the norm, would cash stop being produced?

5b) Complete the wishes for sentences 1-4.

 

1. 1 You neglected to tell your friend about the documentary on robotics yesterday.
      I wish I had told my friend about the documentary on robotics yesterday.
2. 2 You want to be able to design websites using HTML but you can't.
      I wish I could design websites using HTML.
3. 3 You wanted to study computing at college, but you didn't do well at IT at school.
      I wish I had done well at IT at school so I could study computing at college.
4. 4 Your MP3 player doesn't have much battery life and keeps dying after a few hours.
      I wish my MP3 player had more battery life and didn't keep dying after a few hours.

 6b) Wishes - Preference

1. 1 I prefer cycling (cycle) to driving a car, as it helps lower my carbon footprint.
2. 2 I'd better recharge (recharge) my camera before I go.
3. 3 I would prefer to live (live) in the city centre rather than reside in the country.
4. 4 I would rather you didn't upgrade (not/upgrade) the computer without asking.

Unreal Past

7 Choose the correct item. Which sentences refer to the present? past? Use the Grammar button to refer to the theory.

1 It’s high time the mayor intervenedintervenehad intervened to help local businesses

2 Supposing you tookhad takentake that course. Would it have helped you?

3 If I had beenhave beenwere you, I would build my own computer from scratch.

4 Imagine you have lostlostlose your wireless headphones; what would you do?

Key word transformations

8 Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first, using the word in capitals. Use between three and eight words.

1. 1 They should have invested in the company last year when they had the chance. BETTER
      It would have been better if they had invested in the company last year when they had the chance.
2. 2 ‘Please don’t use internet slang when you speak to your grandmother,’ said Lucy’s father. RATHER
      Lucy’s father said he would rather she didn't use internet slang when she spoke to her grandmother.
3. 3 The company regrets not taking the warnings of a cyberattack against their network seriously. WISHES
      The company wishes they had taken the warnings of a cyberattack against their network seriously.
4. 4 The area would have never been improved without the regeneration scheme. FOR
      Had it not been for the regeneration scheme, the area would never have been improved.
5. 
   

9 WRITING Think of a way that the world has changed. Write what you wish would have happened/not have happened instead. Use the Help button for reference.

 help

I wish people had not become quite so dependent on technology. I wish people could live without their mobile phones. I wish they still made arrangements in advance and stuck to them. I wish social media was not quite so popular, too. If only people spent more time with their friends face-to-face.