English grammar
Recap with a twist: third and mixed conditionals, however much, surprised that… should
Follow a surprise phone call and react to big news, using conditionals and 'surprised that… should'.
From the scene A job offer?
In short
If + had + participle imagines a different past; would + verb gives a result now. After surprised, should adds emphasis.
Your turn
Which one goes with past cause, result now?
Options: however much they offer you · if you hadn't fallen asleep, you wouldn't be so red now · if it had rained, we'd have come back sooner
Show answer
past cause, result now → if you hadn't fallen asleep, you wouldn't be so red now
How it works
If + had + past participle, then would have + past participle, imagines a different past: if it had rained, we'd have come back sooner.
Good to know
A mixed conditional links a past cause to a result now: if you hadn't fallen asleep, you wouldn't be so red now.
Good to know
However much + clause means it makes no difference how much.
Good to know
After surprised, careful speakers can add should to stress the surprise: I'm surprised they should offer it to me.
a different past if it had rained, we'd have come back sooner
Ramón
Tourism, mind you. If it had rained, we'd have come back sooner.
Turismo, que conste. Si hubiera llovido, habríamos vuelto antes.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Tourism, mind you. (blank).
Options: If it had rained, we'd have come back sooner · If you hadn't fallen asleep, you wouldn't be so red now · However much they offer you
Show answer
Ramón
Tourism, mind you. If it had rained, we'd have come back sooner.
Turismo, que conste. Si hubiera llovido, habríamos vuelto antes.
past cause, result now if you hadn't fallen asleep, you wouldn't be so red now
Elena
And if you hadn't fallen asleep on the beach, you wouldn't be so red now.
Y si no se hubiera dormido en la playa, ahora no estaría tan rojo.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
And (blank) on the beach, you wouldn't be so red now.
Options: however much they offer you · if you hadn't fallen asleep · we'd have come back sooner
Show answer
Elena
And if you hadn't fallen asleep on the beach, you wouldn't be so red now.
Y si no se hubiera dormido en la playa, ahora no estaría tan rojo.
it makes no difference how much however much they offer you
Ramón
However much they offer you, think it through.
Por mucho que te ofrezcan, piénsatelo bien.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), think it through.
Options: However much they offer you · We'd have come back sooner · If you hadn't fallen asleep
Show answer
Ramón
However much they offer you, think it through.
Por mucho que te ofrezcan, piénsatelo bien.
surprise, stressed with should I'm surprised they should offer it to me
Nuria
I never went to university. I'm surprised they should offer it to me.
No fui a la universidad. Me extraña que me lo ofrezcan.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
I never went to university. (blank).
Options: I'm surprised they should offer it to me · If it had rained, we'd have come back sooner · You wouldn't be so red now
Show answer
Nuria
I never went to university. I'm surprised they should offer it to me.
No fui a la universidad. Me extraña que me lo ofrezcan.
no surprise at all it doesn't surprise me in the least
Elena
Well, it doesn't surprise me in the least. Who do you think gave her your number?
Pues a mí no me extraña. ¿Quién crees que le dio tu número?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Well, (blank). Who do you think gave her your number?
Options: it doesn't surprise me in the least · if it had rained, we'd have come back sooner · you wouldn't be so red now
Show answer
Elena
Well, it doesn't surprise me in the least. Who do you think gave her your number?
Pues a mí no me extraña. ¿Quién crees que le dio tu número?
Common mistake
Not won't or didn't here. The result now.
And if you hadn't fallen asleep on the beach, you wouldn't be so red now.
Y si no se hubiera dormido en la playa, ahora no estaría tan rojo.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| a different past | if it had rained, we'd have come back sooner |
|---|---|
| past cause, result now | if you hadn't fallen asleep, you wouldn't be so red now |
| it makes no difference how much | however much they offer you |
| surprise, stressed with should | I'm surprised they should offer it to me |
| no surprise at all | it doesn't surprise me in the least |
More lines from the story
- NuriaA job? At the Madrid office?¿Un puesto? ¿En la sede de Madrid?