An abstract noun

Teacher: What is an abstract noun, Jane?

Jane: I don't know, Madam.

Teacher: What? You don't know? You must know that... Well, remember, it is the name of a thing you can think of, but which you cannot touch. Now, give me an example.

Jane: A red-hot poker.

* * *

Her Mother: My daughter can play the piano, paint, she understands botany, can speak French and Italian in fact, she is accomplished in every way. And you, Sir?

Prospective Son-in-Law: Well, in an emergency I can cook and mend socks.

EXCEEDINGLY COLD

"It was so cold where we were," said the Arctic explorer, "that the candle light froze and we couldn't blow it out!"

"That's nothing," said his rival. "Where we were the words came out of our mouths in pieces of ice and we had to fry them to see what we were talking about."

HIS CHOICE

"Oh, Mother, must I learn music?" sighed Dick. "Yes, I insist, but you may choose what instrument you like," said Mother.

"May I?" said Dick brightening. "Then may it be the gramophone."

Exercise 248. a) Read the text and say how Kate defined the time.

DEFINING TIME

Little Kate was about five. She was a bright child. She could already read, write and count a little. But she could not tell the time. When somebody asked her what time it was, she usually answered: "Breakfast-time, dinner-time, tea-time."

Once her brother Tom got a fine present for his birthday – a watch. Tom loved his little sister and de­cided to teach her to define the time.

"Can you count, Kate?" asked Tom.

"Of course, I can. One, two, three, four, five..."

"That'll do. I see you can count. Now, look at the watch. I'm putting the large hand on twelve and the small hand on three. Can you tell me the time?"

"Yes, I can. It's three o'clock."

"Good, and if I put the small hand on the four?"

"It's four o'clock."

"You're a nice girl. I hope now you can define the time." ,

It was five o'clock in the afternoon and Tom showing Kate his watch, asked, "What time is it, Kate?"

"Tea-time and I'm very hungry," was the answer.

b) Read the text again and answer the following questions.

1. How old is Kate?

2. What can she do and what can't she do yet?

3. How did Tom teach her to define the time?

4. Did he manage to teach his little sister?

c) Retell the text as if

1) you were Tom;

2) you were Kate;

3) you were Kate's mother.

Conditional sentences

Illustrative situation 1

A presidential election is approaching. There are three candidatures: Jennifer Brown, General E. F. Grant, and Max Smith. People study their programmes trying to choose the appropriate candidatures.

If Jennifer Brown became President, she would close all private schools, increase the education budget and reduce taxation.

General E. F. Grant would bring back capital punish­ment, double the size of the police force and use the army to stop strikes if he were President.

If Max Smith were elected President he would freeze prices and incomes, lend more money to industry and agriculture and promote trade with foreign countries.

Which candidate would you vote for if you took part in the election?

ЗАПАМ’ЯТАЙ!

Щоб виразити дію, яка відбулася б за певних умов у теперішньому чи майбутньому часі, у головному реченні вживають дієслово should/would і першу форму відмінюваного дієслова, а в підрядному речен­ні – другу форму відмінюваного дієслова (дієслово to be має форму were для всіх осіб).

S1 +

should would

V0 …

if S2 + V2 … .

I should be delighted if she taught me English.

If I were you I should act differently.

EXERCISES

Exercise 249. Express your agreement as in the model.

Model: – If John were younger he would go in for hiking.

– Yes, of course, if he were younger he would go in for hiking.

1. If you watered your flowers regularly they would grow better.

2. If you were more careful you wouldn't make such mistakes.

3. It would be cheaper if you went by train.

4. I should speak to Mr Trent myself if I knew him better.

5. If it stopped raining we should go out to play basketball.

6. They would buy the tape recorder if they had more money.

7. If Charles didn't like children he wouldn't work at school.

8. If Betty were not busy we should go to the concert together.

9. I should work quicker if you didn't bother me with your silly questions.

10. If we both had bicycles we should go for a ride into the country.

Exercise 250. Say what you would do if you were in my place.

Model: – (go to the seaside in August)

If I were you I should go to the seaside in August.

We can spend the time together.

1. take warmer clothes

2. go to the doctor's

3. take an umbrella

4. put on heavy shoes

5. invite Jerry to the party

6. tell Mother nothing

7. call a doctor

8. go on a trip with everybody

9. not put off the decision

10. take an aspirin

Exercise 251. Complete the following sentences as in the model, using the suggested words.

Model: – The boy wouldn't be so healthy... (swim)

– The boy wouldn't be so healthy if he didn't swim so much.

1. You wouldn't be so tired ... (work)

2. It wouldn't be so wet ... (rain)

3. You wouldn't be so hoarse ... (shout)

4. Your eyes wouldn't hurt so much ... (read)

5. Nelly wouldn't be angry with you ... (contradict)

6. The dog wouldn't be so fat ... (eat)

7. Cecilia wouldn't play the piano so well ... (practise)

8. The child's eyes wouldn't be swollen ... (cry)

9. Charles wouldn't win the first prize ... (train)

10. Chris wouldn't be so strong ... (ski)