We use this expression with other pronouns. He’ll be alright, won’t he? They’ll come back, won’t they? I’ll win, won’t I?
To talk about things we really want to do we say 'I would love to'. I would love to win a million dollars.
We usually contract I would to I'd. I'd love to win a million dollars.
SARAH I'dlove to come and see you in Singapore.
Sometimes we use you must to mean 'you should' Thailand is beautiful. You must go.
ANNE Oh yes! I’ll show you around. And you must meet my parents.
2. IF
We use if to talk about possibility. This use of if is called conditional.
If I blow air into the balloon, it will get bigger.
The thing that will cause the balloon to get bigger is blowing into it.
If I prick the balloon with a pin, it will burst.
The thing or condition that will cause the balloon to burst is being pricked with a pin
ANNE Yes, if the wine sells well, I’ll be back soon.
The wine selling well is the condition for Anne coming back.
Anne is not sure that the wine will sell well. If she was, she would use when, not if When the wine sells, I’ll come back.
STEVE If you like, I’ll come to Singapore with Sarah.
The condition for Steve coming to Singapore is Anne liking it.
ANNE Of course they’ll like you. If I like you, they’ll like you.
The condition for Anne’s parents to like Steve is Anne liking him.
SARAH Ring me if you need help with packing.
The condition of Anne ringing Sarah is that she needs help packing.
It doesn’t really matter which way round we say this. You could say: If you need help packing, ring me.
ANNE But I’ll come back. If you want me to.
The condition for Anne to come back is Steve wanting her to.
SARAH Well, if our business goes well, I’ll be able to afford it.
The condition for Sarah to afford to go to Singapore is the business going well.
To say that she feels certain that Sarah will visit Singapore , Anne says:
ANNE There’s no ‘ifs’ about it.
Listen for a different use of if:
ANNE I feel as if I have a second family here.
As if means like. I feel as if I’ve been studying for too long.
Watch Living English and get to know the characters of our drama 'Sisters and Brothers' as you learn and revise your basic English skills.