Russian, from zero to B1

Week 71, Lesson 141, Thursday

If I could …: the conditional

Russian builds every would-sentence the same way: бы plus the past form of the verb. One rule, and you can talk about dreams, regrets and wishes.

In this lessonabout 70 minutes
New words6
Focusесли бы … бы …, the past form after бы, real or unreal

1Recap 5 minutes

Three questions from Week 70, before anything new.

2Goal 1 minute

I can talk about unreal situations and dreams with если бы.

3The lesson 20 minutes

In this lesson

  1. Unreal conditions
  2. Real or unreal

Unreal conditions

An unreal condition, built step by step.

1IfЕсли бы2past formя знал,3thenя бы4past formсказал.
бы takes the past form, in both halves.
RussianMeaning
Если бы у меня было время, я бы поехал в Россию.If I had time, I would go to Russia.
Если бы я знал, я бы сказал.If I had known, I would have said.
Что бы вы сделали, если бы выиграли миллион?What would you do if you won a million?

бы + the past form, in both halves. The same sentence covers if I had and if I had had.

Real or unreal

RussianMeaning
Если будет тепло, мы поедем на пляж.If it's warm, we'll go to the beach. (real)
Если бы было тепло, мы бы поехали на пляж.If it were warm, we'd go to the beach. (unreal)
еслибудетreal: futureесли быбылоunreal: pastбыпоехалalways past
One small word changes the whole sentence.
Week 71 on one plate. Lesson 141: Если бы, я бы; Я бы пошёл; Что бы вы сделали; Я бы поехал в Россию. Lesson 142: Я бы хотел; На вашем месте я бы; Не могли бы вы; Было бы здорово.
Week 71 on one plate. This lesson is band L141.

4Listen and say 5 minutes

Sound of the lesson: бы

бы is light and unstressed: я бы пое́хал, ya by pa-YE-khal.

  • Е́сли бы [YES-li by]
  • я бы пое́хал [ya by pa-YE-khal]

5Phrases and words 5 minutes

Phrases to learn whole

Learn each one as a single unit, the way you would learn a word. They come back in your Daily 10.

Words to read aloud

Read each one aloud, then open it to check.

Е́сли бы …, я бы …

If …, I would …

бы

would (with the past form)

Hear it on Forvo
вы́играть

to win

Hear it on Forvo
путеше́ствовать

to travel

Hear it on Forvo
Бы́ло бы здо́рово!

That would be great!

Хорошо́ бы …

It would be nice to …

6Class exercises 15 minutes

Checked instantly. Get one wrong and you can try it again.

In class. With Ника: answer five what-would-you-do questions, then ask her five.

Role-play

Take one card each. Swap roles for a second round.

You

  • Tell Ника what you would do with a free month.

Ника

  • Ask А почему? and А что ещё?

7Your turn 5 minutes

Write what you would do if you had a free month.

See a model answer

Если бы у меня был свободный месяц, я бы поехал в Россию.

Saved as you type. It goes to Ника together with Homework 141.

8Mini questionnaire required, 80% to pass

9Feedback 5 minutes

10Check your goal 1 minute

I can talk about unreal situations and dreams with если бы.

Can you do this now? Be honest: the answer decides your next step.

11Homework

Homework 141 on Saturday: dreams.

Open Homework 141

I can talk about unreal situations and dreams with если бы.

Can you do this now?