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English Course · Level 2 (A2) · Week 9 of 12

Problems and Solutions

Grammar: First conditional · if / unless · when / as soon as

This week's plan

DayLearnListen / WatchPractise
Day 1Words: Everyday problems · Sentences 1–2Learn English with Bob the Canadian: “Let's Learn English! Topic: Struggles and Problems” (podcast)Exercise 1
Day 2Words: Fixing things · Sentences 3–4BBC 6 Minute Grammar: “The first conditional” (podcast)Exercise 2
Day 3Words: Complaining · Sentences 5–6British Council: “Leaving a message” (listening)Exercise 3
Day 4Words: Linking words · Sentences 7–8engVid (Benjamin): “Learn English Grammar: The First Conditional” (video)
+ British Council: “An email explaining a problem” (writing)		Exercise 4
Day 5Words: Results · Sentences 9–10Learn English with Bob the Canadian: “How to Talk About Mistakes in English” (podcast)Write & Speak
Day 6Review all 30 words + 10 sentencesBBC Learning English Grammar: “Fixing problems” (podcast)Redo mistakes
Day 7Free day ☺BBC Learning English Stories: “Our Stories: Locked out and looking silly” (podcast)Tick your tracker

30 minutes a day: review, learn, listen, practise, speak. Day 7 is a free day. Tap a resource to find it.

30 words to learn

Set 1 · Everyday problems

  • power cutانقطاع الكهرباء
  • leakتسريب (مياه)
  • flat tyreإطار مثقوب / كاوتش نايم
  • batteryبطارية
  • brokenمكسور / عطلان
  • stuckعالق / محشور

Set 2 · Fixing things

  • solutionحل
  • solveيحلّ
  • repairيُصلح
  • replaceيستبدل
  • plumberسبّاك
  • electricianكهربائي

Set 3 · Complaining

  • complainيشتكي
  • refundاسترداد المال
  • exchangeيبدّل (في المحل)
  • customer serviceخدمة العملاء
  • faultyمعيب / فيه عيب
  • guaranteeضمان

Set 4 · Linking words

  • ifإذا / لو
  • unlessإلا إذا / إن لم
  • as soon asبمجرد أن / أول ما
  • otherwiseوإلا
  • in case ofفي حالة
  • untilحتى / لحد ما

Set 5 · Results

  • get worseيزداد سوءًا
  • get betterيتحسن
  • wasteيُهدر / يضيّع
  • save timeيوفّر الوقت
  • preventيمنع (حدوث شيء)
  • take actionيتخذ إجراءً

10 sentences to memorise

  1. 1If the power cut lasts a long time, the food in the fridge will go bad.إذا استمر انقطاع الكهرباء وقتًا طويلًا، سيفسد الطعام في الثلاجة.
  2. 2If you don't call a plumber, the leak will get worse.إذا لم تتصل بسبّاك، سيزداد التسريب سوءًا.
  3. 3My phone battery is dead. Can I use your charger?فرغت بطارية هاتفي. هل يمكنني استخدام شاحنك؟
  4. 4We got stuck in the lift for twenty minutes.علقنا في المصعد عشرين دقيقة.
  5. 5If it's faulty, they'll give you a refund.إذا كان معيبًا، فسيُعيدون إليك ثمنه.
  6. 6I'm going to complain to customer service.سأشتكي لخدمة العملاء.
  7. 7I'll call you as soon as I get home.سأتصل بك بمجرد أن أصل إلى البيت.
  8. 8When the electrician comes, I'll ask him about the lights.عندما يأتي الكهربائي، سأسأله عن الأنوار.
  9. 9Don't worry. We'll find a solution.لا تقلق. سنجد حلًا.
  10. 10Unless you leave now, you'll miss the train.إن لم تغادر الآن، سيفوتك القطار.

Grammar: First conditional · if / unless · when / as soon as

First conditional: If + present simple, will + verb — a real possibility in the future

If it rains, we'll stay at home. · We'll stay at home if it rains.

when / as soon as + present simple for things that are sure to happen: I'll call you when I arrive.

لأننا نقول بالعربية «لو هتمطر هنقعد في البيت»، يضع المتعلم will بعد if: If it will rain ✗. القاعدة: بعد if و when و as soon as و unless نستخدم المضارع البسيط حتى لو كان المعنى مستقبلًا، ونضع will في الجزء الآخر فقط. وإذا بدأت الجملة بـ if فضع فاصلة بين الجزأين. if = ممكن يحدث، أما when = متأكد أنه سيحدث.

if / when part (present simple)result (will / won't + verb)
If you leave now,you'll catch the bus.
If it doesn't work,I'll take it back to the shop.
When I get paid,I'll buy a new phone.
As soon as the plumber arrives,I'll call you.
Unless you hurry (= If you don't hurry),you'll be late.

The result can also be can, should or an order: If you feel ill, you should see a doctor. · If you see Omar, tell him to call me.

unless = if … not. Don't add not after unless: Unless you hurry … (NOT Unless you don't hurry …).

Exercises

Exercise 1 · Complete with the correct form (first conditional).

  1. 1) If you ___ (press) this button, the machine ___ (start).
  2. 2) If it ___ (not stop) raining, we ___ (stay) at home.
  3. 3) She ___ (be) angry if you ___ (forget) her birthday.
  4. 4) If they ___ (not repair) the lift, I ___ (complain).
  5. 5) What ___ you ___ (do) if you ___ (lose) your job?
  6. 6) If the battery ___ (die), I ___ (not be) able to call you.
Show the answers
1) press … will start 2) doesn't stop … will ('ll) stay 3) will be … forget 4) don't repair … will ('ll) complain 5) will … do … lose 6) dies … won't be

Exercise 2 · Complete with if or when.

  1. 1) I'll phone you ___ I arrive in Luxor. (I'm sure I'll arrive.)
  2. 2) ___ I finish work today, I'll go shopping. (I finish every day.)
  3. 3) ___ it's sunny tomorrow, we'll go to the beach. (Maybe it will be sunny.)
  4. 4) I'll make dinner ___ I get home. (I'm sure I'll get home.)
  5. 5) ___ you see a lost child, call the police. (Maybe you will see one.)
Show the answers
1) when 2) When 3) If 4) when 5) If

Exercise 3 · Correct the mistake.

  1. 1) If it will rain, I'll take a taxi.
  2. 2) I'll call you as soon as I will get the results.
  3. 3) If you don't hurry, you miss the bus.
  4. 4) Unless you don't study, you'll fail.
  5. 5) When he comes, I tell him.
Show the answers
1) If it rains, I'll take a taxi. 2) I'll call you as soon as I get the results. 3) If you don't hurry, you'll miss the bus. 4) Unless you study, you'll fail. (or: If you don't study, you'll fail.) 5) When he comes, I'll tell him.

Exercise 4 · Translate into English.

  1. 1) إذا تعطلت السيارة، سأتصل بك.
  2. 2) سأخبرك بمجرد أن أعرف.
  3. 3) إذا لم تتصل بالكهربائي، لن تعمل الأنوار.
  4. 4) عندما أصل إلى المكتب، سأرسل لك البريد الإلكتروني.
Show the answers
1) If the car breaks down, I'll (I will) call you. 2) I'll tell you as soon as I know. 3) If you don't call the electrician, the lights won't work. 4) When I get to the office, I'll send you the email.

Do each exercise in pencil first, then open the answers to check.

Write & Speak

Write & Speak — “A problem at home”: write an email of 80–100 words to a shop or a landlord about a problem. Explain what happened (past simple), ask for a solution, and say what you will do if they don't help (first conditional). Then role-play the phone call with a friend.

Example: Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to complain about the washing machine I bought from your shop in Nasr City two weeks ago. Yesterday it stopped working in the middle of a wash, and there was a big leak in my kitchen. The machine is still under guarantee, so I would like you to repair or replace it as soon as possible. If nobody comes this week, I will ask for a full refund. Please call me when your technician is available. Yours faithfully, Mona Adel