Russian, from zero to B1

Week 71, Lesson 141, Monday

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
Focusе́сли 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 е́сли бы.

3The lesson 20 minutes

In this lesson

  1. Unreal conditions
  2. Real or unreal

Unreal conditions

An unreal condition, built step by step.

1IfЕ́сли бы2past formя знал,3thenя бы4past formсказа́л.
бы takes the past form, in both halves.
RussianMeaning
Е́сли бы у меня́ бы́ло вре́мя, я бы пое́хал в Росси́ю.If I had time, I would go to Russia.
Е́сли бы я знал, я бы сказа́л.If I had known, I would have said.
Что бы вы сде́лали, е́сли бы вы́играли миллио́н?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
Е́сли бу́дет тепло́, мы пое́дем на пляж.If it's warm, we'll go to the beach. (real)
Е́сли бы бы́ло тепло́, мы бы пое́хали на пляж.If it were warm, we'd go to the beach. (unreal)
е́слибу́детreal: futureе́сли быбы́лоunreal: pastбыпое́халalways 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 Екатери́на: 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 Екатери́на what you would do with a free month.

Екатери́на

  • Ask А почему́? and А что ещё?

7Your turn 5 minutes

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

See a model answer

Е́сли бы у меня́ был свобо́дный ме́сяц, я бы пое́хал в Росси́ю.

Saved as you type. It goes to Екатери́на 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 е́сли бы.

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

11Homework

Homework 141 on Tuesday: dreams.

Open Homework 141

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

Can you do this now?