WHAT YOU
SHOULD KNOWCONDITIONALS: “IF” OR “WHEN”?
We use conditional sentences for
bargaining and making suggestions.
Use if to describe situations that will
possibly happen:
● If you offer us a ten per cent discount,
we’ll order in bulk.
(= There is a possibility that we will get
a discount, but we don’t know yet.)
Use when to describe things that are
certain to happen:
● I’ll visit their offices when I’m in Berlin
next week.
(= I am going to Berlin and I’m sure that
I will visit their offices.)
“I’M AFRAID...”
When you disagree with someone, you
can use the phrase I’m afraid... to show
that what you are saying is not meant
to be a personal insult. I’m afraid... gives
the other person the feeling that it is
not in your power to do anything else
about the situation:
● I’m afraid there seems to have been a
slight misunderstanding.
● I’m afraid I can’t support that proposal.
FALSE FRIENDS
The German word Preis is translated as
price:
● I still think the price is too high.
Don’t use prize, as this means Preis or
Auszeichnung:
● Our design has won many prizes.