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[C+] A Few Years Ago, Not Many People Lived Here

LET'S READ! 📖

Direction: Read the conversation below. Then, exchange roles with your mentor.


23-EE-Mary and tim

Situation:

Marie came back to visit her hometown after living in Tokyo for almost 10 years, and she was shocked to see how much her hometown has changed.

Icon_Marie

Marie

This neighborhood sure has changed since we moved out!

Icon_Ken

Ken

I know. A few years ago, not many people lived here. But the population is growing so fast these days.

Icon_Marie

Marie

Yeah. It seems like there's a construction site on every corner.

Icon_Ken

Ken

Remember how we used to buy butter cookies at that little grocery store? Now it's a multiplex cinema.

Icon_Marie

Marie

Yeah, and they're tearing down our high school. They're going to build a shopping mall. Soon, there will be just malls and parking lots.

Icon_Ken

Ken

That's because everyone has a car! Fifty years ago, people walked everywhere. Nowadays, they drive.

Icon_Marie

Marie

That's some progress, for sure.

But hey, how about the huge park kids used to play at before?

Icon_Ken

Ken

Oh, that huge park where we used to play when we were kids? It's long gone.

Icon_Marie

Marie

Long gone? Why?

Icon_Ken

Ken

Three years ago, they closed the park and started constructing a huge establishment. It is now a twenty-storey apartment building.

Icon_Marie

Marie

Wow, really? That's kinda sad. We had so many memories in that park during our childhood.

Icon_Ken

Ken

Exactly. We might not have the park now but I guess it's more important for them to build additional residential areas in this neighborhood.

Icon_Marie

Marie

Well, yeah. I can see many people living around the area now. I miss how it used to be a quiet neighborhood.

Icon_Ken

Ken

That's true. I still like the quiet neighborhood. Now it's too crowded. Cars are everywhere. It's now very different.

Icon_Marie

Marie

But I guess it's for the better. It's a good change at least.

I saw a nice restaurant just a block away. Why don't we have lunch first? I'm kinda hungry.

Icon_Ken

Ken

Me too. Let's go, I've been dying to try that new restaurant too!

QUESTION

1. What has the little grocery store become now?

2. What did people fifty years ago do instead of drive cars?

3. What happened to the huge park they used to play at?

LET'S UNDERSTAND! 📚

A. Time contrasts

PastPresentFuture

A few years ago, not so many people lived here.



These days, the population is growing so fast.


Soon, there will be a lot of shopping malls.


People used to shop at grocery stores.



Today, people shop at supermarkets.


In twenty years, everyone might buy groceries online.


Fifty years ago, people walked everywhere.



Nowadays, people drive their cars instead.


In the future, people are going to use cars even more.

NOTES

  1. Use the modal "might" to say something is possible in the present or future:

    In a few years, movie theaters might not exist. = In a few years, maybe movie theaters won't exist.

B. Conditional sentences with if clauses

Possible situation + simple presentConsequence + future with will, may, or might

If you don't have to work as hard,

you'll have a lot more free time.

If you get a high paying job,

you won't have to work as hard.

If you have a lot more free time,

you might get bored

If you get bored,

you may have to look for another job.

NOTES

  1. The if clause can come before or after the main clause:

    If I change my eating habits, I'll feel healthier. | I'll feel healthier if I change my eating habits.

    Always use a comma when the if clause comes before the main clause.

  2. For the future of can, use will be able to:

    If you save some more money, you'll be able to buy a car. | you'll can buy a car.

  3. For the future of must, use will have to:

    If you get a dog, you'll have to take care of it. | you'll must take care of it.

B-1. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in parentheses.

  1. If you (exercise) more often, you (feel) more energetic.

  2. If you (join) a gym, exercise (become) part of your routine.

LET'S PRACTICE! 📝

A. Consequences

Direction: Complete the following if clause. Use the modals verbs "will, might, or may".

  1. If you don't get enough sleep,.
  2. If you don't get married,.
  3. If you eat less junk food, .

B. For better or for worse

Direction: Listen to people discuss changes. Complete the table below. Write or type down your answers while listening.

Topic Change Better or Worse?

1.

2.

3.