The Beauty of Summer
Beginner
A song to practice real conditionals (if-then clauses)
Download the PDF version
A. Grammar background
1. Meaning of real conditionals
We use real conditionals to talk about what happens under certain conditions. For example, we can talk about facts:
- If tomatoes turn red, they are good to eat.
- Water freezes if the temperature is below zero degrees.
- If the temperature is above zero degrees, ice melts.
We can also talk about things that will happen in the future under certain conditions.
- If you eat more fruits and vegetables, you will feel better.
- Mary will get good grades if she studies hard.
We can also talk about things that can, may, or should happen under certain conditions.
- If you try a new kind of food, you may like it.
- We should work hard if we want to win the game.
We can also give commands for certain conditions.
- If you want to be surprised, don’t open your presents early!
- If you want to lose weight, exercise as much as you can.
2. Form of real conditionals
There are two parts to these sentences: the if-clause and the then-clause. The if-clause can come first or second.
- Mary will get good grades if she studies hard.
- If Mary studies hard, she will get good grades.
In present real conditionals, the verb in the if-clause is in simple present form.
- If you eat more fruits and vegetables, you will feel better.
- Water freezes if the temperature is below zero degrees.
The then-clause can have the word ‘then’ in it, but often will not.
- If you want to be surprised, (then) don’t open your presents early!
In real conditionals, verbs in the then-clause can be in many forms. They can be simple present, simple future, modal verbs, or commands.
3. Use of real conditionals
Real conditionals are used for many different things. In this song you will see how they can be used to give advice or make predictions.
In this song, you will hear advice about how to live a good life.
- First, listen to the song once. Do you hear some advice? Write down two pieces of advice from the song.
- Now listen again and fill in the blanks below.
The Beauty of Summer
If you want to know all the beauty of summer
You should bathe in the waves where the ocean meets the shore
______________________________ all that warm lovely sunshine
you can eat summer peaches and let the juice run down your chin
If you have a dream, ______________________________, but pursue it
Every day is a chance to become who you want to be
If you give your all, ______________________________
You’ll succeed even if it seems nothing has worked out at all
Everyone, everyone, everyone feels afraid when life seems like a struggle or a fight
And you don’t know if you’ll ever get it right, but we must face life, so we embrace life
If you want to know all the beauty of winter, ______________________________
You must stand with your face to the storm
You will make it through, and you won’t ever falter
‘Cause you’ll know that a fire will always be burning at home
Everyone, everyone, everyone feels afraid when life seems like a struggle or a fight
______________________________ all the beauty of summer
You should bathe in the waves where the ocean meets the shore
If you want to taste all that warm lovely sunshine
You can eat summer peaches and let the juice run down your chin
C. After you Listen
1. Practicing the form of real conditionals
Look at the if-then clauses in the song lyrics.
- What form do the verbs in the if-clauses have?
- What forms do the verbs in the then-clauses have?
2. Using real conditionals
a. Advice for a friend
Imagine that a friend needs some advice from you. Give advice using if-then clauses. The if-clause is already given. Write a then-clause. You can use an imperative or a modal verb.
Example:
- If you want your tomatoes to grow well, you have to water them a lot.
- If you want your tomatoes to grow well, water them a lot.
- If you want to meet some new friends…
- If you want to make a lot of money…
- If you want to learn English well…
- If you want to take a cheap vacation…
- If you want to be a good friend…
b. Advice in reverse
Imagine that your friend has given you the advice below, but you didn’t hear the first part. What was he or she trying to tell you? Fill in an if-clause.
- … you should save more money.
- … go to bed early every night.
- … you have to get more exercise.
- … take cooking lessons.
- … you need to try to relax more.
c. Group game: with friends
Sit in groups of two to six people. Everyone gets five pieces of paper. Each person has a turn and says something that they have never done. If the other people have not done it, then they have to put a piece of paper into the middle. The last person to have any pieces of paper wins the game. Use if-clauses.
Example:
Player 1: I have never been to New York City. If you have been to New York City, put a piece of paper in the middle.
Other Players: I have been to New York City. (Put paper in the middle)
I have not been to New York City. (Do not put paper in the middle)
d. Fun animal facts
What do you think happens in the following situations? Guess!
Example:
What happens if you cut off a starfish’s arm?
If you cut off a starfish’s arm, it will grow another arm.
- What happens if a shark stops swimming?
- What happens if a porcupine falls in the water?
- What happens if an octopus is really hungry and there’s no food?
- What happens if you play classical music to a cow?
- What happens if a goldfish stays in the dark?
e. Writing
Some newspapers and websites have an advice columnist. The advice columnist tries to help readers by answering their questions and giving advice. Imagine you are an advice columnist who has to write answers to the following questions from readers.
Dear advice columnist,
Please help me. I am very stressed. I have five children, ages 6 months, 2 years, 4 years, 5 years, and 7 years. I have to work very hard to take care of them. I am always cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry. I never get any rest. What should I do?
Dear advice columnist,
I hope you can give me some advice. I have a lot of friends, and they go out a lot. They like to eat at nice restaurants, go to movies, and go to expensive clubs. I like to do these things, too, but I don’t have very much money. I am going to college, so I don’t have a lot of time to work. What should I do?
Lyrics to "The Beauty of Summer"
(Don’t look until you’ve completed the activities!)
If you want to know all the beauty of summer
You should bathe in the waves where the ocean meets the shore
If you want to taste all that warm lovely sunshine
you can eat summer peaches and let the juice run down your chin
If you have a dream, don’t give up, but pursue it
Every day is a chance to become who you want to be
If you give your all, if you put your mind to it
You’ll succeed even if it seems nothing has worked out at all
Everyone, everyone, everyone feels afraid when life seems like a struggle or a fight
And you don’t know if you’ll ever get it right, but we must face life, so we embrace life
If you want to know all the beauty of winter, you must brave snow and cold
You must stand with your face to the storm
You will make it through, and you won’t ever falter
‘Cause you’ll know that a fire will always be burning at home
Everyone, everyone, everyone feels afraid when life seems like a struggle or a fight
If you want to know all the beauty of summer
You should bathe in the waves where the ocean meets the shore
If you want to taste all that warm lovely sunshine
You can eat summer peaches and let the juice run down your chin
Answers to "The Beauty of Summer" exercises
1. Practicing the form of real conditionals
- What form do the verbs in the if-clause have?
Simple present - What forms do the verbs in the then-clauses have?
You should bathe in the waves where the ocean means the shore
modal + V
You can eat summer peaches and let the juice run down your chin
modal + V
Don’t give up but pursue it
imperative
You‘ll succeed even if it seems nothing has worked out at all
future
You must brave snow and cold
modal + V
You must stand with your face to the storm
modal + V
2. Using real conditionals
d. Fun animal facts
What do you think happens in the following situations? Guess!
- If a shark ever stops swimming, it will die (because it cannot breathe).
- If a porcupine falls in the water, it will float.
- If an octopus is hungry, and there is no food, it will eat its own arms.
- If you play classical music to a cow, it produces more milk.
- If a goldfish stays in the dark, it will turn white.
