Exercise 34
If he asks to go out with you, play hard to get.
I’m sending you this for information.
If only you'd do something useful! or If only you were doing something useful! or If only you’d done something useful!
If you got (or were to get) a pay rise, how would you spend it? or If you’d got a pay rise, how would you have spent it?
If they were to win, it would be a miracle! or If they were winning, it would be a miracle! or If they'd won, it would have been a miracle!
If these shoes didn’t fit me perfectly, I wouldn’t be buying them. or If these shoes hadn’t fitted me perfectly, I wouldn’t have bought them.
Let’s get a taxi if necessary.
If you went (or were to go) straight ahead to the end of the street, you’d see the station in front of you. or If you’d gone straight ahead to the end of the street, you’d have seen the station in front of you.
If I knew, I’d tell [you etc]. or If I’d known, I’d have told [you etc].
If we’d given a thousand pounds to him last year, would you have treated him any differently?
Exercise 35
Mr Mundy is consulting over the question which play will be chosen this year for the Middle School to perform. Mr Mundy’s idea is to produce Noah’s Ark, part of Origo Mundi from the Ordinalia, translated into English by Alan M. Kent.
Mr Mundy:
What do you think of the idea, Demelsa? It’s supportive, I think, of visibility in the School for the Cornish language heritage. And there'll be lots of opportunity to bring music and dance into the performance.
Demelsa:
Well, yes, that’s true. And I really like the translation by Dr Kent. But a pity it won’t be presented in Cornish, don't you agree?
Mêster Mundy:
We have to be realistic, Demelsa. The majority don’t understand Cornish – lots of the kids don’t, a lot of their families don’t.
Demelsa:
Couldn’t some Cornish be included?
Mêster Mundy:
Maybe a prologue. First in Cornish, then repeated in English …
Demelsa:
Oh at least that! And could the Cornish text be printed in the programme booklet perhaps?
Mêster Mundy:
Hmm … it will depend on the budget. Okay, I’ll look into it with the head teacher.
Demelsa:
Here’s a thing, and it won’t cost a penny! I could meet the whole cast while they’re rehearsing, and explain the meaning of the play, in its Cornish context.
Mêster Mundy:
That’s a generous offer. Yes, do that. But remember their age. Absolutely no technical language. Everything very simple. Don’t give them a lecture!
Demelsa:
No worry. I was in Year 7 myself not so long ago – and back then we didn’t want to listen to a Sixth Former talking a lot of waffle either …
Exercise 36
Mark and his friend Josh are chatting.
Mark:
Have you heard? They’re advertising for dancers for Noah’s Ark, which is going to be the Middle School play this year.
Josh:
No one could dance in Noah’s Ark. Without treading in heaps of dung and piles of shit.
Mark:
Very witty! But the whole thing is completely serious. They’re planning to build a playing place in the Sports Hall. There’ll be a stage, on a raised platform in the shape of the ark, and a big dance area.
Josh:
And what dancing will there be? What style? What music? Swan Lake with hippos in tutus?
Mark:
No no. Not ballet dancing. Modern routines. My sister, Demelsa Pentreath, who’s in the Sixth Form, spoke to Mr Mundy about it. He’s going to present the gathering of animals in dance, and them dancing into the ark, and them coming out of the ark at the end, to celebrate being saved, in dance.
Josh:
But Mundy can’t dance properly. I bet you!
Mark:
No contest. Miss Keverne’s going to help with the music and the choreography. There’ll be auditions tomorrow for everyone that interested.
Josh:
Keverne-Ny-Vern isn’t bad at all. Let’s apply then. Can we choose which animal we’ll be?
Mark:
No idea. I’ve certainly got an idea for you. But you won’t like it!