Saki: Cuentos Clásicos y Condicionales en Inglés con Ejemplos Prácticos
Cuentos de Saki
The Open Window, by Saki: Some time in the country. Framton was constantly worried about his health. He had suffered depression and the doctor asked him to spend some time in the country. His sister prepared everything. At first the weather in the country was awful, but one lovely afternoon Framton met Vera, who was 15, and she told him about her aunt's tragedy. "Three people never came back after a day's shooting. Even their bodies had disappeared." Framton was shocked, because that day was the anniversary of the tragedy. When Mrs. Sappleton appeared, they were talking calmly when she noticed that her family and the dog were coming. Framton thought he was seeing ghosts and rushed out of the room. Mrs. Sappleton looked at him, very surprised, and Vera invented a new story about Framton's fear. He was terrified of dogs. Vera was very creative. Two invented stories in one afternoon.
Parson's Pleasure: Cyril Boggis was the owner of a small antiques shop in Chelsea. He was well known for finding rare and beautiful antiques. He had a printed special business card to introduce himself as an inventory of old furniture. He dressed as a parson and visited country people, especially those in isolated farmhouses or country mansions in bad condition. He was a great actor. He knew how to approach people. One day he met Mr. Rummins, his neighbour, Claude. Inside Rummins's house there was a large cabinet, a genuine Chippendale. There were only three of them, and they were among the most famous examples of eighteenth-century English furniture. Boggis thought he would become rich and famous. He tried to get it. He said that it was a fake, that he only wanted the legs, and that the screws weren't perfect. At last he managed it. He bought it for 20 pounds. He went to look for his car, meanwhile Claude and Will cut the cabinet's legs and prepared it as firewood.
Destiny and a Blue Cloak: Agatha and Mrs. Lovill were travelling. They were speaking about Oswald Winwood. Both were wearing the same elegant blue cloak. When the trip finished, Oswald saw Agatha and began to talk to her, thinking that she was Mrs. Lovill. At the end of that lovely day, Agatha confessed that he had made a mistake with the name. She revealed that she wasn't Mrs. Lovill; she was the poor miller's niece and she loved him. Oswald kissed her. They hadn't noticed that Mrs. Lovill was there in the darkness and had heard everything. Oswald would travel to India and, when he came back, they would get married. But one day Agatha's uncle, the miller, told her that they would take the family to live in Australia. He would get married to Francis Lovill. Agatha wouldn't go with them. Her uncle wanted her to marry Farmer Lovill, an old man, so he would cancel his debts. Agatha didn't agree and wrote to Oswald at once, telling him what had happened. He promised to be back before the miller and his family left for Australia. Agatha asked old Lovill to sign this note. The day arrived and she became the wife of old Farmer Lovill. Oswald had arrived, but Francis had told him that Agatha was with the man who was going to be her husband that day, and Oswald had run away. Agatha discovered that Francis had prepared everything as a revenge.
Oraciones Condicionales en Inglés
Condicional cero: if/unless + present simple (forma base) + present simple.
Primera condicional: if/unless + present simple + future simple (will + verbo) / modal (would/might/could) + base form.
Segunda condicional: if/unless + past simple (verbo en pasado, segunda columna) + would/could/might + base form.
Tercera condicional: if + past perfect simple (had + verbo en participio) + would/could/might have + past participle (tercera columna).
Oraciones Desiderativas
Desiderativas: wish / if only + past simple (pasado): situaciones presentes que queremos cambiar.
Wish / if only + past perfect simple (had + verbo en participio): hechos pasados, lamentando lo ocurrido.
Wish / if only + could/would + base form: deseos sobre situaciones futuras, indicando que es poco probable que ocurran.