GRAMMAR

Using the
second
conditional

LEVEL NUMBER LANGUAGE

Intermediate (B1) EN_B1_1072G English

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 Learning outcomes

● I can recognise and use the

second conditional to describe
a hypothetical situation.

● I can talk about what I would

do in different situations.

2
 Warm up
1. Think of one thing you’d like to happen in the future but isn’t likely to happen.
2. Tell the class about your idea. Explain why it isn’t likely to happen.

3
 Reading
Read the dialogue and answer the questions below.

Sarah: Hey! Long time no see. How are you?

Jessica: I know, it’s been ages. Can’t complain, really. This
weather is awful, though. If it wasn’t so wet, I’d suggest a
walk along the canal.
Sarah: Maybe next time. I’m happy to chill. I love your
new apartment! This area’s great, too. I passed some
lovely boutiques and bakeries on my way here. If I had
more time, I’d be here every other weekend.
Jessica: I take it you’re as busy as ever?
Sarah: Yeah, I am. You know how it is…

1. Where are Sarah and Jessica right now?

2. Why are they not going down to the canal?

4
 Reading
Read the dialogue and answer the questions below.

Jessica: Well, actually – I’ve made quite a few changes

since moving here. I was exhausted, so I took some time
off work and now I’ve decided to become a yoga teacher.
I’m going to India next month to do a course.
Sarah: Sounds amazing! Lucky you. If I didn’t have kids
and a mortgage, I’d give up my job and backpack around
the world. That’s definitely what I’d do if I won the lottery.
Jessica: There are small things you can do now to make it
happen – you don’t have to win the lottery. If I were you,
I’d put some money aside every month… And when the
kids are old enough –
Sarah: You try saving when you have teenagers who
want the latest version of everything!

3. What is Jessica planning to do next month?

4. Why does Sarah say it’s difficult for her to save money?

5
 Hey! Long time no see.
Real-life language

I know! It’s been ages.

Do Jessica and Sarah see each other

regularly or not? How do you know?

6
 We put some money aside
each month for our son to
go to university.

Why is it a good idea to put money aside

regularly?

7
 Examining the second conditional
Read the sentences below and answer the questions in the blue box.

Sarah would save lots of money if she put some aside every month.

If it wasn’t so wet outside, I’d suggest a walk along the canal.

● We use the second conditional to talk

● These two examples show the about an unreal or hypothetical
second conditional. situation and its probable result.

● Look at the clause beginning with if: ● If clause > we describe an unreal or
● Is Sarah putting money aside hypothetical situation (in blue)
every month or not?
● Is it wet outside today or not? ● Result clause > we say what we think
would be the result of that situation.

8
 Forming the second conditional
Read some more examples of the second conditional and complete the rules below.

If I had more time, I’d be here every other weekend.

If I didn’t have kids and a mortgage, I’d give up my job and backpack
around the world.

● Look at the verbs in the if-clause. ● We can also change the order of the
What tense is it in? clauses. If so, we remove the comma:
If clause: _______________ simple
I’d be here every other weekend if I had
more time.
● Look at the verbs in the result clause
What modal verb is used?
I’d give up my job and backpack around
Result clause: _______________ + the world if I didn’t have kids and a
bare infinitive mortgage.

9
 If it wasn’t so wet
outside….
Real-life language

If it weren’t so wet
outside…

In the if-clause, there are two forms

of the verb to be in the 1st and 3rd
person singular. Which do you
think is more common these days?

10
 Pronunciation practice
Practise pronouncing would. Pay attention to the pronunciation of would in contracted form.

1 2 3 4 5

How would How’d you

I’d want… She’d go… You’d tell…
you feel if…? feel if…?

/haʊ wʊd/ /haʊd/ /aɪd/ /ʃiːd/ /juːd/

11
 Multiple choice

1 If I _______________ more time, I’d learn a new language.

a. have b. had c. has d. ‘s

2 How _______________ you feel if you locked your phone and keys in the car?

a. could b. do c. would d. make

3 I _______________ love to go to the natural history museum if it was open!

a. ‘d b. ‘ve c. ‘ll d. ‘m

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 Form a second conditional sentence
Use the verbs provided. Note: you may have to use a negative or question form.

1 If I _______________(live) in Paris, I _______________ (try) the most amazing food.

2 If it _______________ (be) hotter outside, I _______________ (suggest) a walk. But it’s freezing today!

I _______________ (not mind) living abroad if I _______________ (can) visit my family once or twice a
3
year.

What _______________ (do) if you _______________ (find) lots of cash sticking out of a cash
4 machine?

5 _______________ (travel) the world if you _______________ (win) the lottery?

13
 Discuss
1. Read through the questions below. Note down some answers for each.
2. Interview another member of your class in breakout rooms.
3. Share one interesting about your partner from the interview.

If you could invite anyone from history to a

dinner party, who would you choose?

If you had endless free time, what would

you spend it doing?

If you could live anywhere in the world,

where would it be?

If you had to listen to one song on repeat for

the rest of your life, what would you choose?

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 Giving advice

One of my colleagues is still refusing to help

me at work. What should I do about it?

If I were you, I’d talk to your manager about it.

It doesn’t seem to be getting any better!

● Which phrase do we use to give advice

using the second conditional?

● What advice would you give the man

above?

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 What would you do?
Read each of the situations below. Give advice to each person using the second conditional.

If I were you, I’d…

Julie‘s flatmate is extremely messy and is Hassan‘s manager keeps giving him very tight
always late paying his rent. deadlines at work.

Shaun wants to buy a house but he‘s Mark forgot his wife‘s 40th birthday and now
terrible at saving money. she is really angry with him.

16
 Let’s reflect

● Can you recognise and use the

second conditional to describe a
hypothetical situation?

● Can you talk about what you would

do in different situations?

Your teacher will now make one suggestion

for improvement for each student.

17
End of the lesson

Idiom

Be careful what you wish for

Meaning: Sometimes something you want to happen (especially something bad)

actually happens.
Additional practice

Additional practice

19
 Vocabulary review
Review the vocabulary from today’s the lesson. Which words or phrases were new for you?
Additional practice

Long time no see to put money aside

It’s been ages mortgage

Can’t complain! to backpack

I take it… to win the lottery

You know how it is Lucky you!

20
 Discuss
Read the statements. Are these things likely or unlikely to happen to you in the future?
Additional practice

I’m going to be famous. I’m going to buy a house.

I’m going to be 20 I’m going to speak 10

centimetres taller. languages.

21
 Multiple choice
Additional practice

1 If I _______________ a mortgage, I’d buy a boat and sail around the world.

a. don’t want b. doesn’t have c. weren’t d. didn’t have

2 How would you react if someone _______________ your purse on the street?

a. stolen b. stealed c. take d. stole

3 She _______________ living abroad if she could travel home once in a while.

a. don’t mind b. doesn’t mind c. won’t mind d. wouldn’t mind

22
 Fill in the gaps
Form a second conditional sentence. Note: you may have to use a negative or question form.
Additional practice

If _______________ a stack of cash sticking out of a cash machine, would

1
you take it?

How many episodes of your favourite series _______________ if you

2
didn’t have to go to work? see
tell
live
3 I’d go for a swim every single day if I _______________ by the beach.
watch
be

4 If I _______________ five centimetres taller, I’d become a pilot.

5 Who _______________ if you saw a U.F.O.?

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 What would you do in these situations?

You are told you’re

You are asked to
being moved to an
join a reality TV-
office in another
show.
country.

Your friend or family

Your friend doesn’t
member asks you to
invite you to their
lend them a large
wedding.
amount of money.

24
 Discuss
Additional practice

Even if people worked less and

had more time, they’d still be
stressed. That’s just modern life…

If you had the

What is the attitude
Do you agree with opportunity, would
towards work-life
this statement or you make big
balance in your
not? changes to your
culture?
lifestyle?

25
 Answer key

P. 4: 1. Sarah and Jessica are in Jessica’s new apartment.

2. It’s currently raining outside.
P. 5: 3. She’s planning to go to India to do a yoga course
4. Sarah has a mortgage and kids. Her kids are teenagers and they want the
latest version of everything
P. 8: No, Sarah isn’t putting money aside each month.
Yes, it is wet outside.
P. 9: If-clause: past simple
Result clause: would + bare infinitive
P. 10: Was is more commonly used these days.
P. 11: 1. (b) 2. (c) 3. (a)
P. 12: 1. lived; would try 2. was/were; would suggest 3. wouldn’t mind; could 4. would
you do; found 5. Would you travel; won
P. 15: If I were you is used for giving advice.
P. 22: 1. (d) 2. (d) 3. (d)
P. 23: 1. you saw 2. would you watch 3. lived 4. was/were 5. would you tell

26
 Summary

Phrases for chatting with friends:

● Long time no see; It’s been ages
● Can’t complain; Busy as ever; You know how it is; I take it…, Do you take…?

Second conditional
● is used to express an unreal or hypothetical situation and its probable result
● If-clause: past simple
● Result clause: would + bare infinitive

Using the second conditional to give advice

● We use the phrase If I were you, I’d … to tell someone what we would do in their situation.

27
 Vocabulary

likely to backpack

unlikely mortgage

Long time no see canal

It’s been ages If I were you, I’d...

Can’t complain

as busy as ever

You know how it is

I take it…

How about…?

to put (money) aside

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 Notes

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