Conditionals Review
TN – First Conditional
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We can use unless instead of if...not in the if-clause. The verb is always in the affirmative after
unless.
If you don’t hurry, we’ll be late for school.
Unless you hurry, we’ll be late for school. (NOT Unless you don’t hurry....)
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First Conditional Practise
Fill in unless or if
1. We won’t go on holiday ....unless... we can take our dog with us.
2. .............................................. we don’t buy it now, we’ll have to get it later.
3. .............................................. you go to bed late, you’ll be tired in the morning.
4. I can’t finish my homework .............................................. you help me.
5. We’ll have a picnic on Saturday .............................................. the weather is bad.
6. You’ll catch a cold .............................................. you wear your coat.
7. I’ll open the window .............................................. I get too hot.
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TN – Second Conditional
Demonstration
What would you do if?
If I had time, I would take up a sport.
If I were taller, I could play basket ball. - I could play basketball if I were taller.
If I were you, I would talk to my parents about it.
Explanation
1. Write the following example on the board:
If I won the lottery I would buy a new car immediately.
Explain that we use the Second Conditional to talk about the unreal present (imaginary or
improbably situation, which is unlikely to happen in the present or future.
In the example; the probability of wining the lottery is very small so it is unlikely I will by a new car
immediately.
2. Draw the following table on the board:
If’ clause main clause
If I had time, I would take up a sport.
If I lived in Greece, I could learn Greek.
If I were you, I might go and see him.
Elicit and explain that we use:
the Past Simple in the ‘if’ clause and would/could/might + infinitive in the main clause
a comma after the ‘if’ clause. Could/might –
show uncertainty
3. When students are familiar with the form, put these practice sentences on the board
and ask students to make second Conditional sentences, Note the 2 ways of writing them.
• If I ________ (see) someone robbing a bank, I ________ (call) the police.
o I ________ (call) the police if I ________ (see) someone robbing a bank.
• If you ________ (fall over) and break your arm, you ________ (have) to go to the hospital.
o You ________ (have) to go to the hospital if you ________ (fall over) and break your
arm.
• If we ________ (take) a taxi to the airport, it ________ (be) expensive.
o It ________ (be) expensive if we ________ (take) a taxi to the airport.
Group Exercise
What would you do if.....
order a pizza, complain to the manager, light some candles, stay in bed
1. A shop assistant is rude to you.
2. You burn your dinner.
3. There is a power cut in your house.
4. You catch a bad cold.
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Second Conditional Practise
Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense to make correct second conditional sentences.
1. If I .................................... (be) you, I .................................... (study) for the exams.
2. If we .................................... (have) a car, we .................................... (go) for a drive in the
country.
3. If cameras .................................... (not/cost) so much we .................................... (buy) one.
4. Kim .................................... (buy) some new clothes if she .................................... (have)
enough money.
5. John .................................... (lend) you some money if you .................................... (ask) him.
6. He .................................... (open) the door if you ....................................(have) the key.
7. We .................................... (paint) the house if we .................................... (have) the time.
8. If she .................................... (get) good grades, she .................................... (go) to
university.
9. If I .................................... (be), I .................................... (never/work) again.
10. Helen .................................... (post) the letters if she .................................... (have) some
stamps.
Study the situations, then make second conditional sentences.
I don’t have a car, so I have to 1. If I ...had... (have) a car, I ...wouldn’t have to...(not
wait for the bus every day.
/have to) wait for the bus every day.
I never so my homework, so my 2. If I ................................ (do) my homework, my
teacher always gets angry with me. teacher ................................ (not/get) angry with
me.
I live in a small house, so I 3. If I ................................ (live) in a bigger house, I
can’t invite friends over.
................................ (be able to) invite friends
over.
I never get up early, so I am
always late for school. 4. If I ................................ (get up) earlier, I
................................ (not /be) late for school.
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