Second Conditional: Unreal Situations

Listen, read and repeat.

What would you do if you won the lottery?
Lisa:

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Robert: If I won the lottery, I would buy a mansion in Beverly

Hills.
Lisa:

If you bought a mansion in Berverly Hills, What would you do there?

Robert: If I bought a mansion in Bervely Hills, I would visit all famous people and be their friend.
Alice: If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world.
Robert: And you Ann?
Ann:

If I won the lottery, I would live in England.

Robert: If we really bought a ticket we might win the lottery.

A. Answer on your own ideas using the model in the dialogue.

1. What would you do if you won the lottery?
____________________________________________________________________________
2- If you could change any aspect of your physical appearance, what would it be?
____________________________________________________________________________
3- What would you do if you had a lot of money?
___________________________________________________________________________
4- If you lived in Brazil what language would you speak?
__________________________________________________________________________
5- If you could be an animal what animal would you be?
_________________________________________________________________________

GRAMMAR
IF

condition

result

past simple

WOULD + base verb

If

I married Mary

I would be happy.

If

Ram became rich

She would marry him.

If

it snowed next July Would you be surprised?

If

it snowed next July What would you do?

The Second Conditional is used to talk about 'impossible' situations.

If we were in London today, we would be able to go to the concert in Hyde Park.

If there were no hungry people in this world, it would be a much better place.
If everyone had clean water to drink, there would be a lot less disease.

The verb to be when used in this type of conditional is always conjugated as were.

If she were happy in her job, she wouldn't be looking for another one.
If I lived in Japan, I'd have sushi every day.
If they were to enter our market, we'd have big problems.

Note the form 'If I were you' which is often used to give advice.

If I were you, I'd look for a new place to live.

If I were you, I'd go back to school and get more qualifications.

The Second Conditional is also used to talk about 'unlikely' situations.

If I went to China, I'd visit the Great Wall.

If I was the President, I'd reduce taxes.
If you were in my position, you'd understand.

Note that the main clause can contain 'would' 'could' or 'might.

If I had the chance to do it again, I would do it differently.

If we met up for lunch, we could go to that new restaurant.
If I spoke to him directly, I might be able to persuade him.

B. Write these expressions in the correct order to form conditional sentences.

1. near the sea/ happier/ shed be/ if
________________________________________________________________.
2. shed go swimming/ near the sea/ if / every weekend/ she lived
________________________________________________________________.
3. I couldnt / if / do that / I were you
________________________________________________________________.
4. She spoke/ a better job/ English / if/ shed get
________________________________________________________________.
5. if / I might play basketball/ I were taller/ in NBA
________________________________________________________________.

C. Put the verbs into the correct forms to make second conditionals:

If I ______ (eat) peanut

butter, I ______(be) sick.

We ______ (be) on the

beach if we _________ (be)
in Brazil.

What _______(you/do) if
you ______(fail) your
exam?

If I _______ (not be)so

hungry, I ______(share)my
sandwich with you.

If I _____ (have) enough

money, I ______ (stay) in
a hotel.

If he ______(be) a young
man, he _________(be
able) to walk fast.

My father _________
(pick/me/up) at school if it
______(rain).

If her hair ______ (be)

black, she _______ (look)
completely different.

My mother
_________(not be) happy
if I _______(lose) the
watch she gave me.

If you ________ (stop)

smoking, you ______
(feel) better quickly.

We ________ (learn) a
lot from Dolphins if they
______ (talk).

If you ______(take) the

bus, you ______(not be)
so tired.

D. Complete the sentences with your own idea.

1. If I were on holidays right now, _____________________________________.
2. We would be happier if ___________________________________________.
3. The results would be better if ______________________________________.
4. If drivers were more careful ________________________________________.
5. If everyone did his work correctly ___________________________________.

E. Choose the correct answer to complete the sentences:

If he were a young man, he ________ able to walk
faster.
Is

was

will be

would be

We'd be on the beach if we ________ in Mexico!

Are
were
will be
would be

If smoking were allowed, I ________ a cigarette.

Have
had
will have
would have

If there ________ no mosquitos, there would be no

malaria.
Is
are
was
were

If her hair were black, she ________ completely different.

Look

looks

will look

would look

F. Read the following letter, then write suggestions to Alex about what would
you do if you were Alex.
Dear Jenny,
Im really fed up at the moment and I dont know what to do.
My dad has got a new job so three weeks ago we moved from
London to Manchester. I dont know anyone at my new school
and the teachers keep calling me by the wrong name! My
friends back home said they would come and visit but theyre
too busy now and cant come until the school holidays start
thats not for another two months! I really want to go and visit
them but Im spending most of my money on my mobile! Id
really love to make some new friends here I used to be in the
school drama group and had lots of fun. But making friends
seems so hard what can I do?
Alex

Your turn
Write a letter to Jenny asking for help with a problem.
Dear ..