Grammar Games:

Conditional Tenses
Objectives:
• Students will be able to infer the rules and use of the zero, first, second, and third
conditional tenses through minimal pairs exercises.
• Students will be able to work within their Zone of Proximal Development by
working together to infer the grammar rules.
• Students will be able to use the conditional tenses correctly through speaking
exercises.

Warm up: “If I were a boy” by Beyonce Knowles

• Teacher hands out the lyrics to the students and plays the music video.
• Teacher instructs students to listen and watch the video.
• Read the lyrics together after and have students highlight “If I were a boy...” in the song.
• In small groups or pairs, instruct students to discuss the warm-up questions together.
• Teacher walks around checking for comprehension.
• When pairs/groups have finished, bring it back to the large group and have students share their ideas.

Grammar Inference: Guess the rules

Students work in small groups or pairs to infer the rules on how to use each other the conditional tenses
presented using the examples presented.
• Draw students attention to the different verb uses in the clauses and how they may be different in different
situations.
• Teacher will provide the proper names (zero, first, second, third) after the students have identified the form
and the rules.
• Teacher will confirm the rules and provide any further explanations that are missing.
• Students will provide their own examples.
Building Skills:
Conditional Grab: Small Groups Collaborative learning
Inference skills
• Teacher cuts up the prompts provided below and gives one to each group. Active Experimentation
• In small groups, students take turns picking a prompt and finishing the sentence.
• Teacher goes around to each group checking for proper use and comprehension.

Conditional Dice roll: Small Groups

• In the same or different groups, students are given a dice and an envelop of verbs (below).
• When a student rolls the dice s/he must also pick up a verb and build their own sentence using the correct
conditional and verb tense.
 Grammar Games:
Conditional Tenses
“If I were a boy” by Beyonce Knowles
• What is the meaning of the song?
Warm up: • What is Beyonce talking about?
• How would she change if she were a boy?
• What are differences between men and women that she talks about in the song?
• Have you ever felt this way?

Grammar Inference: Guess the rules

• Use the example sentences to infer the rules of how to use the following tenses.
• Write down the form, the rule, and your own example below.
Example 1:
• If I were rich, I would buy a boat and sail around the world.
• If it rains, I won’t go to play football.
• If the baby feels hungry, she will cry.
• If I had known about the storm coming, I would not have gone to the water park.
Example 2:
• If she were famous, she would travel to every country in the world.
• If I had gone to Central earlier, I would have found a parking spot.
• If I pass my exam, I will celebrate with my family. Rule 4
• A snake bites if you scare it.
Example 3:
• People die if they don’t eat.
• If  I won the lottery, I would by a car.
• If I had studied harder, I would have passed my exam.
• I will go to the mall tonight if I have time.

Rule 2

Rule 1 Rule 3
 Grammar Games:
Conditional Tenses
Answer key
Grammar Inference: Guess the rules
• Use the example sentences to infer the rules of how to use the following tenses.
• Write down the form, the rule, and your own example below.
Example 1:
• If I were rich, I would buy a boat and sail around the world. (second)
• If it rains, I won’t go to play football. (first)
• If the baby feels hungry, she cries. (zero)
• If I had known about the storm coming, I would not have gone to the water park. (third)
Example 2:
• If she were famous, she would travel to every country in the world. (second)
• If I had gone to Central earlier, I would have found a parking spot. (third)
• If I pass my exam, I will celebrate with my family. (first)
• A snake bites if you scare it. (zero) Rule 4: Third
Example 3: • Form:
• People die if they don’t eat. (zero) • If + past perfect, would +
• If  I won the lottery, I would by a car. (second) present perfect
• Use:
• If I had studied harder, I would have passed my exam. (third)
• Use for situations in the past
• I will go to the mall tonight if I have time. (first) that cannot be changed now.
• Used to expressed what could
have happened if the
situation was different

Rule 2: First
• Form:
• If + present tense verb, will
Rule 1: Zero + infinitive.
Rule 3: Second
• Use
• Form:
• Real or true situations or • Form:
• If + present tense verb, effect that are likely/possible
present tense verb. • If + past simple verb, would
to occur in the future. + infinitive
• Use • Use
• Real or true situations or • Improbable or impossible
effects. situations
 Grammar Games:
Conditional Tenses
Print and cut out one set per group.

If i had a super power If I had studied harder

If I wake up early tomorrow If I won the lottery

If I saw my favorite celebrity If I tripped and fell in front of

my class
If I had gone to sleep earlier If I had woken up earlier

If I had more free time If I have more free time

If I had a pet If I go t the mall

If I exercise If I am hungry

If I had one more day to live If I saw my favorite singer

If I lost my house keys If I found $100

If I were still a child If I had a chance to go anywhere

in the world
 Grammar Games:
Conditional Tenses
Print and cut out one set per group.

If I was famous If I’m very tired

If I’m very stressed If I’m bored

If my friend needs help If I go to sleep early today.

Cut up and mix up the verbs. Use with the dice below for students to create their own
sentences using the proper verb forms and conditionals

go see meet eat

sleep have buy wake up
swim run exercise dance
think is/am/are study fall
drink make do get
win watch sing find
give play work sleep
 Grammar Games:
Conditional Tenses
Cut up the dice, one per group and fold

First Zero Second Place tape

Conditional Conditional Conditional here

First
Conditional

Second
Conditional

Third
Conditional
 Grammar Games:
Conditional Tenses
"If I Were A Boy"
If I were a boy
Even just for a day
I’d roll outta bed in the morning
And throw on what I wanted and go
Drink beer with the guys
And chase after girls
I’d kick it with who I wanted
And I’d never get confronted for it.
'Cause they’d stick up for me.
If I were a boy
I think I could understand
How it feels to love a girl
I swear I’d be a better man.
I’d listen to her
'Cause I know how it hurts
When you lose the one you wanted
'Cause he’s taken you for granted
And everything you had got destroyed
If I were a boy
I would turn off my phone
Tell everyone it’s broken
So they’d think that I was sleepin’ alone
I’d put myself first
And make the rules as I go
'Cause I know that she’d be faithful
Waitin’ for me to come home (to come home)
If I were a boy
I think I could understand
How it feels to love a girl
I swear I’d be a better man.
I’d listen to her
'Cause I know how it hurts
When you lose the one you wanted
(wanted)
'Cause he’s taken you for granted
(granted)
And everything you had got destroyed
It’s a little too late for you to come back
Say it's just a mistake
Think I’d forgive you like that
If you thought I would wait for you
You thought wrong
But you’re just a boy
You don’t understand
Yeah, you don’t understand, oh
How it feels to love a girl someday
You wish you were a better man
You don’t listen to her
You don’t care how it hurts
Until you lose the one you wanted
'Cause you’ve taken her for granted
And everything you had got destroyed
But you’re just a boy

Writer(s): Brittany Jean Carlson, Tobias Gad

Copyright: BMG Ruby Songs, Bc Jean Publishing, Songs Of Universal Inc., Liedela Music, Gad Songs LLC
BEYONCE KNOWLES lyrics are property and copyright of their owners.
"If I Were A Boy" lyrics provided for educational purposes and personal use only.
 Grammar Games:
Conditional Tenses

Curriculum developed by The Living Room English School

for ESL/EFL learners.
Visit our website at:
http://thelivingroomenglishschool.weebly.com/

Check out our store at:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Living-
Room-English-Conversation-School

Clip art licensed by The Rusty Owl