SECOND CONDITIONAL

 Second conditional talks about a very improbable

situation.
• Let’s watch more examples…

But she is
not him…
But he is big…
But I haven’t that amout of money… 
Form

If + past simple Modal verb

If I were rich, I’d buy a house.

TIP!
As a modal verb, we can use WOULD
(most of the time), COULD or
MIGHT.
Tip!

• The if clause can be first or second in the sentence. If it

comes first, we use a comma after it.
• Conclusions:

Second conditional talks about very improbable

situations, unlike first conditional which talks
about real situations.
Lesson four:

Remember,
• Conditionals describe the result of something that might happen (in the present or
future) or might have happened but didn't (in the past) .
• They contain the word IF.
• Conditionals are divided in two parts.
• Example: if you add one and one, you get two. (= You get two, if you add one and one).
 If you add two
and two, you
get four.
General truths
and general
habits.
 If it rains later,
we will stay at
home.
Possible or
likely things in
the future.
 Second conditional
• It is used for an hypothetical situation and the
probable result.

• We use simple present and future simple:

If + simple past+ , + would

• Este condicional responde a plantearnos una

posible situación que pasó y lo que habríamos If I had money, I would travel
o no querido de resultado. more.
More examples:
If I became President, I would
change many things.

If I asked Susan out, would she accept?

 Activity: complete using second conditional

1. If I won the lottery, I would buy (buy) an island.

2. If John did more exercises, He would have (have) better health.
3. People could be very surprise, if I would give (give) them money.
4. If aliens landed on Earth, the aliens would dominate the world/ the people
would be freak out.
5. If animals could talk, my dream could be come true.
 If it were
cheaper,
Hypothetical I could buy it.
situation and
the probable
result.
 Third conditional
• It is used for an total unreal situation in past
and the result (in past, too).

• We use simple present and future simple:

If + past perfect + , + would + have + part.verb

• Este tipo de condicional se utiliza para pensar

en situaciones del pasado que no ocurrieron e If you had put yeast,
imaginarnos qué resultados hubiesen tenido. the cake would have risen.
More examples:
If you had helped me,
I wouldn't have failed the exam.

If I had asked you,

would you have helped me?
 Activity: complete using third conditional

1. If I had asked (ask) you, would you have helped me?

2. I would have gone (go) on holiday, if I had saved my money.
3. If we had had (have) time, we would have gone to the beach.
4. If I had known your reaction, I would not have tell (not/ tell) you.
5. If I had worked (work) harder, I would have got a promotion.
 If I had taken
an umbrella, I
An total wouldn't have
unreal got wet.
situation in
past and the
result.
 www.english-area.com

First and second conditionals

1. Complete these first conditional sentences.

1. You´ll get very fat if………………

2. He won´t get that job unless ……
3. If it rains tomorrow morning, then…..
4. Unless he studies hard …………..
5. I´ll buy a laptop if …..
6. I´ll book the plane tickets to Brazil tomorrow if….
7. She´ll be nice to him unless…..
8. If you don´t mind….
9. I´ll text her if….
10. The dog won´t bite you if…

2. Complete these second conditional sentences.

What would you do if….? 

You found 300 euros in the You bumped into a

street friend you haven´t seen
for ten years.

You were
given a little You received a
puppy for letter from a
secret admirer
your birthday

You were fired Your

from your job. parents told
you´re
adopted

You won
You were transferred
500,000 to an African country
euros on for 6 monts
the lottery
Your best friend
suggested to start
up a business
together.

Los mejores recursos gratuitos para aprender y enseñar inglés 1

 www.english-area.com

Answers

These are some possible answers, although of course there´re other alternatives.

1. Complete these first conditional sentences.

1. You´ll get very fat if you don´t stop eating so much.

2. He won´t get that job unless he learns English.
3. If it rains tomorrow morning, then we´ll have to call off the excursion.
4. Unless he studies hard he won´t pass his final exams.
5. I´ll buy a laptop if I realise I really need it for work.
6. I´ll book the plane tickets to Brazil tomorrow if you´re really sure.
7. She´ll be nice to him unless he starts picking on her.
8. If you don´t mind I´ll open the window.
9. I´ll text her if we decide to go clubbing tonight.
10. The dog won´t bite you if you don´t bother him.

2. Complete these second conditional sentences.

What would you do if….? 

I´d invest them in a short I´d be very happy, so

holiday. I´d buy him a drink and
have a chat.

I´d return it,

as I´m I´d try to find
allergic to who it is from.
dogs.

I wouldn´t worry as I I´d be

know I could find a shocked
better job. and maybe
upset too.

I´d pay my
mortgage I´d give up my job.
and book a
great
holiday.
I´d tell him I can´t
afford to make a
big investment at
the moment

Los mejores recursos gratuitos para aprender y enseñar inglés 2

NAME: ________________________ DATE: ________________________
GRAMMAR WORKSHEET
SECOND CONDITIONAL
“if” clause main clause
If I won a million dollars, … I would put the money in a bank.
… I could buy an airplane.
… I might give it all away.

main clause “if” clause

I would put the money in a bank … if I won a million dollars.
I could buy an airplane
I might give it all away
NOTES:
(1) The second conditional is used to talk about future events that are hypothetical or improbable.
(2) To form negative sentences, add ‘not’ after ‘would’, ‘could’ and ‘might’. Eg “ … I might not give it all away.”

 Complete the sentences below by making Second Conditional statements. Use your
imagination!

1. If I had longer summer holidays, _______________________________________

2. If John did more exercise, ____________________________________________

3. If Mrs. Smith spoke Chinese, __________________________________________

4. If I won a million dollars, ______________________________________________

5. _________________________________________, you could live for 150 years.

6. ___________________________________________, I might look for a new job.

7. ______________________________________, people would be very surprised.

8. ___________________________________________________, he would laugh.

9. If aliens landed on Earth, ____________________________________________

10. If animals could talk, ________________________________________________

11. If people lived on the moon, ____________________________________________

12. If I spent all my money, _______________________________________________

Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use. © www.allthingsgrammar.com

GRAMMAR WORKSHEET ALL Things Grammar
Grammar Focus Second Conditional
Level Intermediate

ANSWER KEY
Answers will vary.
Below are some possible answers.

1. If had a longer summer holiday, I could travel more.

2. If John did more exercise, he would be healthier.
3. If Mrs. Smith spoke Chinese, she could get a job in China.
4. If I won a million dollars, I would call my mother.
5. If you were a turtle, you could live for 150 years.
6. If my boss didn’t like me, I might look for a new job.
7. If I wrote a book, people would be very surprised.
8. If you told a joke, he would laugh.
9. If aliens landed on Earth, they might kill us.
10. If animals could talk, I wouldn’t eat them.
11. If people lived on the moon, I would also live there.
12. If I spent all my money, I would be poor.

Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use. © www.allthingsgrammar.com