Second conditional - grammar lesson 15

Level: Intermediate B1

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Second conditional

DISCUSSION       What would you do...?

1) ...if you were in a river and suddenly saw a crocodile swimming towards you?

a) I would try to swim to the bank as quickly as possible.

b) I wouldn’t move and I’d wait for the crocodile to go away.

c) I would try to hit the crocodile in the face.

2) ...if you were in a forest a very large bear came towards you?

a) I would climb up the nearest tree.

b) I would lie on the ground and pretend to be dead.

c) I would run away as fast as I could.

3) ...if you were in a field and a bull started running towards you?

a) I would run.

b) I would throw something in another direction.

c) I would shout and wave my arms.

GRAMMAR         if + past, would + infinitive

1) Is the crocodile situation (a) one which could easily happen to you OR (b) one which is not very probable?

2) What verb tense goes after if?     

3) What is the form of the other verbs in the question and the answer?

PRACTICE           Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

1) If I     had         (have) a bike, I    would cycle                          (cycle) to work.

2) If I                      (see) a tarantula, I                                               (be) terrified!

3) I                                           (not know) what to do if I                                  (find) a mouse in my kitchen.

4) What                                  you                         (do) if you                             (see) bear?

5) I                                           (go) on a safari to Kenya if I                             (have) enough money.

PRACTICE           Order the words to complete the sentences and questions.

1) I’d / shark / be / frightened / very

If I saw a               shark I’d be very frightened                                                                              .

2) saw / you / a / bear / if / do / you / would

What                                                                                                                                                       ?

3) he / if / sailing / could / swim

He’d go                                                                                                                                                   .

4) long / lottery / holiday / won / she’d / the / on / go / a

If she                                                                                                                                                       .

5) if / go / on / were/ I / you / safari

I’d                                                                                                                                                            .

Adapted from New English File Pre-intermediate OUP

Answers below!




ANSWERS!

GRAMMAR         if + past, would + infinitive

1) Is the crocodile situation (a) one which could easily happen to you OR (b) one which is not very probable?
(a)

2) What verb tense goes after if?     
past simple

3) What is the form of the other verbs in the question and the answer?
the infinitive

PRACTICE           Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

1) If I     had         (have) a bike, I    would cycle   (cycle) to work.

2) If I     saw     (see) a tarantula, I   would be   (be) terrified!

3) I    would not know    (not know) what to do if I  found     (find) a mouse in my kitchen.

4) What   would   you   do   (do) if you   saw   (see) bear?

5) I    would go    (go) on a safari to Kenya if I   had   (have) enough money.

PRACTICE           Order the words to complete the sentences and questions.

1) I’d / shark / be / frightened / very

If I saw a     shark I’d be very frightened  .

2) saw / you / a / bear / if / do / you / would

What   would you do if you saw a bear  ?

3) he / if / sailing / could / swim

He’d go    sailing if he could swim   .

4) long / lottery / holiday / won / she’d / the / on / go / a

If she  won the lottery she'd go on a long holiday   .

5) if / go / on / were/ I / you / safari

I’d  go on a safari if I were you    .