TEACHER’S NOTES

WORKSHEETS, ACTIVITIE S & GA ME S Second Conditional Exercises

Activity Type Introduction

Grammar Exercises: This second conditional worksheet helps students learn and
matching, unscrambling, practice how to form and use the second conditional tense.
gap-fill, sentence
completion Procedure
Speaking Activity: asking Give each student a copy of the two-page worksheet.
and answering questions
from prompts, freer Students begin by reading how the second conditional is
practice (pair work) constructed and used.

Students then match second conditional sentence halves together.

Focus
Second conditional Exercise A - Answer key

1. c 2. h 3. e 4. g 5. f
Aim 6. b 7. d 8. a 9. j 10. i

To learn and practice Next, students put words in the correct order to make second
how to form and use the conditional sentences, adding a comma where appropriate.
second conditional tense.
Exercise B - Answer key

Preparation 1. If I liked vegetables, I would become a vegetarian.

Make one copy of the 2. They would enjoy school more if the lessons were more fun.
two-page worksheet for 3. Our cat wouldn't be so fat if we didn't feed it so much.
each student. 4. If I got another pet, I would get a turtle.

Students then move on to complete sentences in the second

Level conditional using two verbs from a box in each sentence.

Intermediate (B1) Exercise C - Answer key

1. drank / would sleep 5. would get / left

Time 2. would go / was 6. found / would take
35 minutes 3. would work / earned 7. gave up / would feel
4. would marry / bought 8. would use / took

After that, students finish second conditional sentences with their

own ideas. When the students have finished, check their answers
as a class.

In the last exercise, students think of an animal without telling

anyone what it is. The students then imagine they were that
animal and answer questions using the second conditional.

In pairs, the students then ask the questions to their partner

and try to guess what animal they are. As an extension, have
the students answer the questions in front of the class for other
students to guess.

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 SECOND CONDITIONAL

WORKSHEETS, ACTIVITIE S & GA ME S Second Conditional Exercises

We use the second conditional to talk about unreal situations in the present or future.

Second conditional sentences are made up of two clauses, an if + past simple clause, and a
would / wouldn't + infinitive clause.

A second conditional sentence can begin with either clause, but if it begins with an if clause,
you need to separate the two clauses with a comma.

Examples: If I won the lottery, I would buy a Ferrari.

I would buy a Ferrari if I won the lottery.

A. Match the second conditional sentence halves together.

1. If I went to South America, ...... a. if he knew how to swim.

2. Mary would look better ...... b. if they didn't work in the city.

3. We would save time ...... c. I would visit Peru.

4. If Jim could buy a new car, ...... d. if I liked Mexican food.

5. We wouldn't be so bored ...... e. if we took a taxi.

6. They would move to the countryside ...... f. if we had a television.

7. I would go to the restaurant with you ...... g. he would get a Porsche.

8. Tim would go scuba diving ...... h. if she wore less make up.

9. If she got new glasses, ...... i. if you washed it

10. The car would look better ...... j. she would see more clearly.

B. Put the words in the correct order to make second conditional sentences. Remember
to add a comma when the sentence begins with an if clause.

1. vegetarian / become / I / If / liked / vegetables / would / a / I

..................................................................................................................................

2. school / would / more / if / They / lessons / the / fun / enjoy / were / more

..................................................................................................................................

3. be / Our / wouldn't / fat / we / so / didn't / it / much / cat / so / if / feed

..................................................................................................................................

4. got / If / another / a / pet / I / get / would / turtle / I

..................................................................................................................................

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 SECOND CONDITIONAL

WORKSHEETS, ACTIVITIE S & GA ME S Second Conditional Exercises

C. Complete the sentences in the second conditional using two verbs from the box in
each sentence.

go earn drink be marry work sleep use

give up take (x2) find get buy leave feel

1. If you ................................ less coffee, you ................................ better at night.

2. We ................................ to the beach if the weather ................................ better.

3. I ................................ harder in my job if I ................................ more money.

4. I ................................ him if he ................................ me an engagement ring.

5. You ................................ to school on time if you ................................ home earlier.

6. If I ................................ a wallet in the street, I ................................ it to the police.

7. If you ................................ smoking, you ................................ better.

8. We ................................ less water if we ................................ shorter showers.

D. Finish the second conditional sentences with your own ideas.

1. Learning English would be easier ................................................................................

2. If I could live in another country ................................................................................

3. My life would be easier if ...........................................................................................

4. If I spoke perfect English ...........................................................................................

E. Think of an animal without telling anyone. Imagine you were that animal and
answer the questions using the second conditional. Then, ask the questions to a
partner and try to guess what animal they are.

1. If you were this animal, where would you live?

..................................................................................................................................

2. What would you eat if you were this animal?

..................................................................................................................................

3. If you were this animal, what would you do for fun?

..................................................................................................................................

4. What would you do if you saw an enemy?

..................................................................................................................................

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