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 6. b 7. d 8. a 9. j 10. i
Aim
Next, students put words in the correct order to make second
To learn and practice conditional sentences, adding a comma where appropriate.
how to form and use the
second conditional tense. Exercise B - Answer key

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

Preparation 2. They would enjoy school more if the lessons were more fun.
Make one copy of the 3. Our cat wouldn't be so fat if we didn't feed it so much.
two-page worksheet for 4. If I got another pet, I would get a parrot.
each student.
Students then move on to complete sentences in the second
conditional using two verbs from a box in each sentence.
Level
Exercise C - Answer key
Intermediate (B1)
1. drank / would sleep 5. would get / left
2. would go / was 6. found / would take
Time 3. would work / earned 7. gave up / would feel
30 minutes 4. would marry / bought 8. would use / took

After that, students complete second conditional sentences with

their own ideas.

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

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

Finally, in pairs, students ask the second conditional questions to

their partner and try to guess what animal they are.

As an extension, students answer the questions in front of the

class for others 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 surfing ...... 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 / parrot / 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 a diamond 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. Complete 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 English perfectly .........................................................................................

E. Now, 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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