Third Conditional Lesson Plan

LESSON PLAN
Third Conditional
Format & Level 45-50 Minute Lesson for B2 Level Students who have some previous knowledge of other conditional forms.
lesson aim To revise conditional forms and introduce ‘Third Conditional’.
‘can do’ I can use the third conditional to describe unreal or imaginary situations of the past. (To imagine how actions of
the past could have resulted in a different chain of events from those which actually happened).
Activity Types Elicitation, Board Race, Group Drama.
Materials & Blackboard or whiteboard, slips of Paper, 3rd conditional sentences download (or pre-written examples of your
Preparation own) for the drama activity.
Warmer 1 Revision Of Conditionals (5 minutes) preparation and teaching notes
Write the following conditional sentences, together with their structure, on the
board:
• If the door is open, go inside.

(if (or when) + present tense -- present tense)
• If I go to a sunny place on holiday, I will buy some new sunglasses.
(if + present tense -- will (or other modal verb) + infinitive)
• If I saw a ghost, I would be afraid.
(if + simple past -- would (or other modal verb) + infinitive)
Elicit from the students what kind of conditionals these are. (Zero, First and Second
Conditional, respectively). Point out the grammatical structure of each and ask a few
questions to check understanding. Try to elicit the conceptual differences between
them, focusing on how likely or realistic each part of the clause is. Write up helpful
notes and explanations alongside the examples on the board.
Warmer 2 Mixed Conditional Chain Board Race (5 minutes)
(This is a variation of the Conditional Paper Chains activity described in the previous
article and reinforces the fact that the clauses can be inverted).
• Divide the class into four groups. Each group lines up in front of a section of the
board.
• The first player (nearest the board) from each team writes the first part of a
conditional phrase at the top of their section of the board (for example, If I were
rich…).
• The next player must write a new clause underneath the first, completing the
sentence (for example, I would travel around the world).
• The third player has to write an appropriate but different ‘if’ clause that would
follow on from I would travel around the world (for example, If I had my own
jet). See the example below.
Start the activity slowly, allowing students to understand what they must do by
doing it. Then start a 90 second timer and see which team completes the most
phrases in the time period. Congratulate the winning team.
Example
If I were rich//I would travel the world//If I had my own private jet//I would learn
to fly//If I had wings//I would fly to school//If I was a superhero//I would save the
world//If I didn’t have to do my homework.
Main Input. (3-5 minutes) preparation and teaching notes
Write a third conditional sentence about yourself on the board. For example, “If I had
studied Spanish, I would have worked in Argentina.” Elicit the conceptual element
of the sentence. Is either part of the sentence referring to something which really
happened? (No) You could underline the answer by writing a true negating clause
such as “but I didn’t study Spanish so I don’t live in Argentina.”
Follow-up activity. (5-6 minutes)
Write a couple more third conditional sentences on the board; elicit and write up
the grammatical structure of the sentences you have written. (if + past perfect --
would (could/might) + past participle).
Ask the students to each write down one third conditional sentence about
themselves. Depending on time, ask all or some of the students to read out their
sentences, correcting any grammatical errors as you go along.
Group Drama Activity (20-25 minutes)
Divide the class into groups of about 4 or 5 students each. Give each group a third
conditional sentence (cards are included at the end of the lesson plan) that they
must keep secret. Their task is to construct two short scenes; the first showing a
fantasy action and consequence of the past and the second showing what really
happened. Give them time to think up and practise their scenes but tell them the
scenes should be short. Each group will get about one minute to perform both
of their scenes. After each group has performed their scenes the rest of the class
have to guess what the third conditional sentence was. (The sentences themselves
should not be used or spoken at any point during the role-plays).
Example Scenes for: “If I had taken my map, I wouldn’t have got lost.” (included as
one of the cards)
1. A group of people are in a car arguing. “Where was the turning? We are going
to be late. I don’t know where we are. Nothing looks familiar. Why didn’t I bring
my map?”
2. The group of people get out of their car and knock on a door. Somebody
answers the door and says, “You are right on time. The party is just starting.”
What was the third conditional? Answers might include. “If they had taken their map
they wouldn’t have got lost. Or, “If they hadn’t got lost they wouldn’t have missed the
party.” If the form and concept are correct, it doesn’t really matter if the answers
given by the students are slightly different from the wording on the paper slips.
The language point is forming and using third conditional sentences correctly.
Closing Revision Activity. (3 minutes)
Write the following sentence starter on the board and ask the class to suggest
possible endings. “If I hadn’t come to class today…”
“If I had taken my map, “If I had looked where
I wouldn’t have got I was going, I wouldn’t
lost.” have had the accident.”
“If I had studied “If I hadn’t eaten so

harder, I could have much, I might not
passed the test.” have been sick.”
“If I hadn’t gone to the “If I had saved more,

party, I wouldn’t have I could have bought a
met my partner.” car.”
“If I hadn’t lost my “If I had trained harder,

temper, it could have I might have won the
been a great evening.” gold medal.”
“If I had learnt some “If I had set my alarm

food vocabulary, I clock, I wouldn’t
might have known have been late for my
what I was ordering.” interview.”

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LESSON PLAN

lesson aim To revise conditional forms and introduce ‘Third Conditional’.

Activity Types Elicitation, Board Race, Group Drama.

Warmer 1 Revision Of Conditionals (5 minutes) preparation and teaching notes

• If the door is open, go inside.

Warmer 2 Mixed Conditional Chain Board Race (5 minutes)

Follow-up activity. (5-6 minutes)

Group Drama Activity (20-25 minutes)

Closing Revision Activity. (3 minutes)

“If I had studied “If I hadn’t eaten so

“If I hadn’t gone to the “If I had saved more,

“If I hadn’t lost my “If I had trained harder,

“If I had learnt some “If I had set my alarm

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