Second conditional

can use the second conditional to talk about unlikely or imaginary situations and results.

Second conditional

. (ifiwei-eyoiCN / In the second conditional we use the past tense in the

/ buuj this. J / if clause, and would + the infinitive in the main clause.
Remember: although we use the past simple, we are
/ talking about a present or future situation.
V
Unlikely future Result
condition

would Cd) / wouldn't +

lf+ past simple the Infinitive

If he got a job in Beijing, he'd learn Chinese.

If 1 didn't eat any my mum would be

breakfast, worried.

1 wouldn't know what to

If 1 met the Queen,
say.

With personal pronouns, {I, you, he, she, etc.) we

We use the second conditional to talk about unlikely
normally use the contracted form'd for would.
situations in the present or future.The situation might
You'd earn more money if you worked harder.
happen but it probably won't.
If I became prime minister, I'd create more public holidays. We often use the phrase if I were you to give advice.
A lot of people would die if an asteroid hit the Earth. If I were you, I'd wear a sweater today.
I'd do some more revision if I were you.
We can also use it to imagine situations that are not real.
If my room was bigger, I'd puta table tennis table in it. Note that we say if I were you, not

*
2 Change would to the contracted form'd where
*

1 Circle the correct option. w _ possible. If the contracted form is not possible,
ÿ If Fred had / would have more money hed buy a
,

write x.
new guitar.
1 If I swam / would swim every day, I would feel ÿ If they checked their work they would find
,

better. some mistakes, they'd

2 If Jack cleaned his room, his mum was / would ÿ The plants would die if we didn't water them .

be happy. x

3 If he practised / would practise more, he'd be an 1 If my best friend moved away, I would cry.
excellent pianist.
4 If you asked / would ask Peter, he would help you. 2 Paul would spend less money if he didn't buy
5 If Gemma got up on time, she didn't / wouldn't coffee every day. _
miss the bus. 3 If he went to bed earlier, he would wake up
6 If people didn't / wouldn't use computers, earlier. _
everything would take longer. 4 If we didn't like football, we would play rugby.
7 If my sister wasn't annoying, I didn't / wouldn't
argue with her. 5 My parents would live near the sea, if they could
8 If it was sunny, I would wear / wore sunglasses. find jobs there. _
6 If the coach was better, the team would win
more matches. _

120 Second conditional

3 O 22.1 Listen and number the pictures. 5 W Give advice to the people in exercise 4.
Write sentences using If I were you.
1 if i were iaou I'd call the police.
-» rj
,
'
-
>

2 _
3 _
4 _
5 _
6 _

.i 6 Complete the sentences with the correct form of>r

the verbs in brackets.

ÿ If I joined a gym ,
\'d net fit, (join, get)
1 If Jill_her, Sally_with her. (invite, go)
O
2 We_at six, if we_home at four
thirty, (arrive, leave)
3 If you_football, we _ each other on
Saturdays, (not like, not see)
4 Sam_the book if it_ 500 pages.
(not read, have)
5 If we_the parcel first class, it _
five
pounds, (send, cost)
6 Anna_for the job if she_it.
(not apply, not want)
7 If I_very rich, I a Ferrari, (become,
not buy)
8 If the internet_ .,
homework _
much
more difficult! (not work, be)
9 If Max_a basketball player, he_his
job. (be, love)
10 I_my hand up if I_the answer.
(not put, not know)

Work in pairs. Say the first part of a

conditional sentence, using if and
a situation in the box. Your partner
completes the sentence.
4 ©22.1 Listen again. What would the people do
in each case? Complete the sentences with the You are ill and you have an exam.

O
correct form of the verbs in the box. A stranger speaks to you in a foreign language.
complain to do homework look for You drop your phone in a river.
run away send a text message to tell Someone in front of you drops litter on the street.
Your friend doesn't invite you to his party.
f he saw someone stealing a book in a shop, You wait for a bus but it doesn't come.
he'd tell _
the shop assistant. You walk past a house and hear an alarm ringing.
f her teacher didn't come to her class, You can't find a clean shirt for school.

3 f he couldn't open the bathroom door,

if i was ill lfvd i had aia. exam-, ...
his parents.
f

4 f she broke a window in her parents' house,

kKwrn, would ÿhoiÿe the school.
f his food was cold,_ the
waiter.
f she found a wallet in the street,
_
the name and address.

Unit 22 121
First or second conditional?

We use the first conditional to talk about future We use the second conditional to talk about present
situations that are likely or possible. or future situations that are unlikely or imaginary.
Ifyou want a cake, I'll make one. If the weather was better today, we'd go for a picnic.
If it's sunny tomorrow, we'll play tennis. I never take my phone to school. If it rang in class, my
Switch your phone off! If it rings in class, your teacher teacher would be very cross.
will be very cross.

; i 8 O 22.2 Match 1 -9 with a-j. Listen and check.

ÿ If

1
they watch that film, e
If there was a problem with my phone,
O a
b
if you drop them.
my brother will repair it.
2
3
4
If you clean the car,_
I'll make dinner tonight_

If you got every answer right,_

O c
d
e
if your phone rang in class.
I'll pay you five pounds.
they ll love it.
'

5 If your parents heard that song,_ f I'd take it back to the shop.
6 I'd lend you my bike_ g your teacher would be very surprised.
7 Those eggs will break_ h if you're tired.
8 Your teacher wouldn't laugh_ i they probably wouldn't like it.
9 If your bike doesn't work,_ j if you needed it.

First or second conditional? Complete the Are the situations likely or unlikely?
sentences using the verbs in brackets. Write a sentence for each situation.

ÿ If Linda liked eggs ,

\'d nÿ
'
a rze her an omelette.
(make) You goto university
ÿ If my dad turns the TV off I'll go to bed. (turn)
,
You become a professional footballer
Your parents move to New York
1 If they drive to Spain, it_a long time, (take) School finishes early
2 If George_red boots, he would look silly. You lose your phone
(wear) A famous person visits your house
3 If they_in five minutes, they'll miss dinner. There is an earthquake in your town
(not leave) You don't wake up on time
4 If you buy a cake, I_it! (eat)
5 If Mandy knew me, I think she me. (like)
6 If we_
if I go to university I'll study ninths.
,

_
this match, we'll play in the final
next week, (win)
7 If you haven't got the map, you_their
house, (not find)
8 If Ted worked harder, he_about exams.
(not worry)
Self-evaluation Rate your progress.
9 If Ryan_tired, he would play football with u ÿÿ
his friends, (not feel)
10 If Tanya_the doctor, she won't get better.
(not visit)

122 Second conditional