Grammar Practice Worksheets

Second Conditional
Table of Contents
2 Grammar Notes 10 Exercise 8
Second Conditional Negative Sentences

4 Exercise 1 11 Exercise 9
Multiple-Choice Group Discussion

5 Exercise 2 12 Exercise 10
Fill in the Blanks Hope & Wish

6 Exercise 3 14 Exercise 11
Matching Quiz: First & Second
Conditional
6 Exercise 4 15 Answer Key
Complete the Sentences
17 Extra Practice I
7 Exercise 5 Sentence Strips
Comprehension
18 Extra Practice II
8 Exercise 6 Conditional Comparison
Survey Chart

9 Exercise 7
What’s Your Advice?

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Grammar Notes
SECOND CONDITIONAL

A. Introduction to Conditionals

Conditionals are used to express a hypothetical situation. This is

when you don’t know if something will happen or not, so you
make a guess about what the result might be. There are four
conditional patterns in the English language, and they usually
involve an “if” clause. This lesson will focus
on the second conditional, also known as the unreal conditional.

B. The Second Conditional

Tip #1
Pattern: If + past, would + base verb The verb in the if clause is a simple past verb, and
Use: The second conditional shows an unlikely the verb in the main clause is would + the base
form of the verb. A sentence can begin with
or impossible outcome that wouldn’t
either clause with no change in meaning.
happen in most cases (unless a specific Remember that a sentence that begins with an
condition were somehow met). if clause is followed by a comma.

• If they had more money, they would buy a car.

• They would buy a car if they had more money.

Examples

Sentences Condition Outcome Explanation

• If we won the lottery, Winning the

we would travel around the world. travelin
winning the lottery is
g
• We would travel around the lottery rare, so this
around
world if we won the lottery. is very
the
unlikely.
world

• If I had wings, I would fly to Japan. I don’t have

having flying
wings, so
• I would fly to Japan if I had wings. wings to Japan
this is
impossible.

She doesn’t
• If Lisa lived near the beach, she would learn to surf. living learning live near the
• Lisa would learn to surf if she lived near the beach. near the to surf beach now,
beach so this
is unlikely.

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Grammar Notes cont.

B. The Second Conditional cont.

Examples cont.

Sentences Condition Outcome Explanation

I don’t have a
• If I were rich, I wouldn’t work anymore.* not lot of money
being rich
• I wouldn’t work anymore if I were rich. working right now, so
this is
unlikely.
• If my grandparents were young They can’t
again, they would do things living life
being go back in
differently. in a
young time, so
different
• My grandparents would do again this
things differently if they were way
is impossible.
young again.

• If the children had a pool, they would swim every day. They don’t
havin swimming
have a pool
• The children would swim every day if they had a pool. ga every day
now, so this is
pool unlikely.

She can’t
• If she grew an extra head, she would be twice as growin being grow
smart. g twice as another
• She would be twice as smart if she grew an extra anothe smart head, so
head. r head
this is
impossible.

*Tip #2 Tip #3 Tip #4

The Be verb in conditional Would can contract to ‘d with Could + base verb can be
sentences is always were subjects that are pronouns. used in place of a past verb
(not was) for all subjects. Would not can contract to or would
Some people choose to wouldn’t with any subject. + base verb to indicate ability or
ignore this rule, but it’s possibility.
• If the clerk were
best to follow it.
taller, she’d be able • If I could ski, I would
• If I were a dog, I would to reach the top buy a season’s pass at
lie around in the sun shelf. my local mountain.
all day.
• If my coworker • If I didn’t have to
• If Juan were an inherited a lot of babysit tonight, I could
astronaut, he would fly money, he probably go to Marco’s party.
to the moon. wouldn’t work here
anymore.

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Exercise 1
MULTIPLE- CHOICE

Circle the best answer.

Ex. I would buy a new car if I more

6. I to your party on
money.
Saturday if I didn’t have to
a) had work.
b) have
a) came
c) will have
b) would come
c) will come
1. If I were hungry, I a sandwich.

a) make 7. I would call them if I

b) will make their telephone number.
c) would make
a) knew
b) know
2. If he his homework every
c) will know
day, he would get better
marks.
8. She wouldn’t fall asleep in
a) did class if she so tired.
b) does
a) wasn’t
c) will do
b) was
c) weren’t
3. If our partners were
here, they us what
9. If my friend so busy,
to do.
he would have time to hang out with me.
a) told
a) weren’t
b) would tell
b) were
c) tell
c) was
4. I would help her if she me.
10. If I didn’t have to go out
a) will ask tonight, I relax at home.
b) asked
a) could
c) asks
b) didn’t
c) wouldn’t
5. If my brother found a $20
bill on the street, he it.

a) will keep
b) kept
c) would keep

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Exercise 2
FILL IN THE BLANKS

Complete the following sentences using the correct form of the verbs provided.

Ex. Frank is always tired. If he went to bed earlier every night,

(go)

he would feel much better.

(feel)

1. It’s Monday today, but if it Saturday, I to the beach.

(be) (go)

2. I don’t have any money now, but if I some, I it to you.

(have) (lend)

3. I have to work tomorrow, but if I free, I shopping with you.

(be) (go)

4. Amy can only speak one language, but if she two languages,
(can speak)

she for a job at the Multicultural Center.

(apply)

5. Sue doesn’t know how to knit. If she how to knit,

(know)

she a sweater for you for your birthday.

(make)

6. I don’t own a pair of skis. If I skis, I skiing with you.

(have) (go)

7. We are not going to buy that house, but if it a little cheaper,

(be)

we it.
(buy)

8. He fails his exams because he gets so nervous. If he , he .

(relax) (pass)

9. John has a lot of car accidents. If he more carefully,

(drive)

he fewer accidents.
(have)

10. Robert smokes a lot. If he smoking, his cough better.

(quit) (get)

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Exercise 3
MATCHING

Match the first part of the sentence on the left with the
best ending on the right. Each choice can only be used
once.

e 1.
If I were rich, a) if I were bald.
2.
... If I had a b) if the neighbors were very noisy.
3. dog, ... c) I would take it again.
4. I would go to the d) if I were rude to the customers.
5. dentist... I would buy a e) I would buy a private island.
6. wig... f) if I had to work overtime every day.
7. I would quit my job... g) I could move to Mexico.
8. If I saw a bad car h) I would name it Fido.
9. accident, ... I would i) I would call an ambulance.
10 move... j) if I had a bad toothache.
.
If I spoke Spanish, ...
If I failed the course, ...
My boss would fire
me...

Exercise 4
COMPLETE THE SENTENCES

Complete the following sentences using your own words.

Ex. If I only had one month to live, I would travel around the world.

1. If I had some free time,

2. I would move to a bigger apartment if

3. If I had a bike,

4. I would walk to school every day if

5. I would go to the doctor if

6. If I had a roommate,

7. If I knew his phone number,

8. If I were taller,

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Exercise 5
COMPREHENSION

Read the conditional sentences below and

answer the questions that follow each one.

Ex. If it weren’t raining, I would go for a long 6. I probably wouldn’t sunburn so

walk.
badly if I didn’t have such fair
skin.
Yes a) Is it raining?
No b) Am I going for a long a) Do I have fair skin?
walk? b) Do I get bad sunburns?
1. If I knew her well, I would call
her. 7. If I were afraid to watch scary
movies, I wouldn’t go to that
a) Do I know her well?
show.
b) Am I going to call
her? a) Am I afraid to watch scary movies?
2. He would apply for the job if he
b) Am I going to go to that show?
had a university degree.
8. I would go to your party if I didn’t
a) Does he have a university degree? have a lot of homework tonight.
b) Is he going to apply for the job?
a) Do I have a lot of homework tonight?
c) Does he want to apply for the job?
b) Am I going to go to your party tonight?
3. If I couldn’t speak French, I wouldn’t go
c) Do I want to go to your party?
to France for my month-long vacation.
9. If I had the chance to relive
a) Can I speak French? my high school days, I wouldn’t.
b) Am I going to France for my vacation?
a) Will I get the chance to
4. If I owned a car, I wouldn’t take the bus to relive my high school days?
work. b) Would I like to relive
my high school days?
a) Do I own a car?
b) Do I take the bus to work? I would climb Mount
c) Would I rather drive to Everest if my leg
work than take the bus? weren’t broken.

a) Will I climb Mount Everest?

5. If I had a lot of money, I would lend you
some. b) Is my leg broken?
a) Do I have a lot of money? b) Am I going to lend you
some money?

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c) Do I want to climb Mount Everest?

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Exercise 6
SURVEY

Work in small groups. Complete the chart below by asking

your classmates the following questions using the second
conditional.

# Question Classmate #1 Classmate #2 Classmate #3

If you won a million dollars,

1
what would you do with it?

If you could have three wishes,

2
what would you wish for?

If you could buy a new car,

3
what kind would you
buy?

If you could spend a day with

4 any famous person in the
world, who would you
choose?

If you had enough money to

5 travel to any place in the
world, where would you go
first?

If you could have any job you

6
wanted, what would it be?

If you could live anywhere

7 in the world, where
would you choose to
live?

If you were the leader of

8 your country, what
would you try to do
first?

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Exercise 7
WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE?

Read the following situations and write some advice using the second conditional.

Ex. Lee eats a lot of junk food and sweets, but he complains that he is fat.

If he ate healthier, he wouldn’t have a problem with his weight.

1. Andrea doesn’t pay attention in class. Then she doesn’t understand the homework.

2. Sayid is always late because he doesn’t wear a watch.

3. Maria is not a good tennis player because she never practices.

4. Min’s father always burns dinner because he doesn’t set the timer on the oven.

5. Johnny’s mom often gets mad at him because he doesn’t pick up his toys.

6. Toshi gets a lot of speeding tickets because he drives too fast.

7. Kwan coughs a lot because he smokes.

8. Claire doesn’t feel good because she doesn’t exercise.

9. Ana can never take a vacation because she spends all her money on new clothes.

10. Kevin doesn’t get good grades because he doesn’t study much.

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Exercise 8
NEGATIVE SENTENCES

Complete the following sentences with the correct tense of the verbs
provided. Use contractions whenever possible.

Ex. I ‘d buy that computer if it weren’t so expensive.

(buy) (be, not)

1. If I
you, to that restaurant. The food is terrible.
(be) I (go, not)

2. She
at work today if such a bad headache.
(be) she (have, not)

3. If he to bed so late every so tired every

(go, not) (be, not)

4. If you night, he so far away day. you every

(live, not) (visit)

from me, I weekend.

5. Sophi Andrew if she him.

a (marry, not) (love, not)

(go) to the party if her (be, not) sick.

6. Maya

(take, not) baby the bus to school if (live) close

7. I r.

I
8. If I coffee in the to
(drink) (be able, not)

9. If I (have, not) evening, I such a (be, not) sleep. in

bad cold, I bed now.

10. If you your sales receipt, the you your money

(have, not) (give, not)

11. If you (give, not) store the taxi driver a (be) back. angry.

tip, he

12. If I (have, not) to work tonight, I

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to the
(go)
football
game
with
you.

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Exercise 9
GROUP DISCUSSION

Discuss the following questions in small groups.

1. What would you do if you saw someone having a heart attack?

2. What would you do if a fire broke out in your house or apartment?

3. How would you feel if you went to a party

and you were the only one who didn’t bring a present?

4. What would you do if you were lying in bed late at night

and you heard someone trying to break into your house?
How would you feel?

5. What would you do if your neighbors had noisy parties every weekend?

6. How would you feel if your landlord told you that you
had to move out of your apartment in one week? What
would you do?

7. How would you feel if your teacher told you that you
were going to have a big exam tomorrow? What would you do?

8. What would you do if the person you loved were moving to another country?

9. How would you feel if your doctor told you that you only
had two more months to live? What would you do?

10. What would you do if you went hiking up a mountain and

got lost? What would you do if you saw a bear?

Now think of five more questions to ask your

group. Use the second conditional in each
question.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

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Exercise 10
HOPE & WISH

A. Review

Compare the verbs hope and wish in the chart below.

Hope Wish

wish + simple past

Patterns hope + simple present
wish + would/could + base verb

Uses likely, possible situations unlikely or impossible situations

• I wish I had more time to finish

• I hope I do well this semester.
this project, but it’s due now.
Examples • I hope you feel better soon.
• I wish I could fly.
• The children hope it snows.
• She wishes she were* rich.

*Note
As with second conditional sentences, the Be
verb after wish becomes were, not was, for all
subjects.

B. Practice

Read the examples using hope and wish and the first and second
conditional. Then finish the sentences using the first or second
conditional.

Ex. I hope it is sunny tomorrow. If it is sunny, I will go to the beach.

Ex. I wish I were ten years younger. If I were ten years younger, I would train for a marathon.

1. I hope I pass the exam. If

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Exercise 10 cont.
2. I hope John comes to the party. If

3. I wish I had a dog. If

4. I wish I could speak Spanish fluently. If

5. I wish my sister lived in a bigger apartment. If

6. I wish I weren’t so shy. If

7. I hope she wins the tennis match tomorrow. If

8. I wish I could afford to travel. If

9. He hopes the plane arrives on time. If

10. They wish they knew her address. If

11. I hope you get the job. If

12. I wish my boyfriend didn’t have to work tonight. If

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Exercise 11
QUIZ

Complete this review of the first conditional,

second conditional, hope, and wish. Circle the best answer.

1. If he had a new car, he us to school.

7. If I into a car accident, I would call 911.
a) would drive
a) will get
b) will drive
b) would get
c) drove
c) got

2. You will live longer if you smoking.

8. He will more milk if he remembers.
a) will stop
a) buy
b) stop
b) buys
c) stopped
c) bought

3. I’m sick of all this rain. I wish it sunny.

9. I wish I the name of that song.
a) was
a) will remember
b) is
b) could remember
c) were
c) remember

4. I would clean the whole

10. If my boss wanted me to redo this report, I .
house if I more time.
a) won’t
a) would have
b) would
b) will have
c) will
c) had
11. If our teacher gives us more
5. If she in June, she will start work in
homework, I time to go out
July.
tonight.
a) would graduate
a) won’t have
b) will graduate
b) wouldn’t have
c) graduates
c) not have
6. We hope you well soon.
12. They wouldn’t be here now
a) got if it for all your hard work.
b) get
a) wasn’t
c) would get
b) weren’t
c) isn’t

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Answer Key
LESSON DESCRIPTION:
LEVEL: Int
Students learn and practice the second conditional through TIME: 2–3 hours
writing and speaking activities. They also learn the
TAGS: conditional, second conditional, unreal conditional,
difference between hope and wish and complete a mixed
mood, hypothetical, subjunctive, would, could, past,
review of the first and
verbs, first conditional, if, hope, wish, sentence
second conditional.
patterns, grammar

Exercise 1 Exercise 5

1. c
3. b 5. c 7. a 9. a 1. a) no b) no 6. a) yes b) yes
2. a
4. b 6. b 8. c 10. a 2. a) no b) no c) 7. a) no b) yes
yes
8. a) yes b) no c) yes
3. a) yes b) yes
Exercise 2 4. a) no b) yes c) 9. a) no b) no
yes
10. a) no b) yes c) yes
6. had, would go 5. a) no b) no
1. were, would go
2. had, would lend 7. were, would buy
8. relaxed, would Exercise 6
3. were, would go
pass
4. could speak, would
apply 9. drove, would have Answers will vary.

5. knew, would make 10. quit, would get

Exercise 7
Exercise 3
Answers may vary. Encourage your students to vary
1. e
3. j 5. f 7. b 9. c sentences that start with the if-clause with ones that start
2. h
4. a 6. i 8. g 10. d with the main clause.

1. If she paid attention in class,

she would understand the homework.
Exercise 4 2. If he wore a watch, he wouldn’t always be late.
3. If she practiced more, she would be a good tennis player.
Answers will vary. Here are some samples: 4. If he set the timer on the stove, he wouldn’t burn dinner.
5. If he picked up his toys, his mother wouldn’t get mad.
1. If I had some free time, I would go to New York.
6. If he drove more slowly, he
2. I would move to a bigger apartment if I had more
money. wouldn’t get so many speeding
3. If I had a bike, I would ride to work every day. tickets.
4. I would walk to school every day if I lived closer. 7. If he quit smoking, he wouldn’t cough so much.
5. I would go to the doctor if I felt really sick. 8. If she exercised more, she would feel better.
6. If I had a roommate, I wouldn’t feel so lonely. 9. If she spent less on clothes, she could take a vacation.
7. If I knew his name, I would call him. 10. If he studied more, he would get good grades.
8. If I were taller, I would join a basketball team.
(continued on the next page...)

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Answer Key cont.

Exercise 8 Extra Practice I

1. were, wouldn’t go
7. wouldn’t take, lived On page 17, you will find a page of sentence strips to cut
2. ‘d be, didn’t have
8. drank, wouldn’t be up. Cut the if and main clauses into strips and give one
3. didn’t go, wouldn’t be able clause to each student. Have the students search the room
4. didn’t live, ‘d visit 9. didn’t have, wouldn’t for the matching clause (note that there is more than one
5. wouldn’t marry, didn’t be
possibility in some cases—you can accept any logical,
love 10. didn’t have, wouldn’t
give reasonable match). As an alternative task, give each pair or
6. would go, weren’t
11. didn’t give, ‘d be group a set of mixed-up strips and have them arrange all
12. didn’t have, ‘d go the strips into the correct order. These tasks would work
Exercise 9
well as a warm-up to this lesson or for review later on.

Put students into small groups or pairs. Answers will vary. Extra Practice II

Exercise 10 On page 18, you will find a comparison chart with all four
conditional tenses. Comparing all the conditional tenses at
B. PRACTICE once can be helpful for students to see when and why each

Answers will vary. Here are some samples: is used. Try presenting the chart before or after the Second
Conditional lesson. You can find more teaching tips on our
1. If I pass the exam, I will celebrate. blog ([Link] com/2013/03/14/an-easy-way-to-
2. If John comes to the party, we’ll have a lot of fun. teach-conditionals/) and in our Grammar Practice
3. If I had a dog, I would name it Coco. Worksheets section ([Link]
4. If I could speak Spanish fluently, courses/88/lessons). In that section, you’ll find our lessons
I would travel through South America. on
5. If my sister lived in a bigger apartment, I could stay the First and Third Conditional.
over.
6. If I weren’t so shy, I would have more job opportunities.
SPELLING NOTE:
7. If I win the tennis match tomorrow, I will be in the
finals. This lesson shows the American spelling of the words Traveling,
8. If I could afford to travel, I would go to Europe. Center, Neighbors, and Practice. Most other English- speaking
9. If the plane arrives on time, he will take them to the countries spell these words this way: Travelling, Centre, Neighbours,
concert. and Practise (when used as a verb; Practice when used as a noun).
10. If they knew her address, they would send her a card. Make it a challenge for your students to find these words in the
lesson and see if they know the alternate spellings.
11. If you get the job, we will go to a restaurant and
celebrate.
12. If he didn’t have to work, he could take me on a date.

Exercise 11

1. a
3. c 5. c 7. c 9. b 11. a
2. b
4. c 6. b 8. a 10. b 12. b

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Extra Practice I
SENTENCE STRIPS

If I had a bad cough, I would go to the doctor.

If I saw a robbery, I would call the police.

If I had a headache, I would take an aspirin.

If I didn’t pay my bills, I would get into trouble.

If we didn’t go to their party, they would be very disappointed.

If the factory closed down, many people would lose their jobs.

If someone walked into the building with a gun, I would be terrified.

If my boyfriend broke up with me, I would be very sad.

If my landlord raised the rent, I would look for a new apartment.

If you paid attention in class, you would understand the lesson.

If it rained, we would have to cancel the picnic.

If I weren’t on a diet, I would order dessert.

If we took a taxi, we would arrive on time.

If you apologized to him, he would forgive you.

If I needed money, I would borrow some from the bank.

If I sold my car, I probably wouldn’t get much money for it.

If it stopped raining, we would go for a long walk.

If I saw someone drowning, I’d jump in the water and try to save him or her.

If I were shy, I wouldn’t be able to make public speeches.

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Extra Practice II
CONDITIONAL COMPARISON CHART

Name Form Time Function Example

Use this conditional to • If he takes vitamins every

show an outcome that day, he doesn’t get sick.
Zero Conditional If + present, present Present
happens • He doesn’t get sick if
if a specific repeated he takes vitamins
condition is met. every day.

Use this conditional to • If she studies for the

First Present/ show a likely or possible test, she will get a
If + present, will + verb
Conditional Future outcome that will good grade.
(Real probably happen if a • She will get a good
Conditional) specific condition is met. grade if she studies
for the test.
Unlikely situation
Use this conditional to • If he won the lottery, he would quit his job.
show an unlikely or • He would quit his job if he won the lottery.
Second Conditional If + past, would + verb Present/
impossible outcome that
(Unreal Future Impossible situation
probably wouldn’t
Conditional)
happen (unless a specific • If I had wings, I would fly to Antarctica.
condition were met).
• I would fly to Antarctica if I had wings.

• If I had remembered to call

Use this conditional to
my friend last night, she
If + had + p.p., show a past regret or
Third Conditional Past wouldn’t
would + have + different outcome that
have sent me an angry text message.
p.p. would have happened if
• My friend wouldn’t have sent
a specific condition had
been met. me an angry text message if I had
remembered to call her last night.

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SION 2 . 2 ) 8