Second Conditional
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Level : Intermediate
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Students already know: Past simple (I went, I did, etc) and modal verbs (I would, I could, etc) |
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The grammar The 2nd conditional if used to describe hypothetical situations in the future, that are possible, though unlikely. We construct the sentence using the past simple + modal verb + bare infinitive Eg: If I won the lottery, I would buy a yacht
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Lead-in
Throw around a soft toy and ask sts to describe an impossible/unlikely dream , eg I’d like to go to the moon, I’d like to dive with whales, or be invisible for the day! Give an example or 2 for sts first.
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REMEMBER: Concept Questions! STT! Classroom Management!
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Presentation
Board a couple of the sts ideas and then ask them what they would do if their dream came true – eg If I won the lottery, I would buy a yacht; If I were invisible for the day, I’d go to 10 Downing Street, etc. Now complete the sentences on the board. Make sure you write the examples in the 2nd conditional though don’t explain any grammar to the sts yet. Get the examples on the board and ask sts to think about how likely it is that these things will happen (ie pretty unlikely!). Now ask the sts to look at the sentences and see what tenses they can spot - they should be able to identify the past simple in the first half of each sentence (won, were, etc). Now underline the modal verb (would, could) and the bare infinitive (buy, go) in the second half of the sentence and ask sts if they know what these parts of the language are called. You can now ask sts to tell you the structure of each sentence (past simple + modal verb + infinitive) and confirm for sts that we use this to talk about future events that are not impossible, but are unlikely. Confirm for sts (ask them first) that this is called the second conditional.
Controlled Practice
Prepare some second conditional sentences and cut them in half – one half should have the past simple clause, and the other the modal verb + infinitive clause. Put sts into pairs and give each pair of set of cards. Sts should work together to match the pairs together. Feedback as a group.
Free practice
Now ask sts to each choose 3 of the sentence halves using the past simple (ie the first half) and complete the sentences for themselves. They should then get up and mingle with the rest of the group telling sts what they would do for each of the 3 sentences they chose and asking other sts what they would do, eg, If I won the lottery I’d move to Australia. What would you do? Sts should then choose their favourite answers to feedback to the group.
Production
Think of a suitable activity or piece of homework you could set your sts to finish off this class.
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