Level IV - Lab Workshop

Unit 8 - Lab Guide 8.1

I. Objectives

II. Grammar Explanations

1.

2.
IF clause

main clause

If I had a million dollars,

I would buy a big house.

If the "if" clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the "if" clause comes second, there
is no need for a comma:

IF clause

main clause

I would buy a big house

if I had a million dollars.

We use different verb forms in each clause:

IF clause

if + subject + simple past verb*

main clause

subject + would + verb

When working with the second conditional just think about doing something hypothetically in
the time period around now. We can talk about things which are unreal (not true or not
possible) in the present or the future -- things which don't or won't happen:

Example

Explanation

If I were you, I would drive more carefully in

the rain.

I am not you this is unreal.

Paula would be sad if Jan left.

Jan will not leave that's not going to

happen.

If dogs had wings, they would be able to fly.

Dogs don't have wings that's impossible.

*Note that this "simple past" form is slightly different from usual in the
case of the verb BE. Whatever the subject, the verb form is "were", not "was".
Example: If I were rich, I'd buy a big house.

III. Exercises
* Match the numbers with the letters to form conditional sentences:
1.______ If I were a millionaire,

a. if I had money to pay the ticket.

2______ Id see the film,

b. I would buy a beautiful car.

* Fill the gap using the verb in brackets. some gaps need a NEGATIVE verb!
1 They'd be a better team if they ___________________ in shape. (to be)
2 If I had some spare money, I ___________________ a DVD player. (to buy)
3
Those children ___________________ so horrible if their
parents were stricter. (to be)

4 I wouldn't go out with him even if you ___________________ me. (to pay)
5 If we ___________________ so hard, we wouldn't be so tired all the time. (to work)
6
If he didn't take so long in the shower, he
___________________ more time for breakfast. (to
have)

7 If you ___________________ so much beer, you wouldn't be so fat. (to drink)

The world ___________________ a better place if politicians were less vain. (to be)

9 I ___________________ to visit Thailand if I had the chance. (to love)

* Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate
conditional form.

Did you hear about that guy who won 180 million
dollars

in

the

lottery?

If

(win)

___________________________ that much money, I

(quit) ___________________________ my job the
next day. I (travel) ___________________________
around the world and (stay) __________________________ in the most luxurious hotels. If
I (want) ___________________________anything, I (buy) _________________________
it. If I (see) ___________________________a beautiful Mercedes that I wanted, I (buy)
___________________________it. If I wanted to stay in a beautiful hotel and the hotel (be)
___________________________full, I (buy) __________________________ the hotel and
make them give me a room. I (can) ______________________________do anything in the
world if I had 180 million dollars ... Oh; I am starting to sound a little materialistic... Well... I
(do) __________________________ good things with the money as well. If anybody (need)
__________________________help, I (give) __________________________ them some
money to help them out. I (donate) __________________________money to charities. I
(give) __________________________ money to help support the arts. If I (win)
__________________________ that much money, I wouldn't keep it all for myself. I (help)
__________________________as many people as possible.

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/2cond1.htm
http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/secondconditional/exercise2.swf