Level IV - Lab WorkshopUnit 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,

2______ I’d see the film,

a. if I had money to pay the ticket.

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)

8The 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 I (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