UNREAL CONDITIONALS

UNREAL CONDITIONALS
Present/Future vs. Past

By Verónica Sanmartín

IF + Past Simple, WOULD + base verb

• Use for imaginary/unreal situations in the present or future.

• Example: If I were rich, I would travel the world.

  Note on "were" being used for all persons.

Second Conditional

SECOND CONDITIONAL

Examples:

• If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.

• If she had more time, she would learn to play the piano.

• If I had a pet, I would adopt a cat.

• If she had more time, she could learn.

• They would stay longer if they had more time.
  

  
  NOTE: Past simple in the 'if' clause - “Would” in the result clause

SECOND CONDITIONAL PRACTICE

Multiple Choice

If I ___ a car, I would drive to work.

• have

• had

• has

• hasn't

Multiple Choice

She would help you if she ___ time.

• had

• have

• has

• hadn't

Multiple Choice

If they studied more, they ___ better grades.

• will get

• get

• would get

• can get

Answer the Questions

Open Ended

What would you do if you lived on the moon?

Open Ended

If you were invisible for a day, what would you do?

IF + Past Perfect, WOULD HAVE + past participle

• Used for imaginary/unreal situations in the past

• Example: If I had studied harder, I would have passed the test.v

​Third Conditional

Third Conditional

Examples:

• If I hadn't eaten so much, I wouldn't have felt sick (but I did eat a lot, and so I did feel sick).

• If she had studied, she would have passed the exam (but she didn't study and so she didn't pass)

• She would have come if you had invited her

  
  NOTE: Had + past participle' in the if clause
  'Would have + past participle' in the result clause

THIRD CONDITIONAL PRACTICE

Write Your Own

Open Ended

If I had woken up on time...

Open Ended

I would have met my favorite singer if...

Second vs. Third Conditional

MIXED CONDITIONALS
Choose if the sentences are second or third conditional and complete with the correct answer

Multiple Select

If he ___ (be) taller, he would be a basketball player.

• were

• would have been

• Second Conditional

• Third Conditional

Multiple Select

If you had driven slower, we ___ (not crash).

• Second conditional

• Third Conditional

• wouldn't have crashed

• wouldn't crash

Multiple Select

She would travel more if she ___ (have) time.

• Second conditional

• Thrid Conditional

• had time

• would have time

Multiple Select

If they had studied, they ___ (pass) the exam.

• Second conditional

• Third conditional

• would have passed

• would pass

FINALLY...

Before you go, let's mke reflection!

Open Ended

Which conditional do you think is more useful in real life? Why?

Open Ended

Write one second and one third conditional about your own life.

CONGRATULATIONS!
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