Question:What would you do if you won the lottery?

This presentation will provide explanation and

practice for:

*also called 2nd conditionals or hypothetical conditionals

present

SO…What would you do if you

won the lottery!?

Maxine would buy a new house for herself and her parents if she won the lottery.If Paul won the lottery, he’d take a trip around the world.John and his wife would buy a piano if they became rich.

We use unreal conditionals in English to talk about: A situation that is not real, but that we imagine . . .

If I had a million dollars . . . I would . . .

If I lived in Italy . . . I would . . .

If I got a job as a chef . . . I would . . .

Are these real situations?• Do I really have a million dollars?• Do I really live in Italy?• Do I really work as a chef?

How do we make this type of conditional grammar? Look at

these examples:1. If my friend asked me for

money, I would lend it to her.

2. Tomas would be happier if he got a less stressful job.

3. Speaking in English would be easier if you practiced more frequently.

After the IF, use ______________________ tense.

In the other clause, use __________________.

Form & Meaning:When we imagine a future happening like this, we use a past tense form after IF;

However, the meaning is NOT past.

Example: If I moved to a big city, I’d sell my car and take the bus.

*The meaning here is NOT past tense . . .

I didn’t move away and I didn’t sell my car.

I’m imagining a future possibility.

Notice that you can start these sentences with the If-clause or

with the Would-clause:

If Marta moved abroad, she would learn another language.

Clara would learn another language if she moved abroad.

Try these examples:1. If we ____________ (have) more time

and money, we ________________ (take) a vacation to Hawaii.

2. The world ______________ (be) a better place if everyone ______________ (help) others.

More Practice . . .3. If you __________ (get) more exercise,

I’m sure you ________________ (feel)

healthier and happier.

4. Alex ______________ (do)

better in school if he

________________ (not,

spend) so much time

playing video games.

Important Note!Formal grammar requires that when making these kinds of conditional

sentences, we use WERE for the past tense of be for

all subjects (including I, he, she).

Examples: -If I were you, I would buy that house.-She would buy a mansion if she were

wealthy.

You will probably hear many native speakers of English use WAS in these cases, and this is often accepted in spoken, less formal situations.

What would YOU do if . . .

• you became rich?• you found a wallet on the street?• your house caught on fire?• your best friend moved far away?• your child failed a test?• there were an earthquake in

California?• you saw a famous person on the

street?

Share Your Responses with the class . . .

For additional practice . . .

Go to our class website:www.esl7withbeth.weebly.com

• Under the tab Weekly Grammar, find the grammar practice.