Second Conditional

Grammar Practice Worksheets

Grammar Notes
SECOND CONDITIONAL

A. Introduction to Conditionals

Conditionals are used to express a hypothetical situation. This is when you

don’t know if something will happen or not, so you make a guess about
what the result might be. There are four conditional patterns in the English
language, and they usually involve an “if” clause. This lesson will focus
on the second conditional, also known as the unreal conditional.

B. The Second Conditional

Pattern: If + past, would + base verb

Use: The second conditional shows an unlikely or

impossible outcome that wouldn’t happen in
most cases (unless a specific condition were
somehow met).

Examples

Sentences Condition Outcome Explanation

• If we won the lottery, Winning the

we would travel around the world. traveling
winning the lottery is rare,
around
• We would travel around the world lottery so this is very
the world
if we won the lottery. unlikely.

• If I had wings, I would fly to Japan. I don’t have

having flying
wings, so this
• I would fly to Japan if I had wings. wings to Japan
is impossible.

She doesn’t live

• If Lisa lived near the beach, she would learn to surf. living near learning near the beach
• Lisa would learn to surf if she lived near the beach. the beach to surf now, so this
is unlikely.

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 Second Conditional
Grammar Practice Worksheets

Grammar Notes cont.

B. The Second Conditional cont.

Examples cont.

Sentences Condition Outcome Explanation

I don’t have a
• If I were rich, I wouldn’t work anymore.* not lot of money
being rich
• I wouldn’t work anymore if I were rich. working right now, so
this is unlikely.

• If my grandparents were young again, They can’t

they would do things differently. living life in
being go back in
a different
• My grandparents would do things young again time, so this
way
differently if they were young again. is impossible.

• If the children had a pool, they would swim every day. They don’t have
having swimming
a pool now, so
• The children would swim every day if they had a pool. a pool every day
this is unlikely.

She can’t
• If she grew an extra head, she would be twice as smart. growing
being twice grow another
another
• She would be twice as smart if she grew an extra head. as smart head, so this
head
is impossible.

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 Second Conditional
Grammar Practice Worksheets

Exercise 1
MULTIPLE- CHOICE

Circle the best answer.

Ex. I would buy a new car if I________more money. 6. I ________ to your party on
Saturdayif I didn’t have to work.
a) had
b) have a) came
c) will have b) would come
c) will come
1. If I were hungry, I ________ a sandwich.
7. I would call them if I ________
a) make
theirtelephone number.
b) will make
c) would make a) knew
b) know
2. If he ________ his homework every c) will know
day,he would get better marks.
8. She wouldn’t fall asleep in class
a) did
if she ________ so tired.
b) does
c) will do a) wasn’t
b) was
3. If our partners were here, c) weren’t
they ________ us what to
do. 9. If my friend ________ so busy,
he would have time to hang out with me.
a) told
b) would tell a) weren’t
c) tell b) were
c) was
4. I would help her if she ________ me.
10. If I didn’t have to go out tonight,
a) will ask
I ________ relax at home.
b) asked
c) asks a) could
b) didn’t
5. If my brother found a $20 c) wouldn’t
bill on the street, he ________ it.

a) will keep
b) kept
c) would keep

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 Second Conditional
Grammar Practice Worksheets

Exercise 2
FILL IN THE BLANKS

Complete the following sentences using the correct form of the verbs provided.

Ex. Frank is always tired. If he went to bed earlier every night,

(go)

he would feel much better.

(feel)

1. It’s Monday today, but if it ____________ had ________ Saturday, I ____________ would lend____________to the
beach.
(be) (go)

2. I don’t have any money now, but if I __________ had __________ some, I _________ would lend___________ it to
you.
(have) (lend)

3. I have to work tomorrow, but if I _________were___________ free, I ____________would go________ _____shopping

with you.
(be) (go)

4. Amy can only speak one language, but if she ________ _could speak__________two languages,
(can speak)

she _______would apply_____________ for a job at the Multicultural Center.

(apply)

5. Sue doesn’t know how to knit. If she ________knew____________ how to knit,

(know)

she ___________would make_________ a sweater for you for your birthday.

(make)

6. I don’t own a pair of skis. If I __________had__________ skis, I _______would go_____________ skiing with you.
(have) (go)

7. We are not going to buy that house, but if it ____________were________ a little cheaper,
(be)

we ___________would buy_________ it.

(buy)

8. He fails his exams because he gets so nervous. If he relaxed, he

would pass.
(relax) (pass)

9. John has a lot of car accidents. If he ____________drove________ more carefully,

(drive)

he ____would have________________ fewer accidents.

(have)

10. Robert smokes a lot. If he _________quit___________ smoking, his cough ________would get____________ better.
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 Second Conditional
Grammar Practice Worksheets
(quit) (get)

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 Second Conditional
Grammar Practice Worksheets

Exercise 3
MATCHING

Match the first part of the sentence on the left with the best
ending on the right. Each choice can only be used once.

• d) if I were rude to the customers.

• If I were rich, ...

• e) I would buy a private island.

• If I had a dog, ...

• h) I would name it Fido.

• I would go to the dentist...

• j) if I had a bad toothache.

• I would buy a wig...

• a) if I were bald.

• I would quit my job...

• f) if I had to work overtime every day.

• If I saw a bad car accident, ...

• i) I would call an ambulance.

• I would move...

• b) if the neighbors were very noisy.

• If I spoke Spanish, ...

• g) I could move to Mexico.

• If I failed the course, ...

• c) I would take it again.

• My boss would fire me...

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