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Second conditional: ESL lesson plans and exercises

Levels B1 to B2 5 lesson plans · 2 drill lessons Exercises that check themselves

The second conditional, if + past simple with would + verb, talks about situations that aren't real or aren't likely: If I had a car, I'd drive to work. This page gathers 5 ready-made second conditional lessons from the edio.ai library, levels B1 to B2, in American English, among them a developer's job interview and a supply deal at the negotiating table. Try exercises from the lessons, read the form in their grammar schemes, and pick a lesson that suits your class. The lessons are interactive, and students see each drill answer checked at once.

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Second conditional lesson plans and drills

5 lesson plans and 2 drill lessons, B1 to B2. Lesson plans are whole lessons with reading, listening and speaking; drill lessons are 45 to 46 self-checking exercises with no new words.

Try the second conditional exercises

One exercise from each of 6 lessons. These are the same exercises your students do in edio.

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Second conditional explained

We use the second conditional to imagine the present or the future differently: If I lived near the ocean, I'd swim every day. The past form after if doesn't mean the past; it shows that the situation is imaginary or unlikely. The same pattern gives advice (If I were you, I'd…), asks hypothetical questions and, in business, tests an idea without promising anything.

If + past simple, would + base verb

The if-part takes the past simple and the result takes would, often shortened to 'd: If the app crashed, I'd ask for the logs. In a question, would goes before the subject: What would you do if…?

If + past simplewould ('d) / wouldn't + base verb

If the app crashed, I'd ask support for the logs.

What would you do if you didn't know the answer?

From the lesson What would you do if…? (English for IT B1)

Negatives, could, might and were

Negatives use didn't in the if-part and wouldn't in the result. Could means would be able to, might means perhaps would, and be becomes were for every person: If I were you, I'd think aloud.

UseFormExample
An imaginary situationIf + past, would + verbIf the app crashed, I'd ask for the logs.
A negativedidn't + verb / wouldn't + verbIf I didn't know, I wouldn't guess.
A questionWhat would you do if + past?What would you do if a test failed?
Abilitycould + verb (= would be able to)If we hired Tariq, he could learn from Wes.
Maybemight + verb (= perhaps would)If I got two offers, I might choose the smaller team.
AdviceIf I were you, I'd + verbIf I were you, I'd think aloud.
bewere for every personIf the reviewer were right, I'd change the code.

From the lesson What would you do if…? (English for IT B1)

First or second: likely or imaginary?

The choice shows how real the speaker thinks the situation is. If the build breaks, I'll tell the team expects that it could happen; If I had more time, I'd learn iOS too pictures something that isn't true now.

Likely: first conditional

  • If the test fails, I'll fix it today.
  • If the build breaks, I'll tell the team.

Imaginary: second conditional

  • If the app crashed, I'd ask for the logs.
  • If I had more time, I'd learn iOS too.

From the lesson What would you do if…? (English for IT B1)

Would, could, might: an idea, not a promise

In a negotiation, the second conditional tests an idea without committing to it: If we paid within 30 days, would you lower the price? The table pairs each modal with its second conditional form: will and would, can and could, may and might.

Second conditional: an idea, not a promise

If + past simplewould / could / might + verb

If we paid within 30 days, would you lower the price?

If you came down to €19, we'd sign today.

will or would, can or could, may or might

MeaningFirst conditionalSecond conditional
a sure resultwe will include trainingwe would include training
it's possible, we're able towe can lower the pricewe could lower the price
perhapsLukas may say yesLukas might say yes

From the lesson Negotiating a Deal (Business English B2)

Questions about the second conditional

When do we use the second conditional?
For imaginary or unlikely situations now or in the future. If I spoke Japanese, I'd work in Tokyo (I don't speak it). If you won the lottery, what would you buy? (You probably won't.) It also gives advice with If I were you, I'd… and makes careful suggestions: If we moved the meeting to Friday, would that work?
How do you form the second conditional?
If + past simple, would + base verb. If she had more time, she'd travel. Negatives use didn't or wouldn't, and questions put would first: Would you help me if I asked? Two traps come up again and again: would in the if-part (If I would know instead of If I knew) and will in the result after a past form.
Is it if I were or if I was?
Were is the careful form; was is common in speech. In the second conditional, were works for every person: If I were you, If it were cheaper. Many people say If I was… in conversation. For interviews, emails and formal writing, teach were; in relaxed speaking practice, was doesn't need correcting.
What's the difference between the first and second conditional?
The first is likely; the second is imaginary or unlikely. If it's sunny on Saturday, we'll go to the beach is a real plan. If I had a boat, we'd sail to the island imagines something that isn't true. In a negotiation, the choice matters: If you sign today, we'll include training is a firm offer, while If we paid faster, would you lower the price? only tests an idea.
Can you use could and might in the second conditional?
Yes: both can replace would in the result. Could means would be able to (If we hired her, she could lead the team), and might means perhaps would (If they offered more, I might accept). Could works in the if-part too: If you could start next month, we'd sign today.
Are there interactive second conditional exercises?
Yes: this page plays a selection from the lessons. Inside each lesson there are more gap-fills, drag-and-drop tasks, tables to complete and quizzes on would, were and first versus second. Students work in their own edio.ai accounts, and every answer is checked as soon as they give it. To open the full lessons, start a free trial.
How do I teach the second conditional to B1 students?
Start from imaginary questions about real situations. In English for IT B1, learners answer What would you do if…? in a developer's job interview, with could, might and If I were you along the way. In Business English B2, the second conditional floats offers during a price negotiation, next to the first conditional's firm promises.
What are good second conditional activities?
Dilemmas and dream questions from students' own lives. Dilemma cards (What would you do if you found a wallet on the street?), a desert-island packing list or If you could live anywhere, where would it be? get everyone talking. Ask for a reason each time, so students add a second would sentence. Each lesson's speaking chapter has a chat and a game, such as Open the box.
Can I use these second conditional lessons with one student?
Yes: a single learner can do every part of them. Live, the student follows the lesson in sync with you, and the two of you play the speaking game together. As homework, the drills mark themselves, while written answers to interview questions and a recording come to you for review.

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