1. Question: What would you do if you won the lottery?
This presentation will provide explanation and practice for:
present
Unreal Conditionals
*also called 2nd conditionals or hypothetical conditionals
Question: What would you do if you won the lottery?

2. 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.

3. NO! these are imaginary situations
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?
NO! these are imaginary situations

4. simple past would + verb
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.
simple past
After the IF, use ______________________ tense.
would + verb
In the other clause, use __________________.

5. Form & Meaning: Example:
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.

6. If Marta moved abroad, she would learn another language.
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.

7. Try these examples: had would take would be helped
1. If we ____________ (have) more time and money, we ________________ (take) a vacation to Hawaii.
would take
2. The world ______________ (be) a better place if everyone ______________ (help) others.
would be
helped

8. More Practice . . . got would feel would do didn’t spend
3. If you __________ (get) more exercise, I’m sure you ________________ (feel) healthier and happier.
got
would feel
4. Alex ______________ (do) better in school if he ________________ (not, spend) so much time playing video games.
would do
didn’t spend

9. Important Note! all subjects (including I, he, she).
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.

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

11. 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 . . .

12. For additional practice . . .
Go to our class website:
Under the tab Weekly Grammar, find the grammar practice.
If I were you, I would
do this Internet practice!