20 Questions in the Second Conditional

Intermediate (B1) 30 minutes
ESL second conditional game for intermediate B1: forming, asking and answering questions, group practice

ESL Second Conditional Game - Grammar and Speaking: Forming, Asking and Answering Questions, Freer Practice - Group Work

In this free second conditional game, students students write, ask and answer questions using the second conditional. First, students complete each if-clause...

ESL Second Conditional Game - Grammar and Speaking: Forming, Asking and Answering Questions from Prompts, Freer Practice - Group Work In this free second conditional game, students write, ask and answer questions using the second conditional. First, students complete each if-clause on their question strips and form a second conditional question with would + subject + base verb. In groups, students then put all the strips together and take turns picking up a strip and reading the second conditional question to the other group members. The other group members listen and then each try to give the best answer they can using the second conditional. The student with the question strip listens to each response and gives the strip to the student who they thought gave the best answer. The student with the most question strips at the end of the game is the winner.
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Going Away

Intermediate (B1) 25 minutes
ESL second conditional activity for intermediate B1: sentence and question completion, interviews, pair work

ESL Second Conditional Activity - Speaking: Sentence and Question Completion, Asking and Answering Questions, Controlled Practice - Pair Work

In this intriguing second conditional speaking activity, students ask and answer questions about how they would spend their last day at home if they were going away...

ESL Second Conditional Activity - Speaking: Sentence and Question Completion, Asking and Answering Questions, Controlled Practice - Pair Work In this intriguing second conditional speaking activity, students ask and answer questions about how they would spend their last day at home if they were going away for a year. First, students complete second conditional sentences about how they would spend their last day at home, e.g. 'If I had one last day at home, I'd eat a big steak with French fries.' When they have done this, students write second conditional questions using the verbs from the sentences, e.g. 'If you had one last day at home, what would you eat?' Next, students use the second conditional questions to interview a partner about how they would spend their last day at home and write their answers down using the third person, e.g. 'If Emma had one last day at home, she would eat spaghetti.' Finally, students report back to the class on what they found out.
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I think you would...

Intermediate (B1) 30 minutes
ESL second conditional activity for intermediate B1: guessing, sentence completion, pair practice

ESL Second Conditional Game - Grammar: Sentence Completion, Guessing - Pair Work

In this fun second conditional game, students complete sentences by guessing what a classmate would do in various hypothetical situations and then check whether their guesses were right or wrong. To begin, students complete ten...

ESL Second Conditional Game - Grammar: Sentence Completion, Guessing - Pair Work In this fun second conditional game, students complete sentences by guessing what a classmate would do in various hypothetical situations and then check whether their guesses were right or wrong. To begin, students complete ten second conditional sentences by guessing what their partner would do in each situation. Next, students take turns reading their completed sentences to their partner, who tells them if they are right or wrong. If a sentence is wrong, their partner explains why. As they check, students keep a simple tally of correct guesses. The student with the most correct guesses at the end of the game wins.
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Second Conditional Board Game

Intermediate (B1) 30 minutes
ESL second conditional board game for intermediate B1: sentence completion, group practice

ESL Second Conditional Board Game - Grammar and Speaking: Sentence Completion, Forming Sentences, Impromptu Speech, Freer Practice - Group Work

Here is an engaging second conditional board game to help students practice the second conditional by completing prompts and speaking about imaginary...

ESL Second Conditional Board Game - Grammar and Speaking: Sentence Completion, Forming Sentences, Impromptu Speech, Freer Practice - Group Work Here is an engaging second conditional board game to help students practice the second conditional by completing prompts and speaking about imaginary situations. In groups, students take turns rolling the dice and moving their counters along the board. When a student lands on a second conditional prompt square, they complete the sentence with their own idea and then talk about the hypothetical situation for 20 seconds, while a group member times them. If a student lands on a blank 'If' square, they make their own second conditional sentence and talk about it. When the time is up, the group judges the student's second conditional sentence and response. If the sentence is grammatically correct and appropriate, the student scores a point. If the response lasts 20 seconds, the student scores an extra point. When a student reaches the finish, the game ends, and the students add up their points. The student with the most points wins the game.
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Second Conditional Exercises

Intermediate (B1) 30 minutes
ESL second conditional worksheet for intermediate B1: matching, unscrambling, gap-fill, animal guessing

ESL Second Conditional Worksheet - Grammar Exercises: Matching, Gap-fill, Sentence Completion - Speaking Activity: Asking and Answering Questions

This free second conditional worksheet helps students learn and practice how to form and use the second conditional. Students begin by reading how the second...

ESL Second Conditional Worksheet - Grammar Exercises: Matching, Unscrambling, Gap-fill, Sentence Completion - Speaking Activity: Asking and Answering Questions This free second conditional worksheet helps students learn and practice how to form and use the second conditional. Students begin by reading how the second conditional is constructed and used. Students then match second conditional sentence halves together. Next, students put words in the correct order to make second conditional sentences, adding a comma where appropriate. Students then move on to complete sentences in the second conditional using two verbs from a box in each sentence. After that, students finish second conditional sentences with their own ideas. Following that, students think of an animal without telling anyone what it is. Students then imagine they were that animal and answer questions using the second conditional. Finally, in pairs, students ask the second conditional questions to their partner and try to guess what animal they are.
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Stranded on a Desert Island

Intermediate (B1) 30 minutes
ESL second conditional worksheet for intermediate B1: gap-fill, matching, survival, group discussion

ESL Second Conditional Worksheet - Grammar Exercises: Gap-fill, Unscrambling, Matching, Writing Sentences

In this useful second conditional worksheet, students practice the second conditional by completing controlled tasks and writing about how to use survival items on a desert island. Students start by completing...

ESL Second Conditional Worksheet - Grammar Exercises: Gap-fill, Unscrambling, Matching, Writing Sentences In this useful second conditional worksheet, students practice the second conditional by completing controlled tasks and writing about how to use survival items on a desert island. Students start by completing second conditional sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Next, students put words in the correct order to make second conditional sentences, starting with an if-clause. Students then match eight objects to pictures. After that, students read a hypothetical situation, which explains that they are stranded on a desert island with eight objects. Students then use the second conditional to say what they would do with each of the objects to help them survive, e.g. 'If I had a mirror, I would use it to reflect the sun and make a fire.' Lastly, students imagine what four items they would trade if they met someone else on the island, e.g. 'If someone had a lighter, I would trade it for my flashlight.'
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What would you do?

Intermediate (B1) 30 minutes
ESL second conditional activity for intermediate B1: sentence completion, asking and answering, pair practice

ESL Second Conditional Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Sentence Completion, Asking and Answering Questions, Freer Practice - Pair Work

In this insightful second conditional activity, students complete second conditional sentences about hypothetical situations and use them to ask and answer...

ESL Second Conditional Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Sentence Completion, Asking and Answering Questions from Prompts, Freer Practice - Pair Work In this insightful second conditional activity, students complete second conditional sentences about hypothetical situations and use them to ask and answer questions with a partner. Students begin by completing second conditional sentences about what they would do in certain hypothetical situations, e.g. 'If I lived to be 100 years old, I would write my life story.' Next, in pairs, students take turns asking their partner what they would do in each situation, e.g. 'What would you do if you lived to be 100 years old?' Their partner replies by making a second conditional sentence, and the other student writes the answer on the worksheet in the third person, e.g. 'If Adam lived to be 100 years old, he would bake a really big birthday cake.' Finally, students share what they found out about their partner with the class.
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What would you do if...?

Intermediate (B1) 30 minutes
ESL second conditional activity for intermediate B1: forming, asking and answering, group discussion

ESL Second Conditional Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Forming, Asking and Answering Questions, Writing Sentences

In this interesting second conditional activity, activity, students ask classmates what they would do in various hypothetical situations and then write a sentence reporting each person's answer using the...

ESL Second Conditional Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Forming, Asking and Answering Questions, Writing Sentences, Controlled and Freer Practice In this interesting second conditional activity, activity, students ask classmates what they would do in various hypothetical situations and then write a sentence reporting each person's answer using the second conditional. Give each student a card. Students then stand up and ask another student what they would do in the situation on their card, e.g. 'What would you do if you won the lottery?' Students then write a second conditional sentence about the person's answer using the classmate's name and third person, e.g. 'If Alex won the lottery, he would buy a Lamborghini.' After that, students exchange their cards with a classmate and repeat the process. This continues until everybody has written at least ten sentences. Afterwards, students say what their classmates would do in the different situations.
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If we didn't have...

Upper-intermediate (B2) 35 minutes
ESL second conditional game for upper-intermediate B2: describing, guessing, group practice

ESL Second Conditional Game - Grammar and Speaking: Describing, Forming Sentences, Guessing - Group Work

In this second conditional guessing game, students describe life without different items or concepts and classmates guess what they are. In groups, students take turns picking up a card and making second...

ESL Second Conditional Game - Grammar and Speaking: Describing, Forming Sentences, Guessing - Group Work In this second conditional guessing game, students describe life without different items or concepts and classmates guess what they are. In groups, students take turns picking up a card and making second conditional sentences about what life would be like without the thing on the card, using structures on the board and giving up to three descriptions without saying what it is. When a group member correctly guesses the thing being described, they win and keep the card. If no one manages to guess correctly after three descriptions, the student who is describing keeps the card. Therefore, students shouldn't make their descriptions too easy to guess. The student with the most cards at the end of the game is the winner.
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Metaphorical Madness

Upper-intermediate (B2) 50 minutes
ESL second conditional game for upper-intermediate B2: matching, writing metaphors, group guessing

ESL Second Conditional Game - Grammar: Matching, Writing Sentences, Guessing - Group Work

In this imaginative second conditional game, students create metaphors using the second conditional and then play a team guessing game based on their metaphors. First, teams match 20 classmates to...

ESL Second Conditional Game - Grammar: Matching, Writing Sentences from Prompts, Guessing - Group Work In this imaginative second conditional game, students create metaphors using the second conditional and then play a team guessing game based on their metaphors. First, teams match 20 classmates to categories. Students then think of something specific belonging to the category that describes each person, writing a reason for their choice. For example, a team might describe Jane as a building and specifically as a library because she loves to read. Next, students write each metaphor in the second conditional, putting an X where the student's name should be, and using 'they' as the pronoun, e.g. 'If X were a building, they would be a library because they love to read.' Teams then read their metaphors to another team. The other team listens to each metaphor and completes the answer sheet by writing the specific example and reason next to the category. The team then tries to identify the person described. If the team guesses correctly, they score a point. Afterwards, the teams swap roles. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.
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Second Conditional Election

Upper-intermediate (B2) 40 minutes
ESL second conditional election activity for upper-intermediate B2: writing, responding, group role-play

ESL Second Conditional Activity - Grammar, Writing and Speaking: Writing Sentences, Making and Responding to Statements, Freer Practice - Group Work

In this memorable second conditional activity, students form a political party, develop policy proposals, and present what they would do if elected, then respond to...

ESL Second Conditional Activity - Grammar, Writing and Speaking: Writing Sentences, Making and Responding to Statements, Freer Practice - Group Work In this memorable second conditional activity, students form a political party, develop policy proposals, and present what they would do if elected, then respond to counterarguments from the class. First, groups plan their policies by answering ten questions in the second conditional, e.g. 'If we were elected, we would...' The questions are based on the environment, education, health, politics, crime and punishment. When the groups have finished, they present their policies to the class, saying what they would do if they were elected, using the second conditional. As the class listens to each presentation, students may offer up to two counterarguments in total about possible negative consequences, phrased as second conditional statements. The presenting group and the class then have a brief debate, after which there is a quick show of hands to decide who made the stronger case. When all the groups have presented, the class votes for the party they would elect.
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Would you...?

Upper-intermediate (B2) 35 minutes
ESL second conditional activity for upper-intermediate B2: completing, asking and answering, moral dilemmas, discussion

ESL Second Conditional Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Completing, Asking and Answering Questions, Discussion, Freer and Communicative Practice - Group Work

In this free second conditional speaking activity, students complete and ask second conditional questions about hypothetical situations and moral dilemmas...

ESL Second Conditional Activity - Grammar and Speaking: Completing, Asking and Answering Questions, Discussion, Freer and Communicative Practice - Group Work In this free second conditional speaking activity, students complete and ask second conditional questions about hypothetical situations and moral dilemmas, discuss their answers, and agree on a group response. Students take turns picking up a card and completing the question with the second conditional, e.g. 'If you didn't like the way your partner dressed, would you tell them?' The student then asks the group members the question. Each group member answers in turn, giving explanations or justifications as needed. Students then discuss the hypothetical situation or moral dilemma and come up with a group answer that they think would be best for the situation. The student who drew the card writes the agreed group answer on the back. When the groups have finished, go through each second conditional question and have the groups tell the class their answers.
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Understanding the Second Conditional

The second conditional uses 'if' + past simple in the condition clause and 'would' + base verb in the result clause. It describes imaginary or unlikely situations in the present or future, so students who write 'If it rains tomorrow, I would stay home' are mixing first and second conditional structures, which changes the meaning from hypothetical to genuinely possible.

This page covers the second conditional across B1 and B2 levels, with twelve resources including games, worksheets, and speaking activities, three of which are available as free downloads.

The table below shows the core structural forms of the second conditional across common sentence types.

FormIf ClauseMain ClauseExample
Positive statement if + subject + past simple subject + would + base verb 'If I had more time, I would learn Spanish.'
Negative if-clause if + subject + didn't + base verb subject + would + base verb 'If she didn't work so much, she would travel more.'
Negative main clause if + subject + past simple subject + wouldn't + base verb 'If he called, I wouldn't answer.'
Yes/No question if + subject + past simple would + subject + base verb...? 'If you won the lottery, would you quit your job?'
Wh-question if + subject + past simple wh-word + would + subject + base verb? 'If you could live anywhere, where would you live?'
Alternative modal if + subject + past simple subject + could/might + base verb 'If I had a car, I could drive you to the airport.'

When to Use the Second Conditional

Softening a Request: Writers and speakers choose the second conditional when they want to make a request sound less direct or demanding, as the hypothetical framing creates polite distance, for example 'If you had a moment, would you mind checking this for me?'

Giving Personal Advice: When someone wants to offer advice without sounding like they are telling another person what to do, the second conditional frames the suggestion as a personal perspective rather than a command, for example 'If I were you, I would talk to your manager about it.'

Exploring Hypothetical Possibilities: Speakers use the second conditional to open up speculative conversations about things that are unlikely or currently impossible, making it a natural choice in creative or philosophical discussions, for example 'If humans could breathe underwater, how would our cities be different?'

3-Step Framework for Teaching the Second Conditional

1. Ground the Form with Controlled Practice: Start with a structured worksheet that takes students through the full range of exercise types: matching sentence halves, unscrambling words into correct order, gap-fill, and sentence completion using their own ideas. Finish with something that makes the grammar personal: students secretly pick an animal, imagine they are that animal, and use the second conditional to answer questions about their animal life before a partner tries to guess what they are.

2. Build Fluency with a Board Game: Move students into freer production by putting the grammar into a board game format. The moment that sharpens output is the blank 'If' square: when a student lands on it, they create their own second conditional sentence from scratch, then sustain a response for 20 seconds to earn the extra point. That time pressure is what pushes students past safe, one-clause answers.

3. Push into Extended Production with a Role-Play: Take students to upper-intermediate level by giving them a genuine purpose for producing the second conditional at length. Groups form a political party and draft policy proposals by answering ten questions in the second conditional, including 'If we were elected, we would...' When they present to the class, other students may offer up to two counterarguments, also phrased as second conditional statements, before a class vote decides which group made the stronger case.

Common Mistakes with the Second Conditional

Using 'would' in the If Clause: Students often put 'would' in the if-clause as well as the main clause, perhaps because it seems logical to use the conditional word in both parts of the sentence. Wrong: 'If I would have more money, I would travel the world.' Correct: 'If I had more money, I would travel the world.'

Using 'was' Instead of 'were': Students often use 'was' with all subjects in the if-clause, including I, he, she, and it, because it follows normal past tense rules, but formal and written English requires 'were' for all persons in the second conditional. Wrong: 'If she was the president, she would change the law.' Correct: 'If she were the president, she would change the law.'

Common Questions About Teaching the Second Conditional

What is a fun game for practicing the second conditional?

The game 20 Questions in the Second Conditional gives students a structured warm-up for speaking. Students complete each if-clause on question strips and form a second conditional question with would + subject + base verb. In groups, they read the question aloud and give the strip to whoever gave the best answer. The student with the most strips wins.

What is a good second conditional activity for moral dilemmas?

The free activity Would you...? is a strong choice for exploring moral dilemmas through the second conditional. Students complete questions about hypothetical situations, discuss their answers, and agree on a shared group response. The student who drew the card writes the group's agreed answer on the back.

What is a useful worksheet for teaching the second conditional?

A survival scenario makes the second conditional feel purposeful. The worksheet Stranded on a Desert Island has students write what they would do with eight objects to survive, for example, 'If I had a mirror, I would use it to reflect the sun and make a fire.' Controlled gap-fill exercises build the correct form first.

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