What Would You Do? — Second Conditional (B1 Grammar)

B1 - 2nd conditional

What Would You Do?

PICTURE

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"If I heard one bad thought — one! — I'd never forget it. Some doors, you don't open."

*if* + past simple, *would / could* · *If I were you...* · first vs second conditional

Listening

Speaking

LEAD-IN

First thought, no thinking time

Answer instinctively. What would you do if... ?

1. you found 500 euros in cash in a coat you bought second-hand

2. a stranger offered to pay you a year's salary to delete all your social media forever

3. you could see everything that would happen to you in your life

PICTURE

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BEFORE YOU LISTEN

The dilemma game

Three friends — Nadia, Kwame and Ruth — are playing a game of impossible questions.

LISTEN FOR

1. What are the three dilemmas?

2. Who gives the most honest answer?

PICTURE

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LISTENING

Tapescript: "What would you do?"

Three friends playing a game

NADIA OK, next one. If you found your best friend's partner on a dating app, would you tell them?

KWAME Instantly. I'd take a screenshot, I'd send it, done.

RUTH No, you wouldn't. Everyone says that, but nobody actually does it. If I saw that, I'd talk to the partner first. I'd give them a chance to explain.

KWAME A chance to lie, you mean.

RUTH It could be an old profile! If you sent that screenshot and you were wrong, you'd destroy a relationship for nothing.

NADIA Interesting. OK, harder one. If your company offered you double your salary to move to another country tomorrow — no partner, no friends, nobody — would you go?

RUTH Double? I'd go tonight. I wouldn't even pack properly.

KWAME See, I wouldn't. Money isn't the problem in my life. If I moved away from everyone I love, I'd be rich and miserable. What would I spend it on — video calls?

NADIA That's surprisingly deep for you.

KWAME I have depths.

NADIA Last one, and be honest. If you could read your partner's mind for one day — just one — would you do it?

KWAME No. Absolutely not. No no no.

RUTH That was very fast, Kwame.

KWAME Because I know myself! If I heard one bad thought — one! — I'd never forget it. Some doors, you don't open.

RUTH I'd do it. If the relationship were strong, one day of honesty wouldn't break it. And if it broke it... well, then I'd know something important, wouldn't I?

NADIA You two are so different. If I were you, Ruth, I wouldn't share that answer with your husband.

RUTH Oh, he knows. He said if he could read my mind, he'd resign from it after an hour. Too much traffic.

COMPREHENSION

Listen again. Kwame (K), Ruth (R) or Nadia (N)?

1. Would send the screenshot immediately. ______

2. Would speak to the partner privately first. ______

3. Would accept the job abroad without hesitating. ______

4. Thinks money wouldn't fix their life. ______

5. Would refuse to read a partner's mind. ______

6. Gives Ruth some advice at the end. ______

GRAMMAR FOCUS

Imagining another life

a) If you found your best friend's partner on a dating app, would you tell them?

b) If I moved away from everyone I love, I'd be rich and miserable.

c) If the relationship were strong, one day of honesty wouldn't break it.

d) It could be an old profile. / If he could read my mind, he'd resign.

e) If I were you, Ruth, I wouldn't share that answer.

f) My ideal Sunday would be phone-free.

1. Has anyone in this conversation actually found a friend's partner on a dating app? Are these situations real or imaginary?

2. What tense follows if? What form goes in the other clause? Does that past tense refer to past time?

3. In (c), Ruth says if the relationship were strong. Can we use were with I / he / she / it? Is was possible informally?

4. What does could replace in (d)? What fixed phrase in (e) gives advice?

5. In (f) there is no if clause at all. Can would stand alone when the imaginary situation is understood?

6. First or second? If I have time, I'll help you vs If I had time, I'd help you. Which speaker thinks it is a real possibility?

THE RULES

Complete the rule

• Second conditional = if + past ________ , would(n't) / could + ________ — for hypothetical or imaginary present and future situations.

• If I ________ you... is the fixed phrase we use to give advice.

• First conditional = a real possibility. Second conditional = imagined, unlikely or impossible.

CAREFUL

The past form here is about distance from reality, not past time: If I had a boat means I don't have one now.

PRACTICE

First or second conditional? Complete with the correct form.

1. If I ________ (be) you, I'd delete the app and say nothing.

2. What ________ you ________ (do) if your boss read your private messages?

3. If you ________ (make) dinner tonight, I'll wash up. Deal?

4. He'd travel much more if he ________ (not have) a mortgage.

5. If we ________ (miss) the last train tonight, we'll just get a taxi.

6. I ________ (not say) that to her face unless I wanted a war. Nobody would.

7. If you could change one decision in your life, what ________ it ________ (be)?

8. She ________ (be) here by now if she were coming. Check your phone.

GAME

The dilemma circle

Now think of (and write down) 5 of your own 'What would you do if ... ?' dilemma questions.

• Answer your partner's questions honestly.

• Ask your partner your questions.

• Challenge each other: Really? So if ..., you'd ...?

PICTURE

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TEACHER'S REFERENCE · HIDE OR DELETE BEFORE CLASS

Answer key

GIST (1) telling a friend their partner is on a dating app; (2) doubling your salary to move abroad alone; (3) reading your partner's mind for a day. "Most honest" is for discussion — Kwame's instant no no no is a strong candidate.

COMPREHENSION 1 K · 2 R · 3 R · 4 K · 5 K · 6 N

GRAMMAR FOCUS 1 No — hypothetical. 2 Past simple after if; would(n't) + infinitive; it does NOT refer to past time. 3 Yes, were with all persons; was is possible informally, but If I were you is fixed. 4 could replaces would be able to / would possibly; If I were you... gives advice. 5 Yes — when the imaginary situation is understood. 6 The first speaker: first conditional = a real possibility.

RULE simple · infinitive · were

PRACTICE 1 were

2 would you do

3 make

4 didn't have

5 miss

6 wouldn't say

7 would it be

8 would be