Read and listen
A: Look at this. They didn’t charge us for the desserts.
B: Really? We’d better tell the waiter.
A: You think so?
B: Absolutely. If we didn’t tell him, it would be wrong.
I. Answer these questions
a) Do you think should they tell the waiter?
b) Do you think should they go out silently?
c) What do you do if you were the customer?
II. Read the following conditional sentences. Check () the ones that describe an
unreal condition (a condition is something that does not exist).
1. If we eat in a restaurant, I’ll pay the bill.
2. If you get a haircut, you can charge it to your room.
3. If he came home really late, his parents would worry.
4. If they sent me the wrong coat, I would return it.
5. If I were you, I’d tell the truth.
6. If they find valuable things on the street, they always try to find the owner.
The second conditional is used to talk
about things which are unreal (not true or
Writing and
not possible) in the present or the future.
grammar
If + past simple + would/could + base verb
USES EXAMPLES
Criticism If you got up earlier, you’d arrive on time.
Speculating If I had a million dollars, I’d travel around the world.
Advice If I were you, I would go to the doctor.
III. Take this second conditional
1. If I were a bird, I
a. will fly and see many places.
If I/he/she/it were is b. would fly and see many places.
more formal than If c. can fly and see many places.
I/he/she/it was. You always 2. If I were a computer, ...
use were in the fixed a. I will be very stupid.
expression if I were a rich b. I am very stupid.
man,… c. I would be very stupid.
3. If there were no police officers,...
a. there would be so much crime in the streets.
b. there will be so much crime in the streets.
c. there won’t be so much crime in the streets.
4. People would spend more time at home, if
a. there were no restaurants.
b. there are no restaurants.
c. there will be no restaurants.
5. If you saw a thief stealing,...
a. what would you do?
b. what are you do?
c. what are you doing?
6. If you were a colour,...
a. what colour will you be?
b. what colour would you be?
c. what colour are you be?
IV. Complete each unreal conditional sentence with the correct form of the verb.
1. If I _______(have) tickets, I _______(go) to the concert at the school auditorium.
2. If his father _______(get) angry, he ___________(take) off the earrings.
3. If the check _______(be) not correct, she ____________(not pay) it.
4. If they ________(receive) the wrong package, they __________(call) the mail-
order company.
5. If I __________(know) the best place to get my ears pierced, I _______(go)
there.
V. Complete the sentences.
1. If I ………… (earn) more money I would buy a new house.
2. If she ………… (not water) the plants, they would die.
3. If she wasn’t a good player, she …………… (not be) in the team.
4. I ………… (give) a party if I lived in a big house.
5. What ………… (you/do) if you won the lottery?
