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Level 3Week 27GrammarSpeakingWriting

What would you do? Second conditional dilemmas

Students read three short dilemmas from a teen advice page, discuss what they would do using the second conditional, and write a reply with "If I were you".

Ages 11 to 14B160 minutesChecked 7 November 2026

At a glance

From
Level 3, Bridge English: Week 27, Imagine if...
Grammar
second conditional; If I were you
Key language
If I found a wallet, I would take it to the police. / What would you do if...? / If I were you, I'd... / I wouldn't... because...
Children make
Discussion of three dilemmas and an 80-word advice reply.
Class size
Works with 10 to 50 children; pair and group steps say how to scale.

Objective

Students use the second conditional to talk about imaginary or unlikely situations and give advice with "If I were you".

Success criteria for children

  • I can form the second conditional correctly.
  • I know the difference between a real and an imaginary situation.
  • I can give advice with "If I were you".

Timing: 60 minutes

MinutesStageWhat happens
0 to 5Warm-up: would you rather?Quick choices: fly or be invisible? Students explain.
5 to 17Form and meaningIf + past simple, would + verb; first vs second conditional.
17 to 25PracticeTask 1: complete the second conditional.
25 to 35Reading: Dear SamRead three dilemmas; answer questions.
35 to 48DiscussionGroups discuss what they would do and agree on advice for each.
48 to 60Writing and exit ticketReply to one letter; exit ticket.

Materials

Step by step, with teacher talk

0 to 5 minWarm-up: would you rather?

  1. Ask "Would you rather fly or be invisible?" Students move to two sides of the room (or raise left or right hand) and one from each side explains.

5 to 17 minForm and meaning

  1. Write: "If I had a million pounds, I would build a skate park." Underline had and would. Ask: "Do I have a million pounds?"
  2. Contrast: "If it rains, I'll take an umbrella" (real and possible) with "If it rained chocolate, I'd take a bucket" (imaginary).
  3. Show "If I were you": we use were for all persons in this phrase.
Concept-check questions
  • "If I had a dog, I'd walk it every day." Have I got a dog? (No.)
  • Is the situation now or in the past? (Now or the future: it is imaginary, not past.)
  • "If I would have..." Correct? (No. If I had...)

17 to 25 minPractice

  1. Students do task 1 alone, then check with a partner.

25 to 35 minReading: Dear Sam

  1. Students read the three letters and answer the questions. Check that everyone understands each problem before discussing.

35 to 48 minDiscussion

  1. In fours, students say what they would do for each dilemma. Everyone must use would at least twice.
  2. Each group chooses its best advice for one letter and reads it to the class with "If I were you, I'd..."
Teacher talk

"There are no wrong opinions, but give a reason. What would you do, and why?"

48 to 60 minWriting and exit ticket

  1. Students write an 80-word reply in task 3, then the exit ticket below.

Differentiation

Support

  • Give the reply a frame: "Dear ___, I'm sorry you feel... If I were you, I'd... I wouldn't... because..."
  • Discuss two of the three dilemmas only.

Stretch

  • Use "might" and "could" in the result: "If I were you, I might talk to..."
  • Write a new dilemma for another group to answer.
  • Compare with the third conditional: "If I had known, I would have..." (preview).

Reading passage

Invented letters written for this lesson.

Reading passage: Dear Sam: your problems, our advice

1. My best friend has started copying my homework every morning. She says she's too busy at home. If I said no, she would be angry with me. But if a teacher noticed, we would both get into trouble. What should I do? Lena, 13

2. I found a phone on the bus yesterday. It isn't locked and there are lots of messages arriving. My brother says I should keep it because nobody would know. I don't feel right about it. Dev, 12

3. I want to try out for the school play, but I'm really nervous about singing in front of people. If I didn't get a part, I'd feel embarrassed. But if I don't try, I'll never know. Ellie, 14

Questions

  1. Why does Lena's friend copy her homework?
  2. What does Lena think would happen if she said no?
  3. What does Dev's brother think he should do?
  4. Why is Ellie nervous?
  5. Find a first conditional sentence in letter 3. Why is it first, not second?

Printable worksheet

Prints on its own A4 page. Use Print the worksheet above, or print the whole plan and the worksheet starts on a new page. One copy per child, or one per pair to save paper.

Litlings Free English · Level 3 · Week 27NameDate

What would you do?

1. Complete with the second conditional.

  1. If I (find) a wallet in the street, I (take) it to the police.
  2. If my friend (copy) my homework, I (tell) her to stop.
  3. What you (do) if you (see) a ghost?
  4. If I (be) you, I (try) out for the play.
  5. She (not / feel) nervous if she (practise) more.

2. Real or imaginary? Write F (first conditional) or S (second conditional), then finish the sentence.

  1. If it's sunny on Saturday,
  2. If I could speak to animals,
  3. If I were the head teacher,
  4. If I finish my homework early tonight,

3. Choose one letter. Write a reply of about 80 words.

Dear ,

Free to copy for classroom use.english.litlings.com/lesson-plans/second-conditional-dilemmas-lesson/

Answer key

Reading passage questions

  1. She says she is too busy at home.
  2. Her friend would be angry with her.
  3. Keep the phone, because nobody would know.
  4. She is worried about singing in front of people.
  5. "If I don't try, I'll never know." It is a real possibility she is thinking about.

Worksheet

  • 1: found, would take; copied, would tell; would ... do, saw; were, would try; wouldn't feel, practised.
  • 2: F (I'll go to the beach); S (I'd ask my cat...); S (I'd...); F (I'll...). Endings will vary; check will after first and would after second.
  • 3: answers will vary. Check "If I were you, I'd..." and a reason.

Exit ticket

Write: one thing you would do if you were invisible for a day, and one piece of advice for Dev starting "If I were you".

Homework

Ask two people at home what they would do in one of the three dilemmas. Write their answers in English using "would".

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Sources and free resources
  • Level 3, Week 27: Imagine if... (the curriculum week this plan comes from)
  • All reading texts, dialogues, scripts, worksheets and answer keys on this page are original to Litlings and free to copy for classroom use.