Loading…
Teaching or studying this?
All lesson plans
Lesson planB150 minsNew. New: checked automatically for level, grammar, facts and originality; a teacher's review is still to come. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
If I Were You: the second conditional for advice
Students use the second conditional to give advice and talk about situations that aren't real, then write a reply to a friend facing a difficult decision.
Second conditional · Advice · Opinions
Or download everything as a ZIP (2 PDFs)This lesson plan and its PDFs are free.
Plan at a glance
Aims
- Use second conditional accurately
- Learn and use 13 words and phrases in 2 sets: Giving advice and opinions, Problems and solutions
- Read for detail: Ask Ella
- Writing task: some advice
Stages · 50 min
- 5 minLead-in: Pairs talk about opinions and share ideas with the class.
- 5 minVocabulary: Ex. 1
- 5 minLanguage focus: Go through the grammar notes together and check understanding.
- 5 minControlled practice: Ex. 2
- 5 minVocabulary: Ex. 3
- 5 minAccuracy practice: Ex. 4
- 10 minReading: Ex. 5
- 10 minWriting: Ex. 6
Printables
Click a page to preview it, download it or open it in a new tab.
Download all (ZIP, 2 PDFs)Grammar notes
The second conditional
- If + past simple, would + verb: If I had more time, I would learn the piano.
- Use it for situations that aren't real or are unlikely, now or in the future.
- You can start with either part: I'd learn the piano if I had more time.
Giving advice
- If I were you, I'd talk to your manager.
- With be, were is used for all persons (If I were, if she were). In informal English, people also say If I was you.
First or second conditional?
- First (real, likely): If it rains tomorrow, we'll stay at home.
- Second (not real, unlikely): If I won a lot of money, I'd stop working.
- Don't use would in the if-part: If I had (not would have) a car…
Study tips
- Think of three problems your friends have. Give advice with If I were you, I'd…
- Compare: If I see Tom, I'll tell him (I might see him) and If I saw Tom, I'd tell him (I probably won't).
Glossary
- Giving advice and opinions7 items
- Problems and solutions6 items
Complete the exercises, then check your answers.
1
Advice and opinions
Choose the correct word or phrase.
- a
I ___ you to wait until Monday before you decide.
- b
In the meeting, Sam ___: "Why don't we start at nine instead of eight?"
- c
I'm sorry, but I ___ with you. I think it's a bad idea.
- d
Since my best friend moved away, I've felt very ___.
- e
We need to ___ to this problem before Friday.
- f
My grandad likes being ___ — he enjoys the peace and quiet.
- g
The news about the factory closing is very ___ for the workers.
2
What would you do?
Write the correct form of the verb in brackets.
- a
If I (have) more free time, I'd learn to play the piano.
- b
If I were you, I (talk) to your manager about it.
- c
What would you do if your best friend (ask) you to lie for them?
- d
If she (not / live) so far away, we'd see her more often.
- e
I (not / accept) the job if I were you — the salary is too low.
- f
If I (be) you, I'd say sorry.
- g
Would you move abroad if you (get) a good job offer?
3
Word formation
Use the word in capitals to make a word that fits the gap.
- a
Choosing between the two jobs was a really difficult .
DECIDE - b
My aunt always gives me good when I have a problem.
ADVISE - c
, I don't think it's a good idea to lend him money.
HONEST - d
If you practised more, you'd be more .
SUCCESS - e
It's to finish all this work by tomorrow — there's too much!
POSSIBLE - f
I'd feel very if I had to speak in front of 200 people.
COMFORT
4
Find and correct the mistake
Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correction: the corrected word(s) or the whole sentence.
- a
If I would have more money, I would buy a new car.
- b
If I were you, I will talk to your teacher.
- c
If we lived nearer, we visit you more often.
- d
I would be happier if I would work fewer hours.
- e
I want to do a complaint.
- f
I'm thinking about to change jobs.
- g
I am agree with you.
5
Read: Ask Ella
Read the letters. Are the sentences true, false or not given?
Dear Ella, A company in another city has offered me a job. The salary is much higher and the company is famous, but I would have to leave my friends and family. My parents think I should go. I'm worried that I would feel alone there. What would you do? Ben Dear Ben, If I were you, I would make a list. Write down everything you would gain and everything you would lose. If the new job made you happier in the future, it would be worth moving. You could also ask the company if you can work from home two days a week. Then you wouldn't need to leave your friends completely. Whatever you decide, don't make the decision in a hurry. Good luck! Ella
- a
Ben's new job would pay more money.
- b
Ben's parents want him to stay at home.
- c
Ben has visited the new city before.
- d
Ella thinks Ben should make a list.
- e
Ella says Ben must decide quickly.
6
Write: some advice
Write a reply giving advice.
A friend has a difficult decision to make: moving abroad, changing jobs, or something else. Write a reply giving advice (6–8 sentences). Use the second conditional and If I were you… Word box: advise · make a suggestion · disagree · lonely · find a solution · alone · worrying · decision Example: If I were you, I'd talk to your family first. If you moved abroad, you would miss them, but you would also have amazing new experiences.
Suggested minimum: 70 words
0 words · aim for at least 70
Spotted a mistake in this lesson?· tell us the exercise and item
Revise with a game
This lesson's own words and questions. Play on your own, or in teams on the classroom screen.
- Step UpAnswer the lesson's questions to climb to the top.
- Pair UpMatch the lesson's words to their meanings against the clock.
- SnapA word and a meaning: do they go together? Answer fast.
- Fix ItFind the mistake in each sentence, then correct it.
- Quiz BoardTeams choose questions worth 100 to 500 points.
- Retro arcadeWord Invaders, Word Snake, Word Maze and Word Crossing: classic arcade games with the lesson's words.
Glossary
The 13 words and phrases this lesson teaches, in 2 sets.
Giving advice and opinions
- advise
- to tell someone what you think they should do
- make a suggestion
- to give an idea about what someone could do
- agree
- to have the same opinion as someone else
- disagree
- to have a different opinion from someone else
- think about
- to use your mind to consider something before you decide
- If I were you
- a polite way to give advice: If I were you, I'd talk to her.
- advice
- an opinion about what someone should do (a noun; the verb is advise)
Problems and solutions
- find a solution
- to discover a way to solve a problem
- decision
- a choice you make after thinking about it
- make a complaint
- to tell someone that you are not happy about something
- worrying
- making you think that something bad might happen
- alone
- without other people
- lonely
- sad because you have no friends or people to talk to
How was this lesson plan?
One tap helps other teachers find the best lessons, and helps us improve them.