Imaginary Situations & Dreams
Let's talk about imaginary situations - things that are NOT real but fun to imagine!
Answer these questions:
Compare your REAL life with your DREAM life!
I live in a small apartment.
(This is TRUE)
If I were rich, I would live in a big house!
(This is IMAGINARY)
I work in an office.
(This is TRUE)
If I could choose, I would travel the world!
(This is IMAGINARY)
Discuss with your teacher:
Look at the grammar:
We're talking about IMAGINARY situations!
Complete these sentences about YOUR life:
Click on each example to see the explanation!
If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.
(But I haven't won the lottery - this is IMAGINARY!)
In second conditional, use "WERE" for all persons!
✅ If I were rich... (not "was")
✅ If he were here... (not "was")
✅ If she were the boss... (not "was")
Note: In casual speech, some people say "If I was" but "If I were" is more correct for second conditional.
| Feature | First Conditional | Second Conditional |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | If + present, will + verb | If + past, would + verb |
| Use | Real future possibilities | Imaginary/unlikely situations |
| Probability | Likely to happen | Unlikely or impossible |
| Time | Future | Present/Future (imaginary) |
| Example | "If it rains, I will stay home." | "If I were rich, I would travel." |
| Meaning | It might rain (possible) | I'm NOT rich (imaginary) |
1. "If I time tomorrow, I visit you." (Real possibility)
2. "If I a bird, I fly." (Impossible)
3. "If she harder, she pass." (Advice - she doesn't study hard)
4. "If it tomorrow, we the picnic." (Real weather possibility)
5. "If I you, I apologize." (Giving advice)
6. "If I the lottery, I a house." (Very unlikely)
What's the difference in meaning?
First: "If I get the job, I will move to London." (I applied, it's possible)
Second: "If I got the job, I would move to London." (I didn't apply, just imagining)
Click on each dream to discuss it with your teacher!
If you won $10 million...
If you had a superpower...
If you could time travel...
If you could live anywhere...
If you could meet anyone...
If you were president...
Describe your perfect imaginary life:
Imagine you're stranded on a desert island!
If you were alone on a desert island, you could only take 5 items with you. What would you choose?
Discuss with your teacher:
For cutting, building, protection
To avoid boredom
To make fire
To catch fish
To call for help
For shelter
For entertainment
First aid kit
If you found a bottle with a genie, what three wishes would you make?
If you could bring one skill, what would it be?
If there were wild animals, how would you protect yourself?
Explain your complete survival strategy:
Random hypothetical questions! Click for a random scenario!
Click the button above to get your random "What if?" question!
Read these problems and give advice:
"I have two job offers. One pays more but is boring. The other is interesting but pays less."
Your advice: "If I were you, I would..."
"My best friend borrowed money and never paid me back. Now they want to borrow more."
Your advice: "If I were you, I would..."
"I want to quit my job and travel the world, but everyone says it's too risky."
Your advice: "If I were you, I would..."
Think of an interesting hypothetical question and discuss it with your teacher!
Examples:
| Conditional | Structure | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | If + present, will + verb | Real future possibilities | "If it rains, I will stay home." |
| Second | If + past, would + verb | Imaginary/unlikely situations | "If I were rich, I would travel." |
❌ WRONG: "If I would have time, I would go."
✅ RIGHT: "If I had time, I would go." (past simple after "if", not "would"!)
❌ WRONG: "If I was rich, I would travel."
✅ RIGHT: "If I were rich, I would travel." (use "were" for all persons)
❌ WRONG: "If I had time, I will go."
✅ RIGHT: "If I had time, I would go." (would, not will!)
Ask yourself: "Is this real or imaginary?"
Describe your imaginary perfect life using second conditional:
Check your student review document for:
Next lesson: Lesson 16 - Third Conditional
You'll learn to talk about past regrets and alternative histories!