If I Had a Superpower: The Second Conditional

Learning Objectives

• Form second conditional sentences with if + past simple and would + base verb, including questions and negatives.
• Use If I were you to give advice, and use could and might in the result clause.
• Choose between the first and second conditional depending on whether a situation is real or imaginary.

How to Use This Resource

• Open with slide 1: ask "If you had a superpower, what would it be?" and write three answers on the board.
• Teach the form, were, advice, could/might and the first vs. second conditional with the slides, checking each step with the matching worksheet activity.
• Run the dilemma discussion, then use the quiz to check learning and set the homework. Answers are in the answer key.

Classroom Activity Ideas

• Dilemma cards: groups discuss situations such as "What would you do if you found a wallet full of money?" and agree on the best answer.
• Advice column: students write problems on slips of paper; partners answer with "If I were you, I'd...".
• Chain story: "If I won a trip to space, I'd..."; each student adds an imaginary consequence.

Differentiation

Support: give sentence frames (If I had ___, I would ___.) and a list of past simple forms, and practise affirmative sentences before questions. Challenge: use could and might, write a short persuasive paragraph ("If I were president of my country..."), and compare with the third conditional.

Assessment

Worksheet activities and the quiz check form, were, advice and choosing first or second conditional (answer key included). The dilemma discussion and homework writing are marked with the four-level rubric.

Teacher Tips

Draw a line on the board from "real and possible" to "imaginary and unlikely". Place first conditional sentences on the left and second conditional on the right. Stress that the past simple in the if-clause does not refer to the past; it shows distance from reality.

What's Included

• 12-page printable PDF lesson pack: teacher lesson plan with timings, materials and differentiation
• Key vocabulary list (7 words with meanings and examples)
• Student worksheet (6 activities)
• Quiz / assessment (3 parts)
• Homework practice page
• Printable flashcards: 7 A5 picture cards (separate PDF)
• Assessment rubric (4 levels)
• Lesson slides (editable PowerPoint)
• Editable Word version of all student pages
• Complete answer key (also as a separate PDF)

Additional Files

• Lesson Slides (PPTX)
• Editable Student Pages and Lesson Plan (DOCX)
• A5 Flashcards (PDF)
• Answer Key (PDF)

Teacher Reviews