What if cars could fly? (hypothetical situations)

Title separator

Grammar - Second Conditional

talking about hypothetical situations

This is a standalone lesson but it can also be used as part of the set titled:

Video 1 (ex. 2 & 5)

Video 2 (ex. 4)

LESSON OVERVIEW

Did your students study Second Conditional but still have a hard time talking about hypothetical situations in a grammatically correct manner? In this lesson they will get a lot of practice with two videos and speaking tasks designed to help them master the use of Second Conditional

B1 / Intermediate
B2 / Upper Intermediate
60 minStandard LessonPremium Plan

WARM-UP & VIDEOS

The lesson starts with a short warm-up task in which students read six sentences and decide which are hypothetical situations. Then, they watch the beginning of the first video and complete gaps to create questions in Second Conditional. They try to answer the questions, after which they watch the second video. In it, they see how a flying car works, so they compare the answers with their ideas. After that, students watch the rest of the first video and create questions by completing gaps with verbs. They also discuss some questions, as well as other ideas not related to the video. For instance, they need to say how people’s lives changed as a result of once hypothetical inventions becoming reality (e.g. video calls, drones, smartwatches). 

SPEAKING

In this part of the lesson, students look at a list of inventions and categorise them based on whether and when they think the inventions will be created (e.g. mind-reading machine, 3D food printer, robot butler). Then, they choose two of the inventions and need to write three hypothetical questions about them. They also ask each other the questions they wrote. After that, students will be talking about hypothetical situations (e.g. medicine can cure all diseases, invisibility cloaks are real) and discuss some aspects of life that would be different in these situations. Finally, students play a game.They receive a card with a word (e.g. sweets, the internet, plastic). They need to imagine a world without the item on your card and describe it to their partner. They also have to listen to your partner’s description and guess the word on their card. 

HOMEWORK/REVISION

This worksheet includes an additional task that you can use as homework or revision. In the task, students practise talking about hypothetical situations. It’s available in the teacher’s version of the worksheet. You can print it, cut it up and hand it out to your students. It’s also included in the e-lesson plan.

WORKSHEETS

Comments

Title separator

Leave a Reply

  1. youwillspeak

    Thanks for another great lesson plan! However, I think the topic on mixed conditionals would be much better in a non-business, general context. 🙂

    1. Ewa

      Thanks for your comment. This is a lesson on second conditional. We have a Business English lesson on mixed conditionals, so I’m assuming you mean you would like a version of that lesson for General English students? It’s a good suggestion, we will definetely consider it 🙂

  2. radberk

    Amazing !

    1. Ewa

      I’m glad you like it 🙂

  3. Dorothy_Duchnowska

    EXCELLENT SUBJECT !!! My Ss are amazed . Thx

    1. Ewa

      Thanks, Dorothy! I’m delighted to hear that 🙂

  4. EveSmith

    This is a wonderful lesson and love the thought-provoking questions at the end to practise the structure. Well done!!

    1. Ewa

      Thanks, Eve 🙂

Browse other materials recommended for you

Title separator
speaking lesson on posting online
B1 / Intermediate | B2 / Upper Intermediate
Speaking Class 45 min / 60 min

Think before you post

Global Issues Technology

Discuss the impact of posting videos online! Students talk about online content, privacy and consent. They watch a video segment about rules on filming in public and do a vocabulary task to practise useful phrases.

talking about translation
A2 / Pre‐Intermediate | B1 / Intermediate
Standard Lesson 60 min

Translation and tech

Technology

Engage in talking about translation with this lesson! Students practise phrases for discussing translation tools, watch a video about real-time translation on ChatGPT and read a text about a modern type of translation.

will and would for present and past habits
B2 / Upper Intermediate | C1 / Advanced
Standard Lesson 60 min

They just won’t stop playing!

Grammar Lifestyle

Talk about toys from a critical perspective in this lesson! Students review will and would for present and past habits, practise phrases for consumer behaviour and watch a video about the popular toy Labubu.

ESL lesson on farming
B1 / Intermediate | B2 / Upper Intermediate
Standard Lesson 60 min

Smart farming

Global Issues Technology

Discuss modern agriculture with this ESL lesson on farming! Students share their perspectives, watch a video excerpt on farming technology and review farming vocabulary.

using so and neither
B1 / Intermediate
Standard Lesson 60 min

Do you buy second-hand? So do I!

Grammar Lifestyle

Explore second-hand fashion with this lesson! Students watch a video about the second-hand clothing business, discuss their experiences and practise structures for agreeing with so, neither and auxiliary verbs.

ESL lesson on UI and UX
B1 / Intermediate
Vocabulary Lab 45 min / 60 min

How user-friendly is this app?

Technology

Learn UI/UX elements with this worksheet. Students practise vocabulary for website and app elements, follow instructions to perform actions on a website or app and discuss annoying UI/UX situations.

talking about how devices work
B2 / Upper Intermediate | C1 / Advanced
Standard Lesson 60 min

Do you know how this device works?

Technology

Students engage in talking about how devices work in this lesson! They practise action verbs for devices, watch a video on 3D food printing and imagine new devices to solve everyday problems.

have/get something done
B1 / Intermediate | B2 / Upper Intermediate
Standard Lesson 60 min

I will get it checked!

Grammar Lifestyle

Discuss everyday problems and ways to get them fixed! In this lesson, students practise the structure have/get something done. They watch a video about a repair café, describe photos and share their own experiences.

B1 / Intermediate
Critical Reading Club 45 min

Video calling

Business Technology

Get students talking about video calls with this Critical Reading Club lesson! They read an article about Skype shutting down, review vocabulary for videoconference issues and share opinions and experiences.

Show more lessons

Questions

Title separator

Is there a minimum subscription period if I choose a monthly subscription?

No, there's no minimum required number of subscription months. You can cancel any time you want. Basically, you can sign up and then cancel your subscription the next day, which will mean you have access for 1 month and won't be charged again.

What currencies can I pay in for my subscription?

Our default currency is USD (American dollar), but you can also pay in EUR (euro), GBP (British pound sterling) or PLN (Polish zloty). You can change the currency you want to pay in at the Pricing page before selecting a subscription plan.

How can I edit an e-lesson plan?

You can get your own editable copy of an e-lesson plan and make changes to it. To do so, either (1) make a copy of it on your Google Drive (preferable method) or (2) download it in a Powerpoint format (but formatting might be a bit off so we can’t guarantee that it will work well).
Read more FAQ
Title separator

ESL Brains

Forgot password?
or continue with
Title separator
Title separator
Close icon
Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of ESL Brains access!
Gift of ESL Brains access