Warm-up
Dreams and Wishes
If I could… what would I do? Wishes, imagination and choices
Today’s grammar
Talk first
- If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
- What is your biggest dream?
- What would you do with a free day?
After this lesson you will be able to...
- Talk about imaginary situations with the second conditional.
- Use wish to talk about things you would like to be different.
- Give advice with If I were you, I’d…
- Share dreams and hopes.
Vocabulary
Words to learn
| a dream | мрія, сон My dream is to visit Japan. |
| a wish | бажання Make a wish! |
| imagine | уявляти Imagine you are on a beach. |
| to win | вигравати If I won a lot of money, I’d travel. |
| rich | багатий I’d like to be rich. |
| brave | сміливий You are very brave. |
| impossible | неможливий It’s not impossible. |
| a chance | шанс, нагода I got a chance to travel. |
Grammar
Second conditional
We use the second conditional for imaginary or unlikely situations in the present or future. Form: If + past simple, would + base verb. If I had a lot of money, I would travel the world. If I lived by the sea, I would listen to the waves every day.
We can also say “If I were…” for all persons: If I were you, I would call her. “Would” can be shortened: I’d, you’d, she’d. Question: What would you do if you won a lot of money?
| If I had a lot of money, I would travel the world. |
| If I lived by the sea, I would listen to the waves every day. |
| What would you do if you were famous? |
| If I were you, I’d call her. |
Wish + past simple
We use “wish” + past simple to talk about things we would like to be different now: I wish I had more time. I wish I lived near the sea. I wish I could play the guitar.
After wish we often use “were” for all persons: I wish I were taller. (a polite and common form). It is not about the past: it is about now.
| I wish I had more free time. |
| I wish I could play the guitar. |
| She wishes she lived near the sea. |
| I wish it were summer now. |
First or second conditional?
FIRST conditional is for real possibilities: If it rains tomorrow, I will stay at home (it can really happen). SECOND conditional is for imaginary or unlikely situations: If I won a million, I would buy a house (not very likely).
To decide: Is it really possible? Use will. Is it only imagination? Use would.
| If I have time tomorrow, I will call you. |
| If I had a time machine, I would visit the past. |
| If it snows, we will stay at home. |
| If I were a bird, I would fly everywhere. |
Speaking
Easy — warm up your speaking
- Do you have a dream?
- Do you like to imagine things?
- Would you like to be rich?
- Do you want to travel?
- Where would you like to live?
- What is your favourite dream place?
- Do you make wishes on your birthday?
- Do you remember your dreams at night?
- Would you like to be famous?
- Do you sometimes daydream?
- Who would you like to meet?
- What would you like to learn?
Medium — say more
- What would you do if you won a lot of money?
- What would you do if you could fly?
- Where would you live if you could choose any place?
- What would you do if you had one free day?
- What do you wish you could do?
- What do you wish you had?
- If you could speak any language, which would it be?
- If you could meet any person, who would you meet?
- What would you say to your 10-year-old self?
- If you had a time machine, where would you go?
- What would you do if you were the leader of your country?
- If you could change one thing in your life, what would it be?
Deeper — explain and give reasons
- Why are dreams important?
- Is it good to dream big? Explain.
- What stops people from following their dreams?
- What would the world be like if everyone were kind?
- Do you think all dreams can come true?
- How do you decide what to do with your life?
- Would you rather be happy or rich? Why?
- If you could live for 200 years, would you want to?
More questions
- What would you buy if you had a million euros?
- Where would you go if you had a week off?
- What would you do if you lost your phone?
- What would you do if you won a trip?
- If you could have any job, what would it be?
- If you could talk to an animal, which would you choose?
- What do you wish for in the new year?
- Do you wish you lived in another country?
- What would you do if the internet stopped?
- If you met a famous person, what would you say?
- Would you live on the moon if you could?
- What would you cook if you were a famous chef?
Opinions and what-ifs
- Do you think imagining things helps us in real life?
- Would you rather travel in time or in space?
- What if you could see the future?
- Is it better to have one big dream or many small ones?
- Which is better: having a lot of money or a lot of time?
- Would you like to be invisible?
- If you had a superpower, what would it be?
- What advice would you give to someone who has lost their dream?