1. If Adam had more money, he would stay longer

Icono IDevice Reading activity

 

Paco and Adam want to visit the rest of Dublin together. If they had more time, they would visit a few other places in the surroundings too. In the case of Adam, if he had more money, he would stay in Ireland longer. But this is the last stop in his journey around Europe and he has to go back to Australia.

One day, they decide they cannot leave Ireland without visiting Malahide Castle. It appears in all Dublin brochures and leaflets they have and it is not far, so they decide they shouldn't miss it. Thus, they take the train in the morning on the way to this beautiful seaside town.

Malahide Castle is one of the oldest and most remarkable castles in Ireland. For a very long time (1185-1975), it was the home of the Talbot family. Before this date, it belonged to the last Viking king in Dublin. In 1185, Richard Talbot was granted Malahide by the king of England Henry II.

Today the castle and its famous gardens belong to Dublin County Council in an attempt to preserve one of the most important castles in Ireland. There are many attractive rooms for the visitors, but another popular attraction is, undoubtedly, the presence of five ghosts.

Paco and Adam are excited about this new attraction. Will they meet any ghosts? If they found a ghost in the castle, Paco would be very frightened. Let's see what happens...

By M Kuhn, C. Commons


Identify the second conditional sentences that you can find in the text.


Self-Assessment activity
Read the text again and decide if these statements are true or false:


1. Adam can't stay in Dublin for longer because he has to be in Australia next week.

Verdadero Falso


2. Malahide is on the coast.
By Fergal OP, C. Commons

Verdadero Falso


3. Malahide Castle belongs to the Talbot family.

Verdadero Falso


4. Paco would be delighted to meet the ghosts.

Verdadero Falso
Icono de iDevice Reflexión

What is the structure of second conditional sentences?

  • If they had more time, they would visit a few other places in the surroundings too.
  • In the case of Adam, if he had more money, he would stay in Ireland for longer.
  • If they found a ghost in the castle, Paco would be very frightened.

IF + SUBJECT + ________________, SUBJECT + WOULD + ___________________

 

Icono IDevice Important

Remember:

  • Would can be shortened as 'd.
  • The negative form is would not or wouldn't.
  • In the 'if' clause, when using the past simple of the verb TO BE, the form 'were' is preferred for 'I' and 'he/she/it':
If I were a boy.....

I wouldn't do that if I were you.

  • If the 'if' clause comes first, it is followed by a comma. It can go in the second part of the sentence and then there is no comma.

If they found a ghost in the castle, Paco would be very frightened.

Paco would be very frightened if they found a ghost in the castle.

 


Icono de iDevice Self-Assessment activity
Complete these second conditional sentences with the appropriate tense of the verbs in brackets:

1. If we (live) in Mexico, we (be) on the beach all the time.

2. If they (have) enough money, they (stay) in a hotel.

3. It (be) nice if the rain (stop).

4. If you (have) a coat, you (not be) so cold.

5. If I (win) the lottery, I (travel) around the world like Paco.

  

Icono IDevice Further knowledge

Practice more exercises on second conditional sentences by clicking on these exercises.

Exercise 1
Exercise 2

 


Let's continue with second conditional sentences in the next section!
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