Conditionals
Year 8 Sentence Starters
Icons key:
For more detailed instructions, see the Getting Started presentation
Flash activity. These activities are not editable.
Extension activities
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Web addresses
Teacher’s notes included in the Notes Page
Accompanying worksheet
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Contents
Introducing the conditional tense
Conditional sentences
Discussing possibility and probability
Modals
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Conditionals – Introducing the
conditional tense
Introducing the
conditional tense
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Introducing the conditional tense
I had a dream last night,
Lei, that I won millions of
pounds on the lottery. It
was great – I bought my
own football stadium!
That’s silly, Tom. If I
won the lottery, I
would buy loads of
designer clothes,
makeup and shoes. It
would be heaven…
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Using the conditional tense
Think about what you would do if you won
£14 million on the National Lottery?
Write five sentences. Use this structure:
If I won the National Lottery, I would…
…buy a large mansion.
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Conditionals
You have just written five sentences using the conditional!
Conditional sentences deal with situations which might
happen or which might have happened.
If I had iceskates, I could
skate on the frozen lake.
If I had had more time, I
would have read all of
these books!
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Conditionals – Conditional
sentences
Conditional sentences
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Conditional sentences
Here are three sentences. They are all conditional. They all
mean the same.
If Lei went to Oxford Street, she
would catch a number 3 bus.
OR
If Lei goes to Oxford Street, she
will catch a number 3 bus.
OR
If Lei were to go to Oxford Street,
she would catch a number 3 bus.
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The conditional tense
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Conditionals – Discussing
probability and possibility
Discussing probability
and possibility
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What would probably happen
Now finish these sentences with what will probably happen,
using the photo to give you ideas. Then share your endings.
1. If the ball hits the
window…
2. If a teacher caught
them playing football…
3. If the bell were to
ring…
Note: these conditionals are about what
would/will probably happen.
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What might have happened
Conditionals can also be used to talk about things that might
have happened, but didn’t. Look at this example:
If the taxi had not stopped at the red light, there might
have been an accident.
(But it did, so there was no accident.)
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Conditionals
Here are some other examples of what might have happened:
If they had not fallen in love,
they would not have got
married.
If they hadn’t fallen in love,
they wouldn’t have got married.
NB: NOT wouldn’t of
Write what might have happened in these photos:
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Using the two types of conditionals
Now write a sentence about each of these photos using both
the probably and might conditionals.
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Try to make your answers as inventive as possible!
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Conditions - Modals
Modals
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Modals
Modals are the words we use when giving advice and
instructions to people.
Lei uses them a lot to boss Tom around!
How many modals can you think of?
You mustn’t play
football near me!
Did you think of any of these?
could
should
must
have to
can
may
ought
need not
Choose four modals and use them in sentences.
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Modals
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Modals
Can and may are commonly confused modals.
Can is about whether something is possible.
May is asking for permission to do something.
For example:
Can I have another sweet?
You can and you may.
May I play outside?
You can’t because it’s raining.
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Writing with modals
Dear Sarah,
I don’t know what to do! I really like this girl in my class but
I don’t know if she likes me too. I’m worried that if I were
to ask her out she and her friends would laugh at me. I would
be very grateful if you could give me some advice.
Thanks, Tom.
Dear Tom,
If I were you, I’d tell this girl how you feel. You
should try and talk to her on her own. If she has
any sense, she will be flattered. If she laughs at
you, she isn’t worth the bother.
Good luck!
Write a letter to an agony aunt asking for advice
about a problem. Use conditionals if appropriate! Swap
letters with a partner and reply to their letter giving them
advice. Try to use some modals in your answer.
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