LESSON 4A GRAMMAR - Helping others
📑 Article Contents
1. Look at the photo at the top of the page and read the question. Which situation does the photo correspond to?
This exercise requires visual analysis of the textbook photo to match it with corresponding situations described in the lesson materials.
💡 Visual Analysis Tip: Examine the photo carefully for contextual clues about the helping situation being depicted.
2. Listen to a conversation and say which answers Ali and Hassan give to questions in a questionnaire.
| Question | Ali's Answer | Hassan's Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | c (buy the bread for the woman) | c (buy the bread for the woman) |
| 2 | b | a |
| 3 | a (get the other passengers to help him stop the man) | a (plus call the police) |
| 4 | a (take it to the police) | a |
🎧 Listening Task: Listen to the conversation between Ali and Hassan to identify their responses to the questionnaire about helping others in different scenarios.
3. Answer the questions in pairs.
Students' own answers
💬 Pair Discussion: Discuss the questionnaire questions with a partner, sharing personal perspectives on how you would respond in each helping situation.
4. Study the Grammar box and Watch Out! and in pairs create two statements using the second conditional
📚 The second conditional
We use the second conditional to talk about:
- Things that are unlikely or impossible to happen in the future (fantasies, unreal plans):
If I won first prize, I'd be overjoyed. (but I almost certainly won't win first prize) - Unreal situations in the present:
What would you do if you were me? (but you're not me)
There are two parts to a sentence in the second conditional:
If + Past Simple
would + infinitive
Example: If I saw someone fall, I would help them up.
⚠️ WATCH OUT!
With the second conditional, we often use were instead of was after I, he, she and it, especially in written English or formal situations:
• I would help your brother if I were you.
• If it weren't so difficult, I'd do it.
Students' own answers
💡 Example Second Conditional Statements:
1. If I had more time, I would volunteer at the animal shelter.
2. What would you do if you found a lost wallet?
5. Complete the chain of sentences with the correct tense of the verbs in brackets. Then in pairs, make other chains from the sentence beginnings below.
Answer: would buy, bought, would feel, felt
This demonstrates the second conditional structure with a chain of hypothetical consequences.
Students' own answers
Example: I would take it to the police station. If I took it to the police station, they might try to find the owner.
Students' own answers
Example: I would ask if they need help. If they needed help, I would try to assist them.
Students' own answers
Example: I would pick it up. If I picked it up, the area would look cleaner.
🔗 Chain Sentence Structure: Each "if" clause leads to a result, which then becomes the condition for the next hypothetical situation.
🔗 Related English Lessons
🎧 Listening & Vocabulary
The Next Step - Lesson 5A Listening and VocabularyPractice listening comprehension with various exercises
📚 Reading & Vocabulary
Time to Move Lesson 2A Reading and Vocabulary - HolidaysBuild vocabulary through holiday-related reading
✍️ Writing Skills
The Next Step - Lesson 7A Writing - Personal StatementLearn to write effective personal statements
🌐 Grammar Learning Resources
📖 English Grammar References:
https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org - Second conditional explanation
https://dictionary.cambridge.org - Conditional sentences guide
https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com - Second conditional exercises
📌 Second Conditional Practice Tips
💡 Key Points About Second Conditional
• Use Past Simple in the "if" clause
• Use would + base verb in the result clause
• Often describes unreal or hypothetical situations
• Common for giving advice (If I were you...)
• Use were instead of was for all subjects in formal writing
🎯 Practice Activities
1. Create "What would you do if..." questions
2. Write chain stories using multiple conditionals
3. Practice giving advice using "If I were you..."
4. Discuss hypothetical helping situations from the lesson
