Inverted and Alternative Conditionals ESL Lesson Plan (C1, 60 Minutes)

Who it is for. Advanced students who use all the main conditional types accurately but rely on if in every sentence. Their formal writing sounds repetitive, and they make errors with inversion (Had I knew, Should you will need) and with unless (unless you don't pay).

Everything the lesson needs is on this page: the language analysis, the timed stages with the teacher's own words and instruction-checking questions, the differentiation, the printable handouts and the answer key.

Main aim. To develop students' use of inverted conditionals (Had ..., Should ..., Were ... to), conditional linkers (provided / providing that, as long as, on condition that, unless, supposing, otherwise) and but for / were it not for / if it hadn't been for in formal writing and speech.

Learning outcome. By the end of the lesson, students can write and present a 150-word formal proposal using at least six inverted or alternative conditional structures accurately.

• Subsidiary aim. To develop awareness of register.
• Subsidiary aim. To write a formal proposal collaboratively and present it persuasively.

What to know before the lesson: the meaning, form and pronunciation of the target language, and the problems learners usually have with it.

• Inverted auxiliaries are stressed at the start of a sentence: HAD we known ..., SHOULD you require ...
• A slight pause after the conditional clause in formal speech.

• Had we known about the flooding, we would have postponed the event. Did we know about the flooding? (No.) · Did we postpone the event? (No.) · Is this formal or informal? (Formal.)
• The library will stay open provided that the council renews the grant. Will the library stay open if the council doesn't renew the grant? (No.) · Does provided that mean only if or even if? (Only if.)

The proposal uses at least six inverted or alternative conditional structures accurately. No contracted negatives in inversion and no double negatives with unless. 7 out of 8 or better on Handout 3, Exercise A.

Did students understand the time reference of Should, Were and Had? Was the register appropriate, or did texts become too heavy?

Match each informal sentence (1–5) with a formal version (a–e).

Answers: 1 ___ 2 ___ 3 ___ 4 ___ 5 ___

What happens to the word if in the formal versions? What happens to the word order?

..........................................................................................

PROPOSAL: A STUDY CENTRE FOR THE PUBLIC LIBRARY

To: The Library Committee From: The Student Council

Background: Each year, hundreds of students use the library to prepare for their exams. Were it not for the library, many students would have nowhere quiet to study. However, the building closes at 5 pm. Had the opening hours been extended last year, more students would have passed their A-level examinations.

Proposal: We propose converting the unused ground-floor room into a study centre that is open until 9 pm on weekdays.

Conditions: The student council will provide volunteers to supervise the centre, provided that the library provides basic furniture and Wi-Fi. Students will be allowed to use the centre only as long as they register in advance.

Risks: Unless additional cleaning is arranged, the room may become untidy. We therefore suggest a small monthly fee of Rs. 200; otherwise, the costs may be too high for the library. Supposing the number of users were lower than expected, the centre could open three evenings a week instead.

Conclusion: Were the committee to approve this proposal, the centre could open in January. Should you require any further information, please contact the student council secretary.

Analysis questions

• Find three inverted conditionals. Rewrite each one with if. ______________________________
• Which inverted conditional refers to the past? ______________________________
• Find two expressions that mean only if. ______________________________
• Rewrite the sentence with Unless using if. ______________________________
• What does otherwise refer back to? ______________________________

Name: ______________________________ Date: ______________

A. Rewrite each sentence using the word in brackets. Keep the meaning the same.

B. Correct the errors.

• If you need more information, please call our office. (Should) → ______________________________
• If we had left earlier, we would have caught the ferry. (Had) → ______________________________
• If the government raised taxes, there would be protests. (Were) → ______________________________
• Without the volunteers, the festival would have been a disaster. (But for) → ______________________________
• You can join the team, but only if you attend every training session. (provided) → ______________________________
• If we don't receive payment by Friday, the order will be cancelled. (Unless) → ______________________________
• If I hadn't had my sister's help, I would never have finished. (Had it not) → ______________________________
• Book a table now. If you don't, the restaurant will be full. (otherwise) → ______________________________
• Had I knew the answer, I would have told you. ______________________________
• Should you will need assistance, call reception. ______________________________
• Hadn't she warned us, we would have been in danger. ______________________________
• Unless you don't hurry, you'll miss the train. ______________________________
• Were the council approve the plan, work would start in May. ______________________________

You are a group of residents. Write a formal proposal (about 150 words) to the city council for one of these projects.

Plan your proposal.

Your proposal:

..........................................................................................

..........................................................................................

..........................................................................................

..........................................................................................

..........................................................................................

..........................................................................................

• a weekend farmers' market in the town square
• a free bicycle-sharing scheme
• converting an empty building into a youth centre
• a ban on cars near schools from 7 to 8 am

Handout 1

1 c · 2 a · 3 b · 4 e · 5 d

if is omitted and the auxiliary (should, had, were) comes before the subject.

Handout 2

Handout 3, Exercise A

Handout 3, Exercise B

Common errors to watch for

• Had the opening hours been extended → If the opening hours had been extended; Were the committee to approve → If the committee approved; Should you require → If you require (also Were it not for the library → If it weren't for the library)
• Had the opening hours been extended last year ...
• provided that, as long as
• If additional cleaning is not arranged, the room may become untidy.
• The suggestion of a monthly fee: if there is no fee, the costs may be too high.
• Should you need more information, please call our office. · 2. Had we left earlier, we would have caught the ferry. · 3. Were the government to raise taxes, there would be protests. · 4. But for the volunteers, the festival would have been a disaster. · 5. You can join the team provided (that) you attend every training session. · 6. Unless we receive payment by Friday, the order will be cancelled. · 7. Had it not been for my sister's help, I would never have finished. · 8. Book a table now; otherwise, the restaurant will be full.
• Had I known the answer, ... · 2. Should you need assistance, ... · 3. Had she not warned us, ... · 4. Unless you hurry, ... · 5. Were the council to approve the plan, ...