If sentences about sports for children (A2, ages 10–12): first and second conditional

Eight sports and the verbs that go with them

Most children know some of these sports already; the useful new step is the verb in front. Caving means exploring caves under the ground, and paragliding means flying from a hill under a fabric wing. Ask your child to sort the eight into two groups:

• play + ball and team games: “play baseball”, “play rugby”
• go + activities ending in -ing: “go skiing”, “go ice skating”, “go mountain biking”, “go caving”, “go paragliding”, “go rock climbing”

How long and how often: describing an athlete

A sports profile uses three tenses. A routine takes the present simple: “She trains three evenings a week.” Something still going on takes the present perfect with for: “She has climbed for four years.” A finished time such as “last spring” takes the past simple. In this interview about a young climber, ask your child which tense each answer uses.

Real plans: if + present, then will

Use this for something that may really happen. The if half uses the present, even though it is about the future: “What will you do if the weather changes?” “If it rains, I will train indoors.” The halves can swap: “I will train indoors if it rains.” Use a comma only when if comes first.

• If the path is dry, we will ride.

Imagined choices: if + past, then would

For an imagined situation, use the past after if and would in the other half: “If I tried caving, I would go with a guide.” Tried does not mean yesterday here; the past form marks an imagined plan. Compare “If we go skiing this winter, I will take lessons.” (a possible trip) with “If I went skiing, I would take lessons first.” (just imagining). Discuss these questions and ask for a reason every time.

• Would you try paragliding? Why or why not?
• If you went caving, what would you take?

Opposites with dis- and in-

Many English opposites are made with a prefix, and no simple rule says which one, so learn each pair together: “An inexperienced climber should go with an experienced coach.” Avoid “unhonest” and “uncorrect”.

• honest – dishonest
• like – dislike
• obey – disobey
• correct – incorrect
• experienced – inexperienced
• sensitive – insensitive

From a concept map to a visitor leaflet

A concept map puts the place in the middle with three branches: what visitors can do, who helps them, and what they must bring. Each branch becomes a sentence or two, often an instruction such as “Choose…” or “Bring…”. Check that no branch is lost; the help branch is easy to forget. An example for an imaginary park:

• TRY THE RIVERSIDE BIKE PARK
• Choose the easy track or the hill track.
• If you are new, a coach will help you.
• Bring a helmet, gloves and water.
• If it rains, the hill track will close.

A home game: plan A and plan B

Check tomorrow’s weather forecast together. Your child makes two real plans: “If it is sunny, we will ride to the park. If it rains, we will play table tennis.” Then name a sport and ask “Would you try it?”; your child answers with would and a reason. On another day, draw a concept map for a pool or park you know and write a four-sentence leaflet.

Common mistakes and quick fixes

Repeat the sentence back correctly and keep talking.

• “If it will rain…”: no will after if: “If it rains, I will stay inside.”
• “If I would try caving…”: would goes in one half only: “If I tried caving, I would…”
• “She climbs for four years.”: still going on: “She has climbed for four years.”
• “She has finished the route last spring.”: a finished time takes the past simple: “She finished the route last spring.”
• “play skiing”, “play caving”: “go skiing”, “go caving”.

What comes next

Next, your child can describe experiences with have and has, plus since, for, just and already: “We have been here since six.” Later, would also gives advice: “If I were you, I would wear a helmet.”