FIRST CONDITIONAL: STRANGER THINGS

A 45-Minute Grammar Lesson

Level: B1  |  Time: 45 minutes  |  Focus: First Conditional

 

STAGE	ACTIVITY	FOCUS	TIME
Warm-up	Stranger Things quiz	Engagement / context	5 min
Presentation	Grammar explanation	Form & meaning	8 min
Exercise 1	Sentence building	Making (form)	7 min
Exercise 2	Fill in the blanks	Making (form)	6 min
Exercise 3	Match & choose	Usage (meaning)	7 min
Exercise 4	Real-life speaking	Usage (communication)	8 min
Round-up	Feedback & summary	Consolidation	4 min

STAGE 1. WARM-UP  (5 minutes)

Quick Stranger Things Quiz

Instructions: Ask students these questions. They can discuss with a partner for 1 minute before sharing answers.

 

•         1. Who opens the gate to the Upside Down?
•         2. What is the monster in Season 1 called? (The "Demog___")
•         3. Where does Will Byers go?
•         4. What special power does Eleven have?
•         5. Name one character from Hawkins Lab.

 

How to: use answers to involve in the grammar: "In Stranger Things, the characters are always making predictions and plans. For example: 'If Eleven uses her powers, she will get a nosebleed.' Today we learn this structure — the First Conditional.'"

STAGE 2. PRESENTATION  (8 minutes)

First Conditional. Grammar Explanation

1. What is it?

We use the First Conditional to talk about real or possible future situations and their likely results.

 

 

2. The Formula

IF CLAUSE  (condition)	MAIN CLAUSE  (result)
If  + Present Simple	will  + base verb (infinitive)
If Eleven touches the gate,	she will open a portal.

 

3. Stranger Things Examples

Sentence	Meaning
If the Demogorgon comes closer, we will run.	Possible danger → likely action
If Hopper doesn't find Will, he will never stop searching.	Negative condition → strong result
Max will escape if she runs fast enough.	Note: Main clause can come first! No comma needed.

 

4. Key Rules to Remember

•         NEVER say "If she will come" — use Present Simple after IF
•         You can swap the clauses: If + result, condition OR condition, if + result
•         When the IF clause comes first, put a comma between the two parts
•         Will can be contracted: she'll, he'll, they'll

STAGE 3. EXERCISE 1: Sentence Building  (7 minutes)

MAKING: FORM  Make correct First Conditional sentences.

Instructions: Put the words in the correct order. Use a comma where necessary.

 

1. 1.   the / gate / Eleven / closes / the / will / Upside Down / disappear / if / ,

Answer: If Eleven closes the gate, the Upside Down will disappear.

 

1. 2.   use / his / Jim / radio / will / if / he / Eleven / find / ,

Answer: If Jim uses his radio, he will find Eleven.

 

1. 3.   the / won't / Hawkins / Lab / shut / down / problem / if / the / stop / they / ,

Answer: If they don't stop the problem, Hawkins Lab won't shut down.

 

1. 4.   Lucas / Dustin / argue / they / will / help / not / if / and / each other / ,

Answer: If Lucas and Dustin argue, they will not help each other.

 

1.5.  (Write your own!) Write one First Conditional sentence about a character in Stranger Things.

 

STAGE 4. EXERCISE 2: Fill in the Blanks  (6 minutes)

MAKING: FORM  Use the correct form of the verb in brackets.

Instructions: Complete each sentence with the correct form. Use Present Simple in the IF clause and will + verb in the main clause.

 

1. If the Mind Flayer ______________ (find) Eleven, it ______________ (try) to control her.

Answer: finds / will try

 

2. Joyce ______________ (not believe) anyone if she ______________ (not see) proof.

Answer: will not believe / doesn't see

 

3. If the kids ______________ (go) to the Upside Down, they ______________ (need) protection.

Answer: go / will need

 

4. Mike ______________ (be) very happy if Eleven ______________ (come) back to Hawkins.

Answer: will be / comes

 

5. If Hopper ______________ (not escape) from the Soviet prison, Joyce ______________ (look) for him.

Answer: doesn't escape / will look

 

6. The soldiers ______________ (stop) the experiment if Dr. Brenner ______________ (give) the order.

Answer: will stop / gives

STAGE 5. EXERCISE 3: Match & Choose  (7 minutes)

USAGE: MEANING  Understanding when and why we use First Conditional.

Part A: match the IF clause (1–5) with the correct result (A–E).

 

IF CLAUSE	RESULT
1. If Will hears the music,	A. they will escape through it.
2. If Eleven uses the sensory tank,	B. he will fall into a trance.
3. If they find a portal,	C. she will see into the Upside Down.
4. If Dustin feeds Dart,	D. the Demogorgon will smell it.
5. If Steve fights alone,	E. Dart will grow bigger.

 

Answers: 1-B, 2-C, 3-A, 4-E, 5-D

 

Part B: Choose the correct use

Instructions: Read the situation. Does the speaker use First Conditional correctly? Circle YES or NO and explain why.

 

1. "If dinosaurs will come back, I will be scared."   YES / NO

Answer: NO — Should be: "If dinosaurs come back..." (no will after IF)

 

2. "If it rains tomorrow, we will stay inside."   YES / NO

Answer: YES — Correct First Conditional form and real future situation.

 

3. "If I were Eleven, I will use my powers to win."   YES / NO

Answer: NO — "If I were" is Second Conditional (unreal). Should be: "If I am Eleven..."

 

4. "The Mind Flayer will attack if it finds a host."   YES / NO

Answer: YES — Correct. Main clause first, no comma needed.

STAGE 6. EXERCISE 4: Real-Life Speaking  (8 minutes)

USAGE: COMMUNICATION. 

Instructions: Work in pairs. Read the situation card and respond using First Conditional. Try to give 2–3 sentences each.

Situation Cards

CARD A — The Hawkins Problem You are Jim Hopper. It is late at night. The gate to the Upside Down is still open. What will happen if no one closes it by morning? Start with: "If we don't close the gate..."	CARD B — Eleven's Decision You are Eleven. You must decide whether to use your powers. What will happen if you do? What will happen if you don't? Start with: "If I use my powers..."
CARD C — Real Life: Your City Now think about your own life. What will you do next weekend if the weather is good? What will happen if you study hard this week? Make at least 3 First Conditional sentences about yourself.	CARD D — Debate! One student argues FOR, the other AGAINST. Topic: 'If we find the cure for the Upside Down disease, we will save Hawkins — but should we trust the government to do it?' Use First Conditional in your arguments!

 

Follow-up: Each pair shares their best sentence with the class. Teacher gives feedback on form and meaning.

STAGE 7. ROUND-UP & FEEDBACK  (4 minutes)

Quick Summary Checklist

Ask students to complete this checklist on their own before leaving:

✓	I can...	?
[ ]	...form a First Conditional sentence from scratch.
[ ]	...use Present Simple (not will) after IF.
[ ]	...swap the clause order and use commas correctly.
[ ]	...use First Conditional for real, possible future situations.

 

Exit ticket: Ask each student to say one First Conditional sentence about their evening: "If I finish my homework, I will watch Stranger Things tonight!"