The Price of Visibility
Grammar: Advanced uses of 'would' — hypothetical, habitual past, distancing, volition
A Level 5 English lesson exploring society.
What's in this lesson
A Level 5 (advanced) ESL lesson on society, practising advanced uses of 'would' — hypothetical, habitual past, distancing, volition. The worksheet has a reading, target vocabulary, a grammar reference with practice and discussion questions.
From the reading: The Price of Visibility
In January 2025, Irish mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor posted a series of messages about Caitlin Moran, the British journalist and author, that his millions of followers amplified within hours. Moran had written critically about misogyny in sport. What followed — coordinated insults, threats, and the kind of sustained pile-on that would have been unimaginable before social media — was not unusual. It was, for women in public life, numbingly familiar. What made it notable was that Moran named it, catalogued it, and refused to disappear.
Vocabulary
- by design
- coded as
- in equivalent measure
- lag behind
- built up
- hand over
- rose to
Grammar
- Habitual past (would)
- She would receive hundreds of threats after each interview. — repeated past pattern
- Hypothetical (would)
- A fairer system would distinguish hostile from positive engagement. — unreal present condition
Discussion questions
- Do you think fame today is more of a burden than a benefit?
- Should public figures expect criticism as part of their role?
- Has social media changed what it means to have a strong opinion?
The Price of Visibility
Grammar: Advanced uses of 'would' — hypothetical, habitual past, distancing, volition
What's in this lesson:
Full lesson plan with reading, grammar, vocabulary, and discussion.
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