Second Conditional: unreal possibility or dream

The second conditional is like the first conditional. We are still thinking about the
future. We are thinking about a particular condition in the future, and the result of this
condition. But there is not a real possibility that this condition will happen. For example,
you do not have a lottery ticket. Is it possible to win? No! No lottery ticket, no win! But
maybe you will buy a lottery ticket in the future. So you can think about winning in the
future, like a dream. It's not very real, but it's still possible.
IF

If

condition

result

past simple

WOULD + base verb

I won the lottery

I would buy a car.

Notice that we are thinking about a future condition. We use the past simple tense to talk
about the future condition. We use WOULD + base verb to talk about the future result.
The important thing about the second conditional is that there is an unreal possibility
that the condition will happen.
Here are some more examples:
IF

condition

result

past simple

WOULD + base verb

If

I married Mary

I would be happy.

If

Ram became rich

she would marry him.

If

it snowed next July

would you be surprised?

If

it snowed next July

what would you do?

result

IF

WOULD + base verb

condition
past simple

I would be happy

if

I married Mary.

She would marry Ram

if

he became rich.

Would you be surprised

if

it snowed next July?

What would you do

if

it snowed next July?

Sometimes, we use should, could or

might instead of would, for example: If I
won a million dollars, I could stop working.

Term: Second Conditional (2nd Conditional)

Definition:
1/ For future actions dependent on the result of another future action or
event, where there is only a small possibility of the conditions for the
action being satisfied.
eg: If I won the lottery, I would stop working.
2/ For imaginary present actions, where the conditions for the action are NOT satisfied.
eg: If you phoned home more often, they wouldn't worry about you. (The conditions are
not satisfied because the person does not phone home, so they do worry.)
TO BE: In Standard English this verb can take the 'were' form for all persons in the If
clause.
eg: If I were you, I'd tell her.
CONTRACTIONS: 'Would' and 'had' are contracted to 'd; the way to distinguish them is
simple because 'would' is always followed by a Base Form and 'had', as an Auxiliary Verb,
is followed by a Past Participle.
eg: I'd tell her. 'Tell' is the Base Form so it means 'I would tell her'
I'd done it. 'Done' is the Past Participle so it means 'I had done it'
eg: If he gets here soon, I'll speak to him about it.

Second Conditional Sentences in English Exercise

Example: If you called me I would come.
Form: The if-clause is put in the simple past, the main clause has got a
'would' + infinitive.
Use: We use this type of sentence pattern when we express suppositions.
These suppositions can be :
1. statements of unreal situations
"If I were 18 again I would go on a round-the-world-tour." (I'm not 18, in
fact I'm 45)
2. about things that we don't expect to happen
"If I won some money I would go on a round-the-world-tour next year."
(But I don't really expect to win money.)

1. If farmers in developing countries were given a decent price for their produce ...

they would be able to build a better future for their family, community and country.
they will be able to build a better future for their family, community and country.
2. If Belgium won the European Soccer Championship in the year 2000 ...
the world will be amazed.
the world would be amazed.
3. Consumers would be much better off if ...
accurate product information would be printed on the packaging.
accurate product information were printed on the packaging.
4. The children would be in a much better shape if they ...
would take my bike to go to school.
took my bike to go to school.
5. If I had a lot of money I ...
bought myself a flashy MGf.
would buy myself a flashy MGf.
6. Helen would be very upset if ...
she knows about John's past.
she knew about John's past.

English Conditionals: Second Conditional

Second Conditional: Imaginary Present or Unlikely Future

The Second Conditional can be used used to talk about imaginary

present situations, where we are imagining something different
from what is really the case. We can also use it to talk about
things in the future that are unlikely to happen, as the
condition is unlikely to be met. We use the past tense in the
condition part and would for the result.
IF

Condition

Time

past simple
If

Result

Possibility

present

WOULD + base verb

impossible

I would learn Italian.

I don't have the

I had the time,

time, so I'm not going to learn Italian.

past simple future
WOULD + base verb
unlikely
If
I won the lottery
I would travel around the world.
very small chance of winning the lottery, so the trip is unlikely

There's a

We can use other modal verbs in the past tense in the result part of the sentence:
IF

Condition
Result
Certainty
past simple WOULD + base verb
If
I had the time,
I would learn Italian. Although unlikely to happen, the
speaker is sure that they would do it given the opportunity.
If
I had more time,
I might learn Spanish. Although unlikely to happen, it is
only a possibility anyway.
If
I had more time,
I should learn some more about IT.
Although unlikely to
happen, the speaker is saying that it would be a good idea, but is not committed to it.
If
I had more time
I could learn Hindi.
Although unlikely to happen, it is
only a possibility anyway.

With the verb to be, there are two forms that can be used with I, he, she & it:
IF
I, he, she, it
If
I, he, she, it
If

Condition
Were
I were you,
Was
I was you,

Result
I'd marry her.
I'd marry her.

We can use the Second Conditional to talk about 'impossible' situations.

If I had one million dollars, I'd give a lot to charity.

If there were no more hungry people in this world, it would be a much better
place.
If we were in New York today, we would be able to go to the free Elton John
concert in Central Park.

Notice that after I / he/ she /it we often use the subjunctive form 'were' and not 'was'.
(Some people think that 'were' is the only 'correct' form but other people think 'was' is
equally 'correct' .)

If I were in Tokyo, I'd have sushi every day.

If she were really happy in her job, she'd be working much harder.
If IBM were to enter our market, we would have big problems.

Notice the form 'If I were you' which is often used to give advice.

If I were you, I'd change my job.

If I were you, I'd sign up for Pearson's fantastic English lessons.

We can also use the Second Conditional to talk about 'unlikely' situations.

If I won the lottery, I'd buy my parents a big house.

If I went to the moon, I'd bring back some moon rock.
If you met him, you'd really like him.

Notice that the choice between the first and the second conditional is often a question of the speaker's attitude rather than of facts. For example, consider two people Peter Pessimist and Otto
Optimist.

Otto If I win the lottery, I'll buy a big house.

Peter If I won the lottery, I'd buy a big house.
Otto If I get promoted, I'll throw a big party.
Peter If I got promoted, I'd throw a big party.
Otto If my team win the Cup, I'll buy champagne for everybody.
Peter If my team won the Cup, I'd buy champagne for everybody.

Notice that the 'If clause' can contain the past simple or the past continuous.

If I was still living in Brighton, I would commute by train.

If they were thinking of coming, they would let us know.
If she were coming, she would be here by now.

Notice that the main clause can contain 'would' 'could' or 'might.

If I met him again, I wouldn't recognize him.

If we met up for lunch one day, I could take you to that new restaurant.
If I spoke to him directly, we might be able to reach an agreement.

Also notice that sometimes the 'if clause' is implied rather than spoken.

What would I do without you? ("if you stopped working here")

Where would I get one at this time of night? ("if I went looking for one")
He wouldn't agree. ("if we asked him")