The Second Conditional
The second conditional uses the past simple after if, then 'would' and the infinitive:
- if + past simple, ...would + infinitive
(We can use 'were' instead of 'was' with 'I' and 'he/she/it'. This is mostly done in formal writing).
It has two uses.
First, we can use it to talk about things in the future that are probably not going to be true. Maybe I'm imagining some dream for example.
- If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house.(I probably won't win the lottery)
- If I met the Queen of England, I would say hello.
- She would travel all over the world if she were rich.
- She would pass the exam if she ever studied.(She never studies, so this won't happen)
Second, we can use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible, because it's not true. Is that clear? Have a look at the examples:
- If I had his number, I would call him. (I don't have his number now, so it's impossible for me to call him).
- If I were you, I wouldn't go out with that man.
This kind of conditional sentence is different from the first conditional because this is a lot more unlikely.
For example (second conditional): If I had enough money I would buy a house with twenty bedrooms and a swimming pool (I'm probably not going to have this much money, it's just a dream, not very real)
But (first conditional): If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes (It's much more likely that'll have enough money to buy some shoes)
For example (second conditional): If I had enough money I would buy a house with twenty bedrooms and a swimming pool (I'm probably not going to have this much money, it's just a dream, not very real)
But (first conditional): If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes (It's much more likely that'll have enough money to buy some shoes)
Second Conditional Exercise
Second Conditionals - put the verb into the correct tense:
1. If I _________________ (be) you, I _________________ (get) a new job.
2. If he _________________ (be) younger, he _________________ (travel)
more.
3. If we _________________ (not / be) friends, I _________________ (be)
angry with you.
4. If I _________________ (have) enough money, I _________________ (buy)
a big house.
5. If she _________________ (not / be) always so late, she _________________
(be) promoted.
6. If we _________________ (win) the lottery, we _________________ (travel)
the world.
7. If you _________________ (have) a better job, we _________________ (be)
able to buy a new car
8. If I _________________ (speak) perfect English, I _________________
(have) a good job.
9. If we _________________ (live) in Mexico, I _________________ (speak)
Spanish.
10. If she _________________ (pass) the exam, she _________________ (be)
able to enter university. © 2009 www.perfect-english-grammar.com
May be freely copied for personal or classroom use.
11. She _________________ (be) happier if she _________________ (have)
more friends.
12. We _________________ (buy) a house if we _________________ (decide) to
stay here.
13. They _________________ (have) more money if they _________________
(not / buy) so many clothes
14. We _________________ (come) to dinner if we _________________ (have)
time.
15. She _________________ (call) him if she _________________ (know) his
number.
16. They _________________ (go) to Spain on holiday if they _______________
(like) hot weather.
17. She _________________ (pass) the exam if she _________________ (study)
more.
18. I _________________ (marry) someone famous if I _________________ (be)
a movie star.
19. We never _________________ (be) late again if we _________________
(buy) a new car.
20. You _________________ (lose) weight if you _________________ (eat) less.
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