we regularly publish fresh content

Second Conditional

When you use Second Conditional

  • You use Second Conditional for describing unreal situations in the present or in the future.
    Unreal situation — situation that you believe will not happen, although you are not completely sure.
    Let’s study the examples:
    • If Lilly had money, she would buy a house. /it’s unreal for Lilly to buy a house because she doesn’t have money/
    • If James was here, he would help me. /it’s unreal because James is not here so he can’t help/
  • You use Second Conditional for describing hypothetical situations in the present or in the future.
    Hypothetical situation — situation that doesn’t exist in reality, imaginary situation.
    Let’s study the examples:
    • If my wife worked with me, we would spend more time together. /it’s hypothetical situation because my wife doesn’t work with me/
    • Would your brother call Ava if he knew her phone number? /it’s hypothetical question because he doesn’t know Ava’s mobile number/

How to build statements in Second Conditional

Statement — positive or negative sentence

Conditional sentences consist of two parts: if-part and main part.

In Second Conditional you should use:
  • Past Simple in if-part
  • would + verb in main part
If-part ➔ Past Simple, main part ➔ would + verb
  • If we had a car, we wouldn’t use public transport.
  • If Liam was here, he would help me.
  • If she was younger, she would try windsurfing.

You can also start a sentence with the main part. But still, you use would + verb in the main part and Past Simple in if-part.

Main part ➔ would + verb | if-part ➔ Past Simple
  • We wouldn’t use public transport if we had a car.
  • Liam would help me if he was here.
  • She would try windsurfing if she was younger.

Yes/‌No Questions in Second Conditional

To build Yes/‌No question in Second Conditional:
  • you use tenses the same way as you use them in statements (if-part ➔ Past Simple, main part ➔ would + verb)
  • in main part you make a question by putting would in the beginning
  • you can start Yes/‌No question with if-part or with main part

Follow this structure if you want to start Yes/‌No question with main part:

Main part ➔ Would + noun/‌pronoun + verb | if-part ➔ Past Simple
  • Would she buy this dress if it was her size?
  • Would you jump with a parachute if you weren’t afraid of heights?
  • Would Chris buy a puppy for them if he had children?

Follow this structure if you want to start Yes/‌No question with if-part:

If-part ➔ Past Simple, main part ➔ would + noun/‌pronoun + verb
  • If this dress was her size, would she buy it?
  • If you weren’t afraid of heights, would you jump with a parachute?
  • If Chris had children, would he buy a puppy for them?

Wh-questions in Second Conditional

Wh-question is a question that starts with a question word (e.g., what, where, when, how, why, how long, etc.)
To build Wh-question in Second Conditional:
  • you use tenses the same way as you use them in statements (if-part ➔ Past Simple, main part ➔ would + verb)
  • in main part you make a question by putting Wh question + would + noun/‌pronoun + verb
  • you can start Wh-question with if-part or with main part

Follow this structure if you want to start Wh-question with main part:

Main part ➔ Wh + would + noun/‌pronoun + verb | if-part ➔ Past Simple
  • How would you spend money if you had one million dollar?
  • What would you change in your life if you were a famous actor or actress?
  • Where would Daniel live if he had a choice?

Follow this structure if you want to start Wh-question with if-part:

If-part ➔ Past Simple, main part ➔ Wh + would + noun/‌pronoun + verb
  • If you had one million dollar, how would you spend it?
  • If you were a famous actor or actress, what would you change in your life?
  • If Daniel had a choice, where would he live?

If I (he/‌she/‌it) was/‌were

In Second Conditional, you can use BOTH was and were after I/‌he/‌she/‌it.

  • If I was more confident, I would ask Emma for a date.
  • If I were more confident, I would ask Emma for a date.
  • If it was a sunny day, we would go jogging.
  • If it were a sunny day, we would go jogging.
  • If he was younger, he would start his own business.
  • If he were younger, he would start his own business.
  • If she was here, she would tell me what to do.
  • If she were here, she would tell me what to do.

But! Use were in the expression if I were you when you want to give advice.

  • If I were you, I would start looking for a new job. /advice/
  • If I were you, I would go on a date with John. /advice/
  • If I were you, I would read this book. /advice/
  • If I were you, I would live in the countryside. /advice/

First and Second Conditional ➔ Comparison

First Conditional
Second Conditional
If-part ➔ Present Simple, main part ➔ Future Simple If-part ➔ Past Simple, main part ➔ would + verb
  • use for possible present or future
  • use for unreal (impossible) present or future
  • use for hypothetical situations in the present or future
  • If Andrew has time, he will visit his brother today.
    /maybe Andrew will have time, so maybe he will visit his brother = it is real future/
  • If I see Emma today, I will return her the book.
    /maybe I will see Emma today and return the book = it is real future/
  • If the dress isn’t too expensive, we will buy it.
    /maybe the dress isn’t too expensive, in this case, we will buy it = it’s real future/
  • If Andrew had time, he would visit his brother today.
    /Andrew doesn’t have time, so he won’t visit his brother = it’s unreal future/
  • If I saw Emma today, I would return her the book.
    /I won’t see Emma today, so I won’t return her the book = it’s unreal future/
  • If the dress weren’t too expensive, we would buy it.
    /we know that the dress is too expensive, so it’s unreal for us to but it = it’s unreal present/
Practice!