Have you ever dreamed about a different life or wondered “what if…”? The second conditional is the language of imagination, allowing you to talk about unreal or unlikely situations in the present and future. It’s perfect for dreaming, giving advice, and exploring possibilities! 💭
Function & Usage
We use the second conditional to talk about hypothetical situations that are not real now or are very unlikely to happen in the future.
- Imaginary Situations (Dreaming): To talk about what you would do in a situation that is not currently true.
Example: If I had more free time, I would learn to play the guitar. (I don’t have more free time). - Giving Advice: To give advice using the special phrase “If I were you…”.
Example: If I were you, I would talk to the manager about the problem.
The Structure (Form)
The structure uses a past tense verb in the ‘if’ clause to show that the situation is unreal, and ‘would’ in the result clause.
| ‘If’ Clause (The Condition) | ‘Result’ Clause (The Outcome) |
|---|---|
| If + Past Simple, | Subject + would + Base Verb. |
| If I won the lottery, | I would buy a big house. |
You can also reverse the order. Remember that the comma is not used when the ‘if’ clause is second.
I would buy a big house if I won the lottery.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using “would” in the ‘if’ clause: The ‘if’ part never uses “would”. Incorrect: “If I would have more money…” Correct: “If I had more money…”
- Using “was” instead of “were”: For giving advice and in formal hypothetical situations, we use “were” for all subjects (I, he, she, it). Incorrect: “If I was you…” Correct: “If I were you…”
Let’s see it in action! 🎬
Person A: What would you do if you could travel anywhere in the world?
Person B: If I could go anywhere, I would visit the pyramids in Egypt.
Friend 1: I’m always so tired.
Friend 2: If I were you, I would try to go to bed earlier.
Person A: This apartment is so small.
Person B: I know. If we had a bigger kitchen, we could invite more friends for dinner.
Check Your Understanding! ✅
1. If I knew the answer, I you. (tell)
2. If he more money, he would buy a new car. (have)
3. I more if I had more vacation time. (travel)
4. If I you, I wouldn’t do that. (be)
5. What would you do if you a wallet on the street? (find)
6. If I could speak Japanese, I ___ to Tokyo.
7. If they ___ a choice, they would stay here.
8. Where ___ you live if you could live anywhere?
9. If I ___ you, I would apologize.
10. She would be happier if she ___ a different job.
