Second Conditional

The Second Conditional

The second conditional uses

the past simple after if, then 'would' and the infinitive​

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 house. (Probably I 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?

​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.

​* use were for all subjects

If + S + simple past , ​S + would + Vinfinitive.

​

​S + would + Vinfinitive If + S +simple past .

​How is this different from the first conditional?

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 I'll have enough money to buy some shoes)