Second conditional – Exercise 293

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The second conditional

We use the second type of conditional sentences to talk about imaginary situations. The condition might be totally unfeasible (e.g., "if I were you" — clearly, I can't become you) or unreal (e.g., "if I had more time" — I don't have time now). But the main thing is that the situation refers to the present or to the future.

To build the second conditional

we put the verb in the "if"-part into the past simple,
and in the second part, which is the consequence of the condition, we use would + infinitive of the verb.

If {past simple}, then would + {infinitive}

Examples

If I had more time, I would go to the swimming pool. But I don't have time at the moment.

If you earned twice as much, would you buy a new car? But you don't earn that much now.

I would learn anything if I needed to. But I'm not doing it now.

We would go to Spain if we found cheap tickets. But we haven't found them yet.

Pay attention

If we have "be" in the "if"-part, we always say "were", no matter what the pronoun is.

If I/you/he/she/it/we/they were, ...

However, we can still say if I/he/she/it was (wasn't) in spoken language. But it's better to use "were (weren't)" in formal writing.

Examples

If I were you, I would apologize.

If he were rich, he would live in a big house.

If Becky weren't so shy, she would be popular at school.