Second conditional

Second conditional

Exercise 3

Complete the following second conditional setences with the verbs in brackets in the correct form. Use would/’d or would not/wouldn’t/’d not + verb in the main clauses.

1 If John was here, he (know) what to do.

2 I wouldn't work here if I (not enjoy) my job.

3 It's too bad that you don't speak French. If you (speak) French, you (get) the job at the hotel.

4 If he (know) the truth, he (kill) you.

5 Where would you travel if you (be) rich?

6 I'm sorry, I can't go out. I'd go out if I (not have) this terrible headache.

7 I (not have) a cat if I (not like) animals.

8 If I (learn) Japanese, I (try) to find a job in Japan.

9 If he (be) a nice person, he (not treat) people so badly.

10 I (not go) to that hotel if I (be) you.

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Second conditional – Grammar chart

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If clause and main clause

We use if + past to talk about an imaginary present or future situation (although the verb is in past, the meaning is present or future). And we use would + infinitive to talk about the result or consequence of that imaginary situation.

• If we had a mansion in the country, we’d go there every weekend. 
• Would you travel around the world if you won the lottery?

Comma

When the if clause comes first, we normally put a comma after it. We don’t use a comma when the main clause comes first and the if clause comes second.

• If I won the lottery, I’d buy a mansion.
• I’d buy a mansion if I won the lottery. 

Would

Would/wouldn’t is the same for all persons.

• I/you/he/she/it/we/they would/wouldn’t do that if it was possible. 

Contracted forms are wouldn’t= would not and ‘d= would

• I‘d never tell anyone if you told me your secret. 
• I wouldn’t tell anyone if you told me your secret. 

Could

We can often use could + infinitive instead of would + infinitive in the main clause.

• If you spoke English, you could get a better job.

Was or were?

In the second conditional we can use if I/he/she/it were (more formal) instead of if I/he/she/it was (spoken English).

• If I were/was fit, I would run a marathon.
• We wouldn’t have any problems if he were/was  more reasonable.

But we use were (NOT was) when we give advice with the expression if I were you.

• If I were you, I would stay home and rest.
• I wouldn’t pay any attention to what he says if I were you.

First conditional vs second conditional

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We use the first conditional to talk about possible future situations and we use the second conditional to talk about hypothetical or imaginary future situations.

• If I don’t have a meeting tomorrow morning, I’ll have lunch with you. (It’s possible. Maybe I don’t have a meeting.)
• If I didn’t have a meeting tomorrow morning, I’d have lunch with you. (It’s hypothetical. I have a meeting tomorrow, so I won’t be able to have lunch with you.)

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