The second conditional.

The second conditional.

1. USE IT:

   • 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 big house.
   • we can use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible, because it's not true.
     • If I had his number, I would call him.

2. STRUCTURE:

   • if + past simple, ...would + infinitive
     • The second conditional uses the past simple after if, then 'would' and the infinitive.
     • We can use 'were' instead of 'was' with 'I' and 'he/she/it'. This is mostly done in formal writing

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