Second Conditional

Second Conditional

1. Structure

   • If + subject + Past Simple, subject ...Would + Verb simple form
     • We use a past verb though are imagining the present or the future to be different.
       • If I won the lottery, I would travel around the world.
     • We can also reverse the order
       • Example
         • Subject + would + verb simple form + If + subject + Past Simple
           • would be happy if I had more free time.

2. Note that with the verb To Be we use

   • IF + I / HE / SHE / IT + WERE
     • f I were not in debt, I would quit my job. If he were taller, he'd be accepted into the team.

3. COULD can be used instead of WOULD to make the hypothetical present or future more likely.

   • If he trained every day, he could represent his country If I had a little more money, I could buy a car.