THE SECOND CONDITIONAL

THE SECOND CONDITIONAL

1. THE SECOND CONDITIONAL

   • 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 big house.(I probably 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.

2. Second, we can use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible, because it's not true. examples:

   • • 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

3. The second conditional uses the past simple after if, then 'would' and the infinitive

4. REMENBER:

   • “We can use 'were' instead of 'was' with 'I' and 'he/she/it'. This is mostly done in formal writing”

5. Rule

   • Acond conditional sentence consists of two clauses, an “if” clause and a main clause:
     • If + subject + simple past verb, subject + would + verb
       • If I had a million dollars, I would buy a big house.

6. REMEMBER

   • That this "simple past" form is slightly different from usual in the case of the verb BE. Whatever the subject, the verb form is "were", not "was": If I were rich, I'd buy a big house.
     • Example
       • • If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house. • 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.