Second Conditional

Second Conditional – Exercises

These exercises focus on Second Conditional

What is the Second Conditional?

The second conditional describes a situation that is not real or unlikely. It expresses what would happen if a certain condition were true.

Structure of the Second Conditional:

If + Past Simple, would + base verb

• If clause: States the imaginary condition (in the past simple tense).

• Main clause: States the result (with "would" + base verb).

Examples:

• If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house.

• If she studied harder, she would pass the exam.

When Do We Use the Second Conditional?

1. Imaginary or Unreal Situations in the Present or Future

• If I were a bird, I would fly around the world.
  (I’m not a bird, but I’m imagining it.)

2. Unlikely or Impossible Events

• If it rained in the desert, plants would grow there.
  (Rain in a desert is unlikely.)

3. Dreams and Wishes

• If I had a million dollars, I would travel the world.
  (This is my dream, not my reality.)

Important Grammar Rules

1. Was or Were?

In the second conditional, use were instead of was for all subjects, including "I," "he," "she," and "it." This is because the second conditional expresses unreal situations, and "were" is the subjunctive form of the verb.

Examples:

• If I were you, I would apologize.

• If she were here, she would help us.

Note: In informal speech, some people use "was" instead of "were," but "were" is preferred in formal writing.

2. Use "would" in the main clause

"Would" is used to express the result of the condition. Other modal verbs like "could" or "might" can also be used for different meanings.

• If she studied harder, she could pass the exam.

• If he were here, he might help us.

3. The if-clause can come first or second

• If I knew the answer, I would tell you.

• I would tell you if I knew the answer.
  (Notice there’s no comma when the main clause comes first.)

4. Comma in the Second Conditional

• If the sentence starts with the if-clause, you need a comma after it:
  If I were rich, I would travel the world.

• If the sentence starts with the main clause, no comma is needed:
  I would travel the world if I were rich.

First Conditional vs. Second Conditional

The first conditional and second conditional are often confused because they both involve "if." However, they are used for very different situations.

Comparison Table:

Common Mistakes 

Everyday Use 

The second conditional is useful for talking about dreams, giving advice, or imagining different situations.

1. Talking About Dreams

• If I were a famous singer, I would travel the world.

• If I had a car, I would drive to the beach.

2. Giving Advice

• If I were you, I would call the doctor.

• If she studied more, she would get better grades.

3. Imagining Unreal Situations

• If we lived on Mars, we would need spacesuits.

• If animals could talk, what would they say?

FAQ: Second Conditional

Can I use "could" or "might" instead of "would"?

Yes! "Could" shows possibility, and "might" shows uncertainty.

• If I won the lottery, I could buy a car.

• If she tried harder, she might succeed.

Why do we use the past tense in the if-clause?

The past tense in the second conditional doesn’t mean past time. It’s used to show the situation is hypothetical or unreal.

Is "If I was" acceptable?

In formal English, "If I were" is preferred, but "If I was" is common in informal speech.

What’s the difference between the second and first conditional?

• First conditional: Real or likely situations.

• If it rains, we will stay inside.

• Second conditional: Unreal or unlikely situations.

• If it rained, we would stay inside.

Can the second conditional describe the past?

No, the second conditional is for the present or future. Use the third conditional for past unreal situations.

• If I had studied, I would have passed the test.