♥ The second conditional is like the first conditional. We are still thinking about the future.
We are thinking about a particular condition in the future, and the result of this condition.
But there is not a real possibility that this condition will happen. For example, you do not
have a lottery ticket. Is it possible to win? No! No lottery ticket, no win! But maybe you will
buy a lottery ticket in the future. So you can think about winning in the future, like a dream.
It's not very real, but it's still possible.
IF condition result
past simple WOULD + base verb
If I won the lottery I would buy a car.
♥ Notice that we are thinking about a future condition. We use the past simple tense to talk
about the future condition. We use WOULD + base verb to talk about the future result. The
important thing about the second conditional is that there is an unreal possibility that the
condition will happen.
Here are some more examples:
IF condition result
past simple WOULD + base verb
If I married Mary I would be happy.
If Ram became rich she would marry him.
If it snowed next July what would you do?
result IF condition
WOULD + base verb past simple
I would be happy if I married Mary.
She would marry Ram if he became rich.
What would you do if it snowed next July?
♥ Sometimes, we use should, could or might instead of would, for example: If I won a million
dollars, I could stop working.
Performed by: Alexandra Jiménez
Exercise 1: Match the sentences with the correct condition or result, using the second
conditional.
a 1. If I knew his number,
___ a) if I were you.
___
f 2. She would do it b) if you went out more often.
___
b 3. I wouldn’t do that c) we would travel more often.
___
d 4. If we lived in the country, d) we could go to the beach.
h 5. If there were less cars on the road,
___ e) I would him a call.
___
i 6. If I had more spare time, f) If you worked harder for your exams.
___
c 7. If the weather were good, g) if she could.
j
___ 8. If we had enough money, h) we would need a second car.
j 9. You would get better results
___ i) I would join the sports club.
b
___ 10. You would meet more people j) there would be less pollution.
Exercise 2: Complete the sentences with the correct verb forms.
1. If scientists __________
had (have) more money, they __________
would find (find) a cure for AIDS.
2. Water and air __________
wouldn't be (not be) so dirty if factories __________ (not produce) so
didn't produce
much pollution.
3. didn't exist (not exist), we wouldn't
If mobile phones __________ __________
be able(not be able) to talk to
friends so easily.
4. We __________
would go (go) to the Moon if space travel was
__________ (be) cheaper.
5. If we __________
could (can) write without pens or computers, we __________
would work (work)
faster.
6. We __________
would have (have) more free time if robots __________
did (do) our work.
7. Most of us __________ didn't use (not use) vaccines and
wouldn't be(not be) alive if doctors __________
antibiotics.
would get rid of
8. If we __________
found (find) a universal cure, we __________ (get rid of) cancer and
AIDS.
9. I __________ didn't be
would lose (lose) contact with the world if my computer __________ (not be) there
on my desk.
10. If we __________
didn't know (not know) how to remove sewage and bring clean water into
buildings, modern cities __________
wouldn't be (not be) possible.
Performed by: Alexandra Jiménez