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Understanding the Second Conditional

The document discusses the second conditional, which uses "if" clauses with the past simple tense and main clauses with "would" plus an infinitive. It has two main uses: to talk about unlikely future possibilities and to discuss present impossibilities. Examples are provided to illustrate how the second conditional differs from the first conditional by being less likely or possible. The document also notes that "if I were you" is often used to give advice and that the "if" clause can contain the past simple or past continuous tenses, while the main clause can contain "would," "could," or "might."

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7 views6 pages

Understanding the Second Conditional

The document discusses the second conditional, which uses "if" clauses with the past simple tense and main clauses with "would" plus an infinitive. It has two main uses: to talk about unlikely future possibilities and to discuss present impossibilities. Examples are provided to illustrate how the second conditional differs from the first conditional by being less likely or possible. The document also notes that "if I were you" is often used to give advice and that the "if" clause can contain the past simple or past continuous tenses, while the main clause can contain "would," "could," or "might."

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Paooh Santander
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

SECOND CONDITIONAL

Paola Santander
The second conditional uses the past simple after if, then 'would' and the infinitive:
if + past simple, ...would + infinitive

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

It has two uses.

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.
She would pass the exam if she ever studied.(She never studies, so this won't happen)
Second, we can use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible, because
it's not true. Is that clear? Have a look at the 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.

How is this different from the first conditional?


This kind of conditional sentence is different from the first conditional because this is a
lot more unlikely.

For example (second conditional): If I had enough money I would buy a house with
twenty bedrooms and a swimming pool (I'm probably not going to have this much
money, it's just a dream, not very real)
Note the form 'If I were you' which is often used to give advice.

If I were you, I'd look for a new place to live.


If I were you, I'd go back to school and get more qualifications.

Note that the 'If clause' can contain the past simple or the past continuous.

If I was still working in Brighton, I would commute by train.


If she were coming, she would be here by now.
If they were thinking of selling, I would want to buy.

Note that the main clause can contain 'would' 'could' or 'might.

If I had the chance to do it again, I would do it differently.


If we met up for lunch, we could go to that new restaurant.
If I spoke to him directly, I might be able to persuade him.
1. If his nose were smaller, he _________ very handsome.
would be
was

2. I would come if I _________ a car.


would have
had

3. If she _________, she would tell him.


knows
knew

4. If his parents didn't give him money, he ________ so much.


wouldn't go out
didn't go out

5. If she ________ me, she would have told me.


didn't believe
wouldn't believe

6. He wouldn't say that if he ________ it.


wouldn't mean
didn't mean

7. I ________ on a trip around the world if I won the lottery.


would go
will go

8. I ________ that if I were you.


will not do
would not do

Common questions

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The second conditional uses the past simple after 'if' and 'would' with the infinitive in the main clause, which expresses an unlikely or imaginary situation. In contrast, the first conditional uses the present simple after 'if' and 'will' with the infinitive, representing a real situation in the future .

Using the past simple or past continuous in the 'if' clause of a second conditional does not change the hypothetical nature of the situation. However, the past continuous can add context by emphasizing an ongoing action at some time in the past, enhancing the scenario's narrative .

The main clause of a second conditional statement can contain 'would', 'could', or 'might' to express varying degrees of certainty or ability regarding the hypothetical outcomes. For example, 'If I had the chance to do it again, I could do it differently' .

Both examples use the grammatical structure of the second conditional, employing the past simple tense in the 'if' clause ('If I had his number', 'If she ever studied') and 'would' with the base form of the verb in the main clause ('I would call him', 'she would pass the exam').

The use of 'were' instead of 'was' with 'I', 'he', 'she', or 'it' in second conditional statements is often chosen for formal writing. It reflects a subjunctive mood, which is used when describing hypothetical, imaginary, or contrary-to-fact situations .

The phrase 'If I were you' is used to give advice by suggesting what the speaker would do if they were in the listener's situation. It implies that the suggested action is advisable, but acknowledges that the speaker is not literally in the listener's situation .

The statement 'If I were you, I wouldn't go out with that man' uses the second conditional to offer advice by proposing a hypothetical scenario where the speaker imagines themselves in the listener's position. It suggests what action the speaker would take in that imaginary situation .

The second conditional implies that winning the lottery is unlikely or imagined; it is presented as a hypothetical scenario rather than a realistic expectation .

An example of a second conditional sentence using 'might' in the main clause is: 'If I spoke to him directly, I might be able to persuade him' .

The second conditional is used to talk about things in the future that are probably not going to be true and to discuss something in the present which is impossible because it is not true .

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