The second conditional is loved by dreamers everywhere. Why? Because the second conditional refers to imaginary situations. For example, If I had a million dollars, I’d buy a mansion. So let’s unlock the Power of 'If', with this practical guide to Second Conditionals.
As a reminder, the first conditional is an English grammar structure we use to talk about things that are possible and can happen in the future if a certain condition is met.
English first conditional structure:
If + present simple, will + base verb
For example,
- If it rains, we will stay inside.
- If we get a house with a garden, we can get a pet cat.
- If you call me, I will answer.
The second conditional talks about imaginary or unlikely situations, and what the consequences of those imaginary situations would be in the future.
English Second Conditional structure:
If + past simple, would + base verb
For example,
- If she were taller, she would play basketball.
- If I knew the answer, I would tell you.
Simple English grammar tip:
First conditional = Real and possible.
Second conditional = Imaginary or unlikely. Less sure of the outcome.
Another simple tip is to take an English course for adults! English grammar can be eccentric, and your teacher can answer your questions on the spot. Find English courses for adults here.
What are the English grammar rules for the Second Conditional?
The second conditional in English has two clauses; the 'if' clause, and the main clause.
This chart shows the structure you use:
|
|
'If' clause
|
main clause |
|
Structure |
If + past simple / past continuous
|
subject + would / wouldn't + verb |
|
positive sentence
|
If I had more real friends, |
I wouldn’t spend so much time on social media.
|
|
Negative sentence
|
If I didn't eat meat, |
I'd be a lot healthier |
|
Question
|
If I invited you to a party, |
would you come? |
Variations of the Second Conditional in English grammar
You can also use the second conditional to express less certainly about an outcome in the future. Look at these two sentences:
First Conditional: If I get that job, I'll move to Toronto.
Second Conditional: If I got that job, I'd move to Toronto.
Both sentences express a similar meaning. But in sentence one the speaker is more confident about getting the job. In the second sentence, they’re not sure.… perhaps they have not even applied? Maybe they’re daydreaming about getting a job that allows them to travel?
Because the English second conditional is talking about an unreal situation, we often use the verb to be in the form were instead of was, even when we’re talking in the first and third person:
For example,
If I were less worried about the future, I'd enjoy life more.
If he were more careful, he wouldn't make so many mistakes.
It's also possible to use could or might in the main clause instead of would or wouldn't. But these words express less certainty. So you use could or might when you need to talk about something possible -- but not necessarily probable.
For example,
If I knew all the answers, I could easily pass the exam.
If he listened more, he might learn something new.
As with all conditionals, the ‘if’ clause and the ‘main’ clause can go in any order. But when the ‘if’ clause comes first, we use a comma to separate the two clauses.
For example,
If John were here, I'd tell him exactly what I think of him.
I'd tell John exactly what I think of him if he were here.
Common errors using the Second Conditional
A common mistake is to get confused between the two clauses, and use the wrong English tenses.
For example,
I didn’t eat that if I were you. X
I wouldn’t eat that if I were you.✓
Just as when we are speaking English, we often use contractions when we write conditional sentences.
For example:
If John had grown up here, he’d speak perfect Thai. (He would. Contraction = he’d
If I’d taken that job in the bank, I’d be richer now. (I would. Contraction = I’d)
My adult students often ask how can you tell if the ‘d means ‘had’ or ‘would’? It’s a good question. The answer is -- from the context! It’s not possible to say: ‘He had speak perfect Thai’, because after the auxiliary had, we have to use the past participle, so it can only be ‘would’.
Remember that we never use ‘to’ after verbs like could or might
For example
If I cooked, you wouldn’t to enjoy it. X
If I cooked, you wouldn’t enjoy it. ✓
Famous examples of the Second Conditional in movies and music
Many songs, movies and novels use the second conditional, because artists love to dream about what could happen, in a different world!
Beyonce’s 2008 hit song ‘If I were a boy ’ allowed her to imagine what her life would be like if she were a different gender. She concludes that her experiences of being a woman would make her ‘a better man’ than most.
In 2006 every time you put on the radio, you’d hear Peter, Bjorn and John’s catchy song ‘Young Folks ’, asking ‘If you knew my story word for word...would you go along with me?’
In the hit trilogy of books and movies, “The Hunger Games” the heroine Katniss tells her enemies in not to attack, because her rebels will fight back. She warns the Capital, “If we burn, you will burn with us!”
Mini Quiz
Each of these sentences has a mistake. Can you find it and correct it?
- If I was taller, I’d be a basketball player.
- If John would ask you on a date, would you go?
- If Brian won the competition, he had be very happy.
- If I were you, I’d to go to Barcelona in the Spring - the weather is much nicer.
- I wouldn’t do maths at school unless I didn’t have to.
Answers:
- If I were taller, I’d be a basketball player.
- If John asked you on a date, would you go?
- If Brian won the competition, he would be very happy.
- If I were you, I’d go to Barcelona in the Spring - the weather is much nicer.
- I wouldn’t do maths at school unless I had to.