Second Conditional

Second Conditional

In this blog you are going to learn about second conditional by:

Meaning and uses
Examples
Practices

Meaning and uses:

Unreal Conditional sentences express imaginary situations. The if clause introduces the imaginary condition or event (It is not true at the present time). The main clause expresses the imaginary result (what would or could happen after the if clause).

This picture show us the structure and some examples of the second conditional

About the uses, this 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.

She would pass the exam if she ever studied.(She never studies, so this won't happen)

If I met the Queen of England, I would say hello.

Also, the Second Conditional is used to talk about 'impossible' situations.

If I had millions dollars, I would give a lot to charity.

If there were no hungry people in this world, it would be a much better place.

Is important to say that the form 'If I were you' which is often used to give advice.

If I were you, I wouldn't go out with that man.

If I were you, I would look for a new place to live

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. Sometimes the choice between the first and the second conditional is often a question of the speaker's attitude rather than facts. Compare these examples. Armando thinks these situations are possible, Carlos doesn't.

Armando – If I win the lottery, I'll buy a big house.
Carlos – If I won the lottery, I'd buy a big house.
Armando – If I get promoted, I'll throw a big party.
Carlos – If I got promoted, I'd throw a big party.

The 'If clause' can contain the past simple or the past continuous and It doesn't indicate past time; It indicates that the situation is unreal as the same with could, would and might; also indicate that the result is unreal.