Conditional Type 2 (Second Conditional)
Introduction
The second conditional is for imaginary or unlikely situations in the present or future. We use it to imagine different realities!
Structure: If + simple past, would + base verb
Key idea: This is imaginary or very unlikely, but here's what would happen...
When Do We Use It?
1. For Imaginary Situations
When we imagine things that are not real or very unlikely:
Examples
- If I were rich, I would travel the world. (But I'm not rich)
- If I knew her number, I would call her. (But I don't know it)
- If she studied harder, she would pass the exam. (But she doesn't study hard)
- If we lived near the beach, we would swim every day. (But we don't live near the beach)
2. To Give Advice ("If I were you...")
This is a very common way to give advice:
Examples
- If I were you, I would study more.
- If I were you, I would tell the truth.
- If I were you, I would see a doctor.
- If I were you, I wouldn't worry about it.
Note: It's correct and common to say "If I were" (not "If I was") in the second conditional!
3. With Modals for Different Meanings
Examples
- We might buy a house if we had more money. (possibility)
- He could help you if you asked him. (ability)
- If she called, I wouldn't hear. (impossibility)
Structure
In a type 2 conditional sentence, the tense in the "if" clause is the simple past, and the tense in the main clause is the simple conditional or the continuous conditional.
| If clause | Main clause |
|---|---|
if + Simple Past | Simple Conditional |
| If this happened, | that would happen |
| -- | |
if + Simple Past | Conditional Continuous |
| If this happened, | that would be happening |
As in all conditional sentences, the order of the clauses is not fixed. You may have to rearrange the pronouns and adjust punctuation when you change the order of the clauses, but the meaning is identical.
Examples
- If it rained, you would get wet.
- You would get wet if it rained.
- If you went to bed earlier you wouldn't be so tired.
- You wouldn't be so tired if you went to bed earlier.
- If she fell, she would hurt herself.
- She would hurt herself if she fell.
Simple Conditional
Subject-Verb Agreement
Affirmative
- I would drink...
- I'd drink...
- You would drink...
- You'd drink...
- We would drink...
- We'd drink...
- They would drink...
- They'd drink...
- He would drink...
- He'd drink...
- She would drink...
- She'd drink...
- It would drink...
- It'd drink...
Interrogative
- Would I drink...?
- Would you drink...?
- Would we drink...?
- Would they drink...?
- Would he drink...?
- Would she drink...?
- Would it drink...?
Negative
- I wouldn't drink...
- I would not drink...
- I'd not drink...
- You wouldn't drink...
- You would not drink...
- You'd not drink...
- We wouldn't drink...
- We would not drink...
- We'd not drink...
- They wouldn't drink...
- They would not drink...
- They'd not drink...
- He wouldn't drink...
- He would not drink...
- He'd not drink...
- She wouldn't drink...
- She would not drink...
- She'd not drink...
- It wouldn't drink...
- It would not drink...
- It'd not drink...
Conditional Continuous
Subject-Verb Agreement
Affirmative
- I would be drinking...
- I'd be drinking...
- You would be drinking...
- You'd be drinking...
- We would be drinking...
- We'd be drinking...
- They would be drinking...
- They'd be drinking...
- He would be drinking...
- He'd be drinking...
- She would be drinking...
- She'd be drinking...
- It would be drinking...
- It'd be drinking...
Interrogative
- Would I be drinking...?
- Would you be drinking...?
- Would we be drinking...?
- Would they be drinking...?
- Would he be drinking...?
- Would she be drinking...?
- Would it be drinking...?
Negative
- I wouldn't be drinking...
- I would not be drinking...
- I'd not be drinking...
- You wouldn't be drinking...
- You would not be drinking...
- You'd not be drinking...
- We wouldn't be drinking...
- We would not be drinking...
- We'd not be drinking...
- They wouldn't be drinking...
- They would not be drinking...
- They'd not be drinking...
- He wouldn't be drinking...
- He would not be drinking...
- He'd not be drinking...
- She wouldn't be drinking...
- She would not be drinking...
- She'd not be drinking...
- It wouldn't be drinking...
- It would not be drinking...
- It'd not be drinking...