Difficulty
| Low | Medium | High | |||
| A1 | A2 | B1 | B2 | C1 | C2 |
Let’s have a look at the form and meaning of the second conditional:
Form:
if + past tense + would + (without ‘to’)
|
If |
Future condition |
Future result |
|
If |
past tense |
would + infinitive (without “to”) |
|
If |
I won the lottery, |
I would buy a car. |
|
If |
James became rich, |
she would marry him. |
|
If |
it snowed next July, |
would you be surprised? |
|
If |
you came in the summer, |
you could stay with us. |
|
If |
you came in the summer, |
you might even get your own room. |
|
If |
she bought the villa, |
she should build a swimming pool in it. |
|
Future result |
if |
Future condition |
|
would + infinitive (without ‘to’) |
if |
past tense |
|
I would buy a car |
if |
I won the lottery. |
|
She would marry him |
if |
he became rich. |
|
Would you be surprised |
if |
it snowed next July? |
|
You could stay with us |
if |
you came in the summer. |
|
You might even get your own room |
if |
you came in the summer. |
|
She should build a swimming pool in the villa |
if |
she bought it. |
Note: Sometimes, we change would with should, could, or might.
Meaning:
We use the second conditional to express an unlikely connection between one imaginary event (if + past tense) and another imaginary event (would + infinitive [without ‘to’]). This conditional is known as the ‘hypothetical’ conditional, because it is used to talk about ‘impossible’ situations in the future. Therefore, we are using a past tense to speak about the future condition, and the would + infinitive (without ‘to’) to speak about the future result.
Use the following exercises to test yourself.
example – 1+2) If I were (be) you, I would get (get) a new job.
3+4) If he ______________ (be) younger, he ______________ (travel) more.
5+6) If we ______________ (not/be) friends, I ______________ (be) angry with you.
7+8) If I ______________ (have) enough money, I ______________ (buy) a big house.
9+10) If she ______________ (not/be) always so late, she ______________ (be) promoted.
11+12) If we ______________ (win) the lottery, we ______________ (travel) the world.
13+14) If you ______________ (have) a better job, we ______________ (be) able to buy a new car.
15+16) If I ______________ (speak) perfect English, I ______________ (have) a good job.
17+18) If we ______________ (live) in Mexico, I ______________ (speak) Spanish.
19+20) If she ______________ (pass) the exam, she ______________ (be) able to enter university.
[watupro 14]
If you have any questions about the second conditional, please leave a comment below.