(Present Unreal Conditional)
It should be noted that the second conditional refers to a pattern used to describe hypothetical, typically counterfactual situations with a present or future time frame (for past time frames the third conditional is used). And, in the normal form of the second conditional, the condition clause is in the past tense (although it does not have past meaning. The consequence is expressed using the conditional construction with the auxiliary would.
How to use: The second conditional is used to talk about Imaginary situations in the present or future.
For example:
- If he had more time, he would learn karate.
- She could win the prize if she practiced hard.
What Is the Second Conditional?
Learn how and when to use Conditional Sentences Type 2 (Present Unreal Conditional) with useful form, usage and example sentences
Like a first conditional, a second conditional sentence consists of two clauses, an ‘if‘ clause and a main clause. We use different verb forms in each part of a 2nd conditional:
Second Conditional Form: If + Past Simple, Present Conditional (would/wouldn’t + Verb (bare form)).
For example:
- If I won a million dollars, I would buy a new car.
Note that this “past simple” form is slightly different from usual in the case of the verb BE. Whatever the subject, the verb form is “were”, not “was”.
Second conditional examples:
- If I were you, I would quit smoking.
- If I were the president, I would lower taxes.
If the ‘if‘ clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the ‘if‘ clause comes second, there is no need for a comma.
For example:
- They would stay longer if they had more time.
Sometimes it’s possible to use ‘should’, ‘could‘ or ‘might’ in place of ‘would‘.
For example:
- If I had more free time, I could travel around the world.
- If I won a million dollars, I could stop working.
How to Use the Second Conditional
The conditional sentences type 2 is used to talk about things which are unreal (not true or not possible) in the present or the future – things which don’t or won’t happen.
For example:
- If I had a car, I would drive it every day.
Conditional Sentences Type 2 | Image
