Second Conditional

There are 4 main types of conditionals which are zero conditional, first conditional, third conditional and mixed conditional. Zero conditional is used to talk about habit and fact, first conditional describe future possibilities, second conditional focuses on unreal situation in the present while third conditional is basically used to talk about regret. In this article we will explore and practice the second conditional.

Table Of Content

Usages
Forms
Examples
Modal verbs ( would, could, might)
Interactive Lesson and Practices

Usages

Second Conditional is basically to talk about unreal situation in the present, imaginative situation and advice. This simply means that everything we say is not true now we just imagine.

Forms

Second Conditional is formed by using simple past in the reason clause and modal verbs " would" in the main clause. Check the four main forms below.

Positive : If +simple past, Sub + would + base verb.

Negative : If + simple past, Sub + wouldn't + base verb.

Yes/No : If + simple past, would + sub + base verb?

Information Question : If + simple past, Wh-word + would + sub + base verb?

Note: If the reason clause is placed at the beginning, a comma (,) is needed but when it is moved to the end, a comma (,) is no longer needed.

Examples

If I had time, I would help him with his assignment. ( The reality now is that I didn't help time and I didn't help him at all.)

If I were rich, I would buy a big house.
If she studied harder, she would get better grades.
If we had more time, we would travel more.
If he lived closer, he would visit us often.
If they knew the answer, they would tell the teacher.
If I had a car, I could drive to work.
If it rained, we might stay at home.
If you were more careful, you wouldn’t make so many mistakes.
If she won the lottery, she would travel around the world.
If I were you, I would study English every day.

Modal Verbs

Using WOULD (imaginary situations)

If I were rich, I would buy a big house.
If she lived in the city, she would find a better job.
If we had more free time, we would travel more often.
If he knew her number, he would call her.
If they studied harder, they would pass the exam.

Using COULD (ability / possibility)

If I had a car, I could drive to school.
If she spoke English well, she could work abroad.
If we lived closer, we could meet every day.
If he had more experience, he could get the job.
If they practiced more, they could play better.

Using MIGHT (possible but uncertain result)

If it rained, we might stay at home.
If I finished my work early, I might go out.
If she tried harder, she might succeed.
If we left now, we might arrive on time.
If he asked for help, he might understand the lesson

Sentence Unscramble

Please unscramble the following sentences the make the correct form of second conditional.
🧩 Sentence Unscramble – Second Conditional
won / if / I / the / would / lottery / buy / I / a / house
→ ___________________________________________
more / had / time / if / I / would / travel / I
→ ___________________________________________
were / if / rich / he / would / a / car / buy / new / he
→ ___________________________________________
she / studied / harder / would / pass / she / if / the / exam
→ ___________________________________________
if / lived / we / near / the / beach / would / go / we / swimming / every / day
→ ___________________________________________
would / you / do / what / if / were / the / you / president
→ ___________________________________________
if / didn’t / rain / would / play / we / football
→ ___________________________________________
could / fly / if / birds / were / people / would / be / happier
→ ___________________________________________
if / knew / her / I / number / would / call / I / her
→ ___________________________________________
help / would / I / you / if / I / had / enough / money
→ ___________________________________________