Second Conditional by Fernando Britez

1. SECOND CONDITIONAL
(UNREAL CONDITIONAL)
How and when to use the second conditional

2. SECOND CONDITIONAL/ UNREAL
CONDITIONAL
• We use the second conditional to talk about possible outcomes
to an unlikely or impossible situation. Theses situations are
hypothetical or dreams.
For example
• If I won the lottery, I would buy a house on a tropical island.
What are the chances that I win the lottery?
• If I had a superpower, I would teleport.
What is the likelihood that I ever have this superpower?

3. SECOND CONDITIONAL/UNREAL
CONDITIONAL
• If I had more time, I would travel more.
In reality, do I have more time?
• If she had a bigger house, she would let me stay with
her.
• Does she have a bigger house?

4. WHY DO WE USE THE SECOND
CONDITIONAL?
Hypothesizing: If I lived near a train station, I wouldn’t need
a car.
Advice: If I had your experience, I would apply for the job.
Opinion: If he studied more, he would get better grades.
Excuse: If I had more time, I would do the homework.

5. STRUCTURE
Condition (If clause) + Possible Result
If + subject + verb (past tense)…, Subject + would + verb (base
form)
could
might

6. What would you do if you didn’t have to
work?
What would you do if you won the
lottery?
What would you do if you had more
time?
If I didn’t have to work, I
would/could/might….
If I won the lottery, I would …
If I had more time, I would…
PRACTICE

7. EXCEPTION
• Verb to Be (ONLY in the second conditional), we use WERE for all
persons.
• If I were
• If you were
• If he/she/it were
• If we were
• If they were

8. EXAMPLES
• If I were you, I would talk to my manager. (This is less
direct.)
• If he were my friend, I would tell him.
• If they were here, they would need winter coats.

9. YOUR TURN
• What would you do if you were in Canada now?
• What would you do if you were the President of your
country?
• What would you do if you were the teacher?