This document discusses second and third conditional sentences, which are known as unreal conditionals. Second conditionals refer to hypothetical situations in the present or future, using the structure "if + past tense, would/could/might + infinitive." Third conditionals refer to hypothetical past situations, using "if + past perfect, would have + past participle." Some examples of second and third conditionals are provided. The document also notes some variations that are possible with pronouns and when mixing tenses. Exercises are included to practice forming second and third conditional sentences.

1. CONDITIONAL
SENTENCES:
UNREAL
CONDITIONALS:
2nd and 3rd
conditional
sentences
With slight changes from a presentation
by Fernanda González

2. CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
• Conditional Sentences are also known as
Conditional Clauses or If Clauses.
• They are used to express that the
action in the main clause
(without if) can only take place if a
certain condition (in the clause
with if) is fulfilled.

3. CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
• Most linguists consider three types of
Conditional Sentences, but some of
them add one more type: zero
conditionals.
• Let´s pay attention to the Second and
Third Conditionals, the so-called
UNREAL CONDITIONALS.

4. SECOND CONDITIONALS
We use the Second Conditional to talk about a
hypothetical or imaginary situation in the
present or in the future and its consequence.
COMPARE:
• If I have time, I’ll help you.
• If I had time, I’d help you.
The second example shows an imaginary
situation: I don’t and I won’t have time.

5. SECOND CONDITIONALS
Second Conditional sentences are formed as
follows:
IF
Past Simple
Past Continuous
Would
Could
Might
INF

6. SECOND CONDITIONALS
• EXAMPLES:
• If I had more money, I’d buy a bigger house.
• If my team won the cup, I’d buy champagne
for everybody.
• If I was working in London, I’d take the tube
everyday.
• If I spoke to him directly, I might be able to
convince him.

7. SECOND CONDITIONALS
•THINGS TO CONSIDER:
• With the verb TO BE you can say:
– If I were the president, I’d reduce the
taxes.
OR
– If I was the president, I’d reduce the
taxes.
• This happens with the pronouns I, he,
she, it

8. SECOND CONDITIONALS
•However when we give advice we say:
-If I were you, I’d be more careful.
•The main clause and the if-clause can
go in either order:
– If I went to New York, I’d go to Brodway.
OR
– I’d go to Brodway if I went to New York

9. THIRD CONDITIONALS
We use the Third Conditional to talk about a
hypothetical or imaginary situation in the
past, which didn´t happen.

10. THIRD CONDITIONALS
Third Conditional sentences are formed
as follows:
IF
Past Perfect
Past Perfect Cont.
Would have
Could have
Might have
Past
participle

11. THIRD CONDITIONALS
Examples:
• If you had studied more, you would have
passed your exams.
• If we hadn’t missed the bus, we
wouldn´t have been late.
• If I had known you needed help, I could
have helped you.

12. UNREAL CONDITIONALS
SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER:
• Sometimes, second and third
conditionals can be mixed if a
hypothetical situation in the past has a
present or future consequence:
-We wouldn´t be so happy now if we
hadn´t won the lottery.
• Use a comma after the if-clause.
-If we hadn´t won the lottery, we
wouldn´t be so happy now.

13. SECOND AND THIRD
CONDIONALS
EXERCISES
Make true sentences about yourself:
• I’d be really annoyed if . . .
• I’d retire if . . .
• I´d split up with my boyfriend if…
• I’d have invited you if . . .
• I´d have given you my phone number if…

14. UNREAL CONDITIONALS
• Special thanks to Fernanda González,
for her generosity in sharing her work.