Second and third Conditionals

1. CONDITIONAL
Second

2. Using the Second Conditional in
English Grammar
The Second Conditional has various uses in
everyday English. Some of these situations include:
Imaginary situations
1.
Unreal or unlikely conditions
2.
Offering advice on improbable situations
3.

3. How to Form the Second Conditional
'If' clause: This part starts with the word 'if' and is followed by a subject and a verb
in the past simple tense. An important exception to this rule is when using the verb
'to be', where it's always replaced with 'were'. This usage is known as the
subjunctive mood.
1.
Main clause: This portion of the sentence involves a subject and the modal verb
'would', followed by the base form of the verb.
1.

4. The order of the clauses can be switched
in a Second Conditional sentence. For
example, both 'If it rained, they would
stay indoors' and 'They would stay
indoors if it rained' are correct. Keep in
mind that you don't need a comma when
starting the sentence with the main
clause.
2
Second Conditional Rules
Subjunctive mood usage: When using the verb
'to be' in the 'if' clause with the Second
Conditional, always replace it with 'were' for
all subjects (I, you, he, she, it, we, and they).
For example:
If I were taller, I would play basketball.
If she were here, she would know what
to do.
1

5. Second Conditional sentences can be
transformed into questions. In this case,
invert the subject and 'would' (or 'could' or
'might') to form the question.
For example:
Would you travel the world if you had
enough money?
Could he finish the project if he had
more time?
4
Second Conditional Rules
You may substitute 'would' with other modal
verbs such as 'could' or 'might' to express
varying degrees of possibility or probability in
the main clause.
For example:
If he practiced more, he could become a
better player.
If she studied harder, she might pass
the exam.
3

6. Second Conditional: used for expressing hypothetical
situations and their possible outcomes.
Second Conditional Sentences structure: "If + past
simple, would + base form of the verb"
Uses of the Second Conditional: imaginary situations,
unreal or unlikely conditions, offering advice.
Second Conditional Structure: 'if' clause (with past
simple tense) and main clause (with 'would' and the base
form of the verb).
Second Conditional Rules: using subjunctive mood with
'were', correct sentence order, alternatives to 'would',
and forming conditional questions.
Review

7. Listening
DUNCAN
What I’d do with a million pounds? Well,
first I would quit my university course
in finance – it’s really boring! With a
million pounds, I wouldn’t have to
worry about studying something
sensible and getting a safe job. I’d
study something creative, like
jewellery making or fashion design. I’d
get myself a little studio with lots of
really good equipment. I’d hire some
nice people to work with, and we’d
work if we felt creative, or just relax
and chat and drink tea! We wouldn’t
make much money, but that doesn’t
matter. I wouldn’t spend all the million
pounds. I’d save some so that I didn’t
have to worry about earning more.
LOUISE
If I had a million pounds… well, first
I’d go on a big trip around the world.
There are so many places that I’d
love to visit. I’d go hiking in the
Himalayas, I’d go on safari in Africa,
and I’d learn to scuba dive and to sail.
I’d have some amazing experiences.
Then I’d come back home and I’d buy
a classic car and a motorbike, and a
house somewhere nice. And then…
Well, I think I’d be bored. I’d probably
be lonely all day because all my
friends would be working. So I’d
probably give the rest of the money
to charity, and have a normal life.
What would I do if I were a millionaire?
Well, a million pounds isn’t so much
money these days. An average house
near London costs about half a million.
But with that money, I could buy a nice
big house in the country. I could
decorate it nicely, get some nice
furniture and hire a cleaner and a
gardener. Then I could get a car – a
new one, not a second hand one, a dog
and some horses. I think that would
cost all my money, though, so I would
still have to work! But that’s okay. I
enjoy my job. I wouldn’t quit that for
all the money in the world.
EMMA

8. CONDITIONAL
Third

9. Using the Third
Conditional in English Grammar
The third conditional is a grammar structure that
helps you discuss hypothetical situations in the
past and their possible outcomes. This structure is
used to express imagined situations that did not
happen or are unlikely to happen.

10. How to Form the Third Conditional
The third conditional grammar structure typically follows this pattern:
"If + past perfect (condition), would have + past participle (result)".
Past perfect tense: had + past participle (e.g., had gone, had studied)
Past conditional mood: would have + past participle (e.g., would have gone, would
have studied)
In the third conditional, the past perfect tense refers to the unreal condition in the past,
while the past conditional mood represents the unreal result of that condition.
For example:
"If she had studied, she would have passed the exam" implies that the person did not
study in the past, so they did not pass the exam.

11. Common Third Conditional Phrases
there are other ways to construct third conditional sentences using modal verbs or other
phrases. Some common phrases that can be used in third conditional sentences are:
could have + past participle
might have + past participle
should have + past participle
"but for" + subject + past participle
"had it not been for" + subject
+ past participle

12. Third Conditional Negative Form
Third conditional sentences can also be expressed in negative forms to
stress that an unreal result did not happen because an unreal condition
was not met. To form the negative, you need to add "not" after "would" in
the past conditional mood of the main clause.
Third Conditional Negative Structure: If + past perfect (condition), would
not have + past participle (result).
Examples:
If we had known you were coming, we would not have left early.
They would not have missed the flight if they had set an alarm.
You would not have had a headache if you had drunk enough water.

13. Third Conditional Meaning: used to express
hypothetical or unreal past situations and their
consequences
Third Conditional Form: "If + past perfect, would have
+ past participle"
Common Third Conditional Phrases: could have, might
have, should have, "but for", "had it not been for"
Structure Third Conditional: If + past perfect
(condition), would have + past participle (result)
Third Conditional Negative Form: If + past perfect
(condition), would not have + past participle (result).
Review