This document provides information about the second conditional in English grammar. It discusses: 1) The form of the second conditional uses "if" plus the subject and simple past tense, followed by the subject plus "would" and the bare infinitive. 2) The second conditional refers to improbable or hypothetical situations in the present or future. It differs from the first conditional in that the action or situation is less probable. 3) Examples are given to illustrate the difference between the first and second conditional. The second conditional expresses something less probable than the first conditional.

1. Gramar
Would Second Conditional

2. Grammar in use 1 - WOULD
Look at the speech bubbles. Are the people talking about a real or
imaginary situations?
Possible answer:
IMAGINARY
SITUATIONS

3. Form
 Positive and negative:
 Questions:
 Short answers:
I
He/ She/ It
We/ You/ They
would
( ‘d)
like to live alone.
would not
( wouldn’t )
fail the entrance exam.
Would
I
He/ She/ It
We/ You/ They
like to live alone?
fail the entrance exam?
Yes, I
he/ she/ it
we/ you/ they
would.
No,
wouldn’t.

4. use
We use would to :
1.
2.
make polite offers.
 Would you like a cup of coffee?
 Would you like to go to the cinema?
talk about improbable or impossible situations.
 I’d like to live alone. (but I live with six other people.)
 She’d be a good politician. (but she works in a bank.)

5. Practice
Look at the pictures and imagine what their ideal day would be like.
Make a sentence with WOULD.
1.
Possible answer:
Ms Sharon Ms Sharon would lie
on the beach and read
books. books.
SHARON
2.
Possible answer:
Alan Alan would go
skiing with with his friends.
ALAN

6. 3.
Possible answer:
Anna would go to her
friend’s party. She would
sing and dance there.
ANNA
Possible answer:
They would play
tennis with their
parents all day.
JANE & WALTER
4.

7. 5.
Possible answer:
Carla would go to
the cafe’ and chat
with her best friend.
CARLA
6.
Possible answer:
Peter would climb the
mountain with his
friend.
PETER

8. Form of the second conditional
Example:
 If I saw a ghost, I would faint.
 I would buy a beautiful house if I had enough
money.
If + subject + simple past tense, subject + would + bare
infinitive
( ‘d )
(Subject + would + bare infinitive if + subject + simple past
tense)

9. NOTE:
First and second
conditionals both
refer to the present
or the future. The
different is how
probable the action
or situation is.
 Example:
1. If I win the competition, I’ll buy
a new car.
(I think it is possible that I will
win.)
2. If I won a competition, I’d buy a
new car.
(I think it is improbable)
 We never use will or would in the
if clause.
If I see him, I’ll tell him.
(NOT If I will see him …)
If I had the time I’d help you.
(NOT If I would have the time