Second Conditional
or Unreal Conditional
If + simple past + would +verb(base form) Main Clause + If- Clause (would/could/might) + (simple past tense) We use the second conditional to express an unreal or unlikely situation in the present or in the future.
Explanation!
The Simple Past Tense and would, could, might in the second conditional don’t refer to past time.They refer to the present or future.
There is not a big difference in meaning between would, could, or might in the second conditional.
examples
If I had something to eat..
…I would finish it in two minutes.
If I had three bananas, I would give you one of them.
If I had ten thousand dollars,
…I would buy a beautiful car.
If I had a helicopter, I’d fly to school, and wouldn't be late.
explanation I would or short form I’d I would fly to school or I’d fly to school
Situation: You are watching the stars one night with a friend. You start talking about aliens. You say:
If some aliens landed on the earth,
…I’d make friends with them.
What would you do?
..if you were alone on an island.
If your teacher were in Turkey now,
…He would rest at the beach.
explanation We use were instead of was in the if-clause of the second conditional. Example: If he were here,….. If I were there… Etc.
What are you doing? If I were you, I wouldn’t do that.
Exercises
Complete the sentences.
If you studied hard,…
If you had a driver’s license,…
If you were rich,…
If you found ten thousand dollars in a bag in the park,…
If you saw a thief robbing a store,…
If you were on a ship and it started to sink,…
If somebody stole all your money,…
If your best friend told you a lie,…
If you met a hungry tiger in the jungle,…
If you were a teacher,…
If you had an opportunity to meet a great artist.
Complete the sentences.
The planet would be cleaner if…
Our city would be safer if…
Our school would be nicer if…
Our country would be richer if…
My house would be more beautiful if…
People would be happier if…
My parents would be proud of me if…
My friends would like me more if…
I would be the best student if…
I would help poor people if…
It would be better if…