Second Conditional
Use the second conditional for unreal, hypothetical, or unlikely situations in the present or future, and their imagined results.
Level B2
Conditionals
Summary
- Use the second conditional for unreal, hypothetical, or unlikely situations in the present or future, and their imagined results.
Structure
if + past simple, ... would + base verb
Examples
- If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.
- She would be happier if she had more free time.
- If I were you, I would accept the offer.
- What would you do if you lost your job?
Common mistakes
- • Use 'were' for all subjects in the if-clause: 'If I were you', not 'If I was you' (in standard English).
- • Don't use 'would' in the if-clause: NOT 'If I would win' → 'If I won.'
More conditionals
First Conditional
B1
Use the first conditional for real or likely situations in the future and their probable results.
Zero Conditional
B1
Use the zero conditional for facts and things that are always true — when one thing happens, the result always follows.
Third Conditional
B2
Use the third conditional to talk about imagined past situations that did not happen, and to express regret or criticism about the past.
Mixed Conditional
C1
Use a mixed conditional when the time of the condition and the time of the result are different — for example, a past condition with a present result, or a present condition with a past result.