Introduction

We use the second conditional to describe a situation in the present that is not real and the result if we imagine it is real.

    If I took the bus, I would arrive at 7pm.     

• "If I took the bus" is a situation in the present that is not real.
• "I would arrive at 7pm" is the result if I imagine that the situation is real.

Examples:

• If I owned that house, I would paint it a different colour.
  I don’t own that house so painting it a different colour is an imagined result.
   
• If I lived in Italy, I would learn to cook Italian food.
  I don’t live in Italy so learning to cook Italian food is an imagined result.
   
• If Tom were rich, he would buy an expensive car.
  Tom is not rich so buying an expensive car is an imagined result.
   
• If you were me, would you take the train or the bus?
  You are not me. What is your advice if you imagine that you are?

Form - conditional and main clause

We form the second conditional with a conditional clause and a main clause:

• Conditional clause: "if" + past simple
• Main clause: "would" + infinitive (without "to")

The order of the clauses does not matter: the meaning is the same.

If we put the conditional clause before the main clause, we use a comma:

Conditional clause	Main clause
"If" + past simple + comma	"would" + infinitive (without "to")
If I took the bus,	I would arrive at 7pm.
If I owned that house,	I would paint it a different colour.
If I lived in Italy,	I would learn to cook Italian food.
If you were me,	would you take the train or the bus?
If Tom were rich,	he would buy an expensive car.

We do not use a comma if we put the main clause before the conditional clause:

Main clause	Conditional clause
"would" + infinitive (without "to")	"if" + past simple
I would arrive at 7pm	if I took the bus.
I would paint that house a different colour	if I owned it.
I would learn to cook Italian food	if I lived in Italy.
Would you take the train or the bus	if you were me?
Tom would buy an expensive car	if he were rich.

• We only use "were" (not "was") for the past simple of "be" in the conditional clause.
   
• We can contract the subject pronoun and "would": "I’d" / "you’d" / "we’d" / "they’d" / "she’d" / "he’d" / "it’d"
   
• We can use the past continuous in the conditional clause:
  If I were being honest, I would tell him that I don’t like the food.
  I am not being honest so I have not told him that I don’t like the food.

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Practice

Complete the sentences to form the second conditional with the correct form of the verb in brackets:

• If I to London, I would go to St. Paul’s cathedral. (go)
   
• Jack and Emily would get a cat if they near a busy road. (not live)
   
• I'd you to the Lake District if you came to London. (take)
   
• If I gave you £100, what would you with it? (do)
   

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Further practice

Complete the sentences by choosing the correct answer from a, b, c or d:

• I would be surprised if she ____ the job.


not take doesn't takes didn't took didn't take



• They ____ to Bolivia if they had the chance.


'd go would went would gone 'd goes



• Would you ____ to the conference if the company were paying for the tickets?


gone go went goes



• I’d cook steak if he ____ meat.


eats eaten ate eat



• He ____ weight if he had a healthier diet.


would lost 'd lost 'd lose would loses 



• Sarah said she would come to the party with me if she ____ a headache.


not have didn't had did not has didn't have

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Use of "could", "might"

We can use "could" or "might" instead of "would" in the main clause of the second conditional.

If Tom were rich, he would buy an expensive car.

• ... he would buy an expensive car.
  "would" describes Tom’s intention to buy the car.
   
• ... he could buy an expensive car.
  "could" describes Tom’s ability to buy the car.
   
• .... he might buy an expensive car.
  "might" describes the possibility for Tom to buy the car.