Grammar-second-conditional

Second conditional

Wish about the present

Teacher Alejandro González

GO

The second conditional is used to imagine present or future situations that are impossible or unlikely in reality. If we had a garden, we could have a cat.

Usual structure: if + past simple >> + would + infinitive. When if is followed by the verb be, it is grammatically correct to say if I were, if he were, if she were and if it were. However, it is also common to hear these structures with was, especially in the he/she form.

2 different uses

First, we can use it to talk about things in the future that are probably not going to be true. Second, we can use it to talk about something in the present which is impossible, because it's not true.

If I won the lottery, I'd buy a big house in the country.

He would travel more if he was younger.

Complete the sentences:

1. What would you do differently if you _____ to do this again? 2. If I _____ the more expensive bike, I won't have enough money to pay my rent. 3. The project _____ delayed if I don't finish this report on time. 4. If I _____ you, I'd go to the doctor's. 5. When I look at a computer screen for too long, I _____ a headache.

Thanks!