Using Second Conditional in English

The Second Conditional helps you talk about imaginary situations or unreal possibilities.

This grammar pattern helps you imagine different results in the present or future — things that are not true right now, or unlikely to happen.

Now’s the time to improve your English grammar by learning how to use second conditionals with more confidence!

1. Understanding Second Conditional

When do we use the second conditional?

We use the second conditional to talk about unreal or unlikely situations in the present or future. These situations are often imaginary, and not really true now.

Examples:

• If I had more money, I would travel the world. (I don’t have more money, so I can’t travel round the world right now).
• If she studied more, she would pass the test. (But she can’t pass the test because she doesn’t study hard).
• I would help you if I had time. (But I don’t have time now, so I can’t help you).

These sentences are about now or the future, but they describe something that is not true or not likely.

How to make second conditional sentences

The basic structure is: If + past simple, would + base verb

Part of sentence	Example
If clause	If I won loads of money,
Main clause	I would buy a new house.

You can also swap the two parts:

• I would buy a new house if I won the lottery.

More examples:

• If we lived in a warmer country, we would go to the beach more.
• She would be happier if she changed jobs.
• Would you travel more if you had more free time?

“Was” or “were”?

In the second conditional, we often use “were” instead of “was”, even with I, he, or she in more formal contexts:

• If I were you, I’d take the job.
• If she were taller, she could play basketball.

Using “was” is for second conditionals is more common in casual speech:

• If I was you, I’d be careful.
• If he was more organised, he wouldn’t forget meetings.

Tip: Both forms are OK, but “were” is more correct in traditional English grammar.

2. Second Conditional + questions / negatives

Making questions

Use would + subject + base verb in the question part:

• What would you do if you won the lottery?
• Would you move abroad if you had the chance?
• Who would you call if you lost your phone?

Making negatives

To make a negative sentence, use wouldn’t:

• I wouldn’t buy that car if I were you.
• She wouldn’t be so tired if she slept more.
• They wouldn’t need help if they had more staff.

Fixed phrases with 2nd Conditional

2nd conditional fixed phrases like, “If I were you” are very common in spoken English:

• If I were you..  If I were you, I’d take the job. (I think you should take the job)
• If only..  If only we had more money! (I wish we had more money)
• I’d like – I’d like two coffees, please! (Please give me..)

Model dialogue

Here’s how second conditional structures might sound in a casual conversation:

Lena: If you didn’t have to live in this city, where would you go?
Sam: Hmm… maybe Lisbon. I’d probably move somewhere by the sea.
Lena: Yeah, same. If I lived near the ocean, I’d spend all day walking in the sand and stuff, I guess.
Sam: Yeah, me too.
Lena: Would you leave your job if you had another offer abroad?
Sam: Honestly, yes. If I found something flexible, I’d take it in a second.

Monologue

Here’s someone using 2nd conditional forms in a monologue:

I’ve always enjoyed running, but where I live, there aren’t many parks or running tracks. I think it would be a lot easier for me to build a fitness routine if there was somewhere to go running around here. It would really help me feel less stressed and more focused. Apart from where I live, it’s also hard to find the time for running, as I’m so busy with work and stuff all the time. So yeah, I’d definitely do more sport if I had some more time!

3. Second conditionals: exercises

Here are a few exercises to help you get better at using second conditionals in English! Answers are below:

Exercise 1 – Complete the sentences

1. If I __________ (have) a car, I __________ (drive) to work.
2. If she __________ (know) his number, she __________ (call) him.
3. We __________ (buy) a new house if we __________ (have) enough money.
4. If it __________ (not rain), we __________ (go) for a walk.
5. What __________ you __________ (do) if you __________ (win) the lottery?

Exercise 2 – Correct the mistake

1. If I will see him, I will tell him the news.
2. She would go out more if she has more free time.
3. If we would have more staff, we’d finish on time.
4. He would help you if he knows the answer.
5. If I was a bird, I’d fly everywhere.

Exercise 3 – Choose the right option

1. If she ___ more confident, she ___ speak in public.
   A) is / will
   B) was / would
   C) were / will
2. What ___ you do if you ___ famous?
   A) would / were
   B) will / are
   C) did / was
3. If we ___ a bigger house, we ___ have more space.
   A) had / would
   B) have / will
   C) would have / had

Answer key

Exercise 1

1. had / would drive
2. knew / would call
3. would buy / had
4. didn’t rain / would go
5. would / do / won

Exercise 2

1. If I saw him, I would tell him the news.
2. She would go out more if she had more free time.
3. If we had more staff, we’d finish on time.
4. He would help you if he knew the answer.
5. If I were a bird, I’d fly everywhere.

Exercise 3

1. B
2. A
3. A