Grammar notes: second type conditionals
The structure of a second conditional sentence
Like a first conditional, a second conditional sentence consists of two clauses, an “if” clause and a main clause:
| if clause | main clause |
| If I had a million dollars, | I would buy a big house. |
If the “if” clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the “if” clause comes second, there is no need for a comma:
| main clause | if clause |
| I would buy a big house | if I had a million dollars. |
We use different verb forms in each part of a second conditional:
| if clause | if + subject + simple past verb* |
| main clause | subject + would + verb |
*Note that this “simple past” form is slightly different from usual in the case of the verb BE. Whatever the subject, the verb form is “were”, not “was”: If I were rich, I’d buy a big house.
Using the second conditional
The second conditional is used to talk about things which are unreal (not true or not possible) in the present or the future — things which don’t or won’t happen:
| Example | Explanation |
| If I were you, I would drive more carefully in the rain. | I am not you — this is unreal. |
| Paula would be sad if Jan left. | Jan will not leave — that’s not going to happen. |
| If dogs had wings, they would be able to fly. | Dogs don’t have wings — that’s impossible. |
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