Second Conditional Sentences - Definition, Structure, Examples
International English Language Testing System ( IELTS )
The second conditional is really useful for B2 level and for IELTS. It helps you talk about imaginary or unreal ideas in a simple, natural way in IELTS speaking and IELTS writing. When you know the second conditional, your communication get better and you can explain your wishes and ideas more easy. It’s really helpful for IELTS prep. It also helps when talking about dream situations, so what you say sounds more interesting and easy to get.
Structure: use if + past simple in the if-part, and would + base verb in the main part.
Example: If I had more time, I would travel more.
What is the Second Conditional?
According Cambridge Dictionary, the second conditional is sentence type talk about possible result from situation not real. It uses past tense in if part and modal verb in main part. In easy words, second conditional sentences talk about things that probably never happen or are impossible. It shows what happens ifan an unreal thing happens.
If + past simple, would + base verb
Use this when something not likely or not true. You can imagine things not real. Example, If I had a million dollars, I would travel world. This mean wish, not fact.
Structure of Second Conditional Sentences
| 'If' Clause |
Main Clause |
Structure |
|---|---|---|
| If I had a garden |
I would grow my vegetables |
If + past simple: would + base verb |
| If I lived near the beach |
I wouldn’t need to go on vacation |
If + past simple: would + base verb |
| I would grow my own vegetables |
if I had a garden |
Would + base verb: if + past simple |
| I wouldn’t need to go on vacation |
if I lived near the beach |
Would + base verb: if + past simple |
| If we had more free time |
we could travel more often |
If + past simple: could + base verb |
Use of Second Conditional Sentences with Examples
Second conditional is for imaginary situations. Things that are not real now, or never happen. Like dreams, or "what if" talks.
1. For Hypothetical Situations: Use when you talk about something that can’t happen easily or probably never will.
If I won the lottery, I would buy a big house. (But winning lottery is hard!)
2. For Unreal Situations: Use for dreams or wishes that are not true in real life.
If I were astronaut, I would go to Mars someday. (But I am not astronaut!)
3. For Advice or Suggestions: It can be used to give advice about an imagine situation. Like, "what would you do if...?"
If you were in my place, what you would do? (Asking for help in a made-up problem)
Special Rule: Using “Were”
In second conditional, when you use "to be" for the past, always say "were" even for "I", "he", "she", "it".
If I were rich, I would study in Germany and travel too. (Not "was", always "were"!)
Remember: Second conditional helps you talk about fun "what if" ideas. Practice it lots!
Examples of Second Conditional Sentences
If I learnt one of the hardest languages in world, I would feel more confident for study abroad.
If she had APS certificate, she would able to apply for universities in Germany.
If you studied vocabulary for IELTS regularly, you would improve your band score in speaking and writing.
If IELTS exam fees in India were lower, more students would take test many times to get better scores.
Second Conditional Sentences Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets, using conditional sentence type 2.
1. If I _______________ (have) a lot of money, I _______________ (buy) a yacht.
Answer: had / would buy
Explanation: "Had" is the past simple of "have," setting up the hypothetical condition. "Would buy" expresses what I would do under this unreal condition.
2. If she _______________ (eat) lots of chocolate, she _______________ (have) bad teeth.
Answer: ate / would have
Explanation: "Ate" is the past simple of "eat," creating the imaginary condition. "Would have" explains the hypothetical outcome of eating too much chocolate.
3. My boss _______________ (be) very pleased if I _______________ (finish) the job.
Answer: would be / finished
Explanation: "Would be" expresses how my boss would react under a certain condition. "Finished" (past simple) describes the hypothetical scenario.
4. I _______________ (not go) to school if I _______________ (have) a bad cold.
Answer: would not go / had
Explanation: "Would not go" (or "wouldn't go") indicates the hypothetical consequence. "Had" (past simple) describes the condition: being sick.
5. If we _______________ (have) a yacht, we _______________ (sail) the seven seas.
Answer: had / would sail
Explanation: "Had" creates the hypothetical situation of owning a yacht. "Would sail" explains what we would do under those circumstances.
Second Conditional Sentences Exercise 2: Rewrite the sentences
Rewrite the sentences using the second conditional.
1. I don't have a car, so I can't drive to the beach.
Answer: If I had a car, I would drive to the beach.
Explanation: The original sentence states a present fact and its consequence. The second conditional transforms this into a hypothetical: imagining I have a car and the resulting ability to drive to the beach.
2. She is busy, so she won't come to the party.
Answer: If she weren't busy, she would come to the party.
Explanation: We imagine a different situation (she not being busy) and state the result of that change – she would attend the party.
3. I don't know how to contact him, so I can't tell him the news.
Answer: If I knew how to contact him, I would tell him the news.
Explanation: The second conditional imagines a world where I do know how to contact him, allowing me to tell him the news.
4. He doesn't listen to instructions, so he makes many mistakes.
Answer: If he listened to instructions, he wouldn't make so many mistakes.
Explanation: We imagine the opposite: if he did listen, he wouldn't make mistakes.
5. They don't tell their father, so he isn't angry.
Answer: If they told their father, he would be angry.
Explanation: The original sentence states that they keep something away from their father which makes him not angry. This is transformed into something that causes their father to be angry.
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