The second conditional imagines a present or future that is not real. "If I had a boat, I would sail around the world." The past form had does not mean past time. It creates distance between the sentence and reality.
The pattern is if plus the past simple in the condition, and would plus the base verb in the result. The verb be uses were for every person in careful English: "If I were you, I would apologise."
The tense is useful for dreams, advice, polite requests and unlikely plans. This page shows all four, the difference from the first conditional, and the mistakes that come from putting would in the wrong clause. The drill has 20 questions with a rule explanation under each answer.
The rule
The form
- Pattern: if plus past simple, plus would plus the base verb. "If I had more time, I would learn the piano."
- With be, careful English uses were for every person: "If I were rich", "If she were here".
- Negative: "If I did not have to work, I would not be so tired."
- Question: "What would you do if you won the lottery?"
- Would never goes in the if-clause in this pattern: "If I had", not "If I would have".
Imaginary present and unlikely future
- Use it when the situation is not true now: "If I spoke Japanese, I would work in Tokyo." I do not speak Japanese.
- Use it when the future situation is imagined or very unlikely: "If I won the lottery, I would buy a house."
- The past tense in the if-clause signals distance from reality, not past time.
- The first conditional keeps the situation real; the second sets it aside as imaginary.
Advice with "If I were you"
- "If I were you, I would apologise." This is the standard pattern for advice.
- The listener is not you, so the situation is imaginary, which is exactly why were appears.
- You can also give advice with should: "You should apologise." The if I were you version sounds softer.
- The same pattern works for other people: "If I were her, I would take the job."
Polite requests and softening
- The second conditional makes requests gentler: "Would you mind if I opened the window?"
- It also softens opinions: "I would say the blue one suits you better."
- Would like, would prefer and would rather follow the same softening idea.
- The listener is not obliged to agree, which is what makes the form polite.
Could, might and the first conditional
- The result clause can use could for ability or possibility: "If I had a car, I could drive you."
- Might shows an uncertain result: "If we left now, we might catch the early train."
- The first conditional is for real possibilities: "If it rains, we will stay in." The second is for unreal ones: "If it rained every day, we would move."
- Mixed conditionals combine a past condition with a present result: "If I had studied medicine, I would be a doctor now."
Examples
- If I had more time, I would learn the piano.The present is not like that: there is no spare time.
- If I were you, I would apologise.The standard advice pattern with were.
- She would travel more if she had enough money.Main clause first, so no comma.
- If we lived by the sea, we would go swimming every day.An imaginary present situation.
- What would you do if you won the lottery?A question about a very unlikely future.
- He would be happier if he changed his job.Present unhappiness, imaginary change.
- If I knew the answer, I would tell you.The past form knew shows that I do not know.
- If I had a car, I could drive you to the airport.Could replaces would and shows ability.
- If we left now, we might catch the early train.Might shows an uncertain result.
- Would you mind if I opened the window?A polite request softened by the past form.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: If I would have more time, I would learn the piano. Right: If I had more time, I would learn the piano.
- The if-clause takes the past simple. Would belongs in the result clause.
- Wrong: If I was you, I would apologise. Right: If I were you, I would apologise.
- Were is the careful form for every person in the second conditional.
- Wrong: If she would study harder, she would pass. Right: If she studied harder, she would pass.
- Never put would directly after if in the second conditional.
- Wrong: If it rains every day, we would move. Right: If it rained every day, we would move.
- The imaginary situation needs both clauses in the second conditional pattern: rained plus would move.
- Wrong: If I had a car, I will drive you. Right: If I had a car, I would drive you.
- The unreal condition takes would in the result, not will.
Practice drill
Answer all 20 questions. Each answer is marked at once, and the rule is explained under the question.
If I ___ more time, I would learn the piano.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. had The imaginary present takes the past simple in the if-clause: if I had more time.
If I ___ you, I would apologise.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. were The advice pattern uses were for every person: If I were you.
She would travel more if she ___ enough money.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. had The unreal condition takes the past simple: if she had enough money.
If we lived by the sea, we ___ swimming every day.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. would go The result of an imaginary condition takes would plus the base verb: would go.
What ___ you do if you won the lottery?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. would The second conditional question uses would in the main clause: What would you do?
If he ___ harder, he would get better marks.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. studied The if-clause of the second conditional takes the past simple: if he studied.
I would buy that car if it ___ cheaper.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. were Careful English uses were with be in the second conditional: if it were cheaper.
If you ___ the answer, what would you say?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. knew The past simple knew signals that the knowledge is imagined, not real.
They would come to the party if they ___ free.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. were The second conditional with be uses were: if they were free.
If she ___ her phone, she would call you.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. had The imaginary condition takes the past simple: if she had her phone.
If it ___ tomorrow, we would stay at home.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. rained The unlikely future condition takes the past form rained, the second conditional pattern.
He would be happier if he ___ his job.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. changed The imaginary change takes the past simple in the if-clause: if he changed.
If I did not have to work, I ___ to the concert.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. would go The result clause of the second conditional takes would: would go.
Would you help me if I ___ you?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. asked The polite imaginary condition takes the past simple: if I asked you.
If we ___ the map, we would not be lost.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. had The imaginary present situation takes the past simple: if we had the map.
If only I ___ how to fix it!
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. knew If only expresses an unreal wish, so it takes the second conditional past form: knew.
What would she do if she ___ the truth?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. learned The imaginary condition takes the past simple: if she learned the truth.
I would not do that if I ___ you.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. were The advice pattern uses were: if I were you.
If they ___ closer, we would visit more often.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. lived The imaginary condition takes the past simple: if they lived closer.
If you ___ more, you would sleep better.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. exercised The past form exercised signals an unreal present habit in the second conditional.
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between the first and second conditional?
The first conditional treats the condition as real: "If I see her, I will tell her." The second treats it as imaginary or unlikely: "If I saw her, I would tell her," which suggests you probably will not see her. The past form in the second conditional is a signal of distance from reality, not a signal of past time.
Is "If I was you" wrong?
Many native speakers say it in casual speech, so it is not a serious error of communication. Exams and careful writing expect "If I were you", and this site teaches the careful form. Use were in the second conditional, and keep was for a real past situation: "If I was late, my father drove me to school."
Can the second conditional talk about the past?
Not on its own. For an unreal past, use the third conditional: "If I had studied, I would have passed." Mixed conditionals connect the two: "If I had studied medicine, I would be a doctor now" starts in the past and finishes in the present.
More grammar topics
Third conditional
If plus had and the past participle, would have plus the past participle: the past that cannot change.
Reported speech
Direct to indirect: one step back, pronouns move, time words change, say vs tell.
Articles: a, an and the
New or known, sound not letter, and the zero article for general statements.
Take the free A1 to C2 level test to find your starting point.