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The Second Conditional

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The second conditional describes an unreal or unlikely situation and its result. The pattern is: if + past simple, then would + base verb. For example: If I won the lottery, I would buy a house.

This guide is for learners around A2 to B1 who want to talk about hypothetical situations. By the end you will know how the second conditional is built, when to use it, how to change the clause order, how to make it negative, and the mistakes to avoid. There is a short video and three exercises on this page.

On this page

Video summary

This short video is a sample from a Live English Club session. Watch it for the overview, then use the sections below as your reference.

What is the second conditional?

The second conditional is for unreal or hypothetical situations. The condition (the “if” part) and the result are linked: one cannot happen without the other. It is not about what will probably happen, but about what would happen in an imagined situation.

How to form it

The “if” clause uses the past simple. The main clause uses “would” plus the base verb.

Clause Form Example
“If” clause if + past simple If I won the lottery,
Main clause would + base verb I would buy a house.

With the verb “to be”, formal English uses “were” for every subject in the “if” clause: If I were you, If he were here. “Was” is common in speech, but “were” is safer in writing.

When to use it

Use the second conditional for an unlikely future event, or for an impossible or unreal present situation. It is also common for giving advice with “If I were you”.

If I won the lottery, I would buy a house. (unlikely future)
If I had his number, I would call him. (impossible now, I don’t have it)
If I were you, I would take the job. (unreal / advice)

Changing the order

The order of the two clauses is not fixed. The “if” clause can come first or second, and the meaning is the same. When the “if” clause comes first, add a comma; when it comes second, no comma is needed.

If it rained, you would get wet.
You would get wet if it rained.

Negative sentences

For the negative past simple after “if”, use “did not (didn’t)” plus the base verb. For the negative of “would”, add “not” to make “wouldn’t”.

If Sarah didn’t have a good job, she wouldn’t live in her dream house.
If I didn’t live in the city, I would have to take the bus.

Common mistakes

Using “would” in the “if” clause. Wrong: “If I would win the lottery.” Right: “If I won the lottery.” Only the main clause uses “would”.

Using a present tense after “if”. Wrong: “If I have his number, I would call him.” Right: “If I had his number, I would call him.” The second conditional needs the past simple after “if”.

Forgetting the comma. When the “if” clause comes first, separate the two clauses with a comma: “If it rained, you would get wet.”

Reading the rule is easy; using the second conditional naturally in a real conversation is the goal. Talk about your hopes and hypotheticals with an experienced native teacher in a free trial lesson and get corrected as you speak. No credit card needed.

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Exercises

Practice on this page. Try each one, then check your answers instantly.

Exercise 1: Imagine a future without work

Exercise 2: Complete the sentences using the verb in brackets

Exercise 3: Find and correct the verb mistakes

Frequently asked questions

What is the second conditional?
The second conditional describes an unreal or unlikely situation and its result. The pattern is if + past simple, then would + base verb: “If I won the lottery, I would buy a house.” It is used for unlikely future events and for impossible or unreal present situations.
When do I use “were” instead of “was”?
In the “if” clause with the verb “to be”, formal English uses “were” for all subjects: “If I were you”, “If he were rich”. “Was” is common in everyday speech, but “were” is the safer choice in writing and for advice like “If I were you”.
Can I put the “if” part second?
Yes. The order of the clauses is flexible and the meaning is the same. If the “if” clause comes first, use a comma: “If it rained, you would get wet.” If it comes second, no comma: “You would get wet if it rained.”
What is the difference between the first and second conditional?
The first conditional is for real, possible situations (If it rains, I will stay in). The second conditional is for unlikely or unreal situations (If it rained, I would stay in). The first uses the present simple and will; the second uses the past simple and would.

Key takeaways

  • The second conditional = if + past simple, would + base verb.
  • Use it for unlikely future events and impossible or unreal present situations.
  • Only the main clause uses “would”; the “if” clause uses the past simple.
  • Use “were” for all subjects with “to be” in the “if” clause, especially in writing.

Keep learning

Written and reviewed by the experienced native English teachers at Live English, online since 2007. The video is a sample from the weekly grammar sessions in the Live English Club.