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English grammar

Second Conditional (Unreal Present/Future)

Updated 27 Oct 2026 4 min read LingoLadder Editorial Team
Cover: Second conditional — if I had more time, I would learn the guitar, if I were you
Short answer

Use the second conditional for unreal or imaginary situations now or in the future: if + past simple, would + base verb. For example, 'If I had more time, I would learn the guitar'. With the verb 'be', use 'were' for every subject: 'If I were you, I'd rest'.

On this page10 sections · tap to jump
  1. 01The rule
  2. 02Forms
  3. 03Example sentences
  4. 04Common mistakes
  5. 05A short conversation
  6. 06Usage notes
  7. 07Compared with…
  8. 08Practice
  9. 09Quiz
  10. 10Recap cheat-sheet

Level: B1. The second conditional lets you talk about situations that are not real now: things that are imaginary, unlikely, or just a daydream. You build it with if + the past simple, and would + the base verb.

The rule

A conditional sentence has two parts: an if-clause (the condition) and a main clause (the result). The second conditional describes an unreal or imaginary situation in the present or future — something that is not true now, or that you think probably will not happen.

The pattern is if + past simple, would + base verb. The base verb is the plain dictionary form with no ending: go, be, have. For example: “If I had a car, I would drive to work.” You do not have a car, so the whole idea is imaginary — a picture of a different, unreal present.

The past simple here does not mean past time. It is a special “unreal” use of the past tense that signals this is not real. The result clause always uses would (or its short form ’d) plus the base verb. You can swap would for could (ability or possibility) or might (a smaller chance): “If I had more money, I could buy a house” / “…I might move abroad.”

You can put either clause first. When the if-clause comes first, use a comma before the main clause: “If it rained, we would stay in.” When the main clause comes first, no comma: “We would stay in if it rained.”

Forms

Clause Pattern Example
if-clause if + past simple If I had time,
main clause would + base verb I would help you.
negative if if + didn’t + base If I didn’t work,
negative result wouldn’t + base verb I wouldn’t worry.
question would + subject + base What would you do?
with be if + were (all subjects) If she were here,

With the verb be, standard English uses were for every subject in the if-clause: I were, you were, he/she/it were, we were, they were. This is strongest in the fixed advice phrase “If I were you…”. In everyday speech many people say “If I was…”, and that is common, but were is preferred in careful, formal, or written English.

Example sentences

  1. If I had more time, I would learn the guitar.
    Unreal present: I don't have the time now.
  2. If I won the lottery, I'd travel the world.
    Imaginary future. I'd = I would.
  3. If she studied harder, she would pass.
    An unreal or unlikely present situation.
  4. If I were you, I'd rest today.
    Advice with the fixed phrase 'If I were you'.
  5. If he were taller, he could play basketball.
    'Were' for all subjects; could for ability.
  6. If we lived by the sea, we would swim every day.
    An imaginary life, not reality.
  7. If I spoke Japanese, I would work in Tokyo.
    I don't speak it, so the result is unreal.
  8. What would you do if you lost your job?
    A hypothetical question about the future.
  9. If they offered me the job, I might take it.
    'Might' shows a smaller chance.
  10. I wouldn't say that if I were you.
    Main clause first: no comma, advice with were.
  11. If it snowed here, the children would be delighted.
    An unlikely event where they live.
  12. If I didn't have to work, I would sleep all morning.
    Negative if-clause with didn't.
  13. She would be happier if she changed jobs.
    Main clause first, unreal present.
  14. If you ate less sugar, you'd feel better.
    Imaginary advice about a habit.
  15. If we had a bigger kitchen, we could invite everyone.
    Could for possibility.
  16. If I knew his number, I would call him.
    I don't know it, so I can't call.
  17. Where would you go if you could travel anywhere?
    A classic daydream question.
  18. If my phone weren't broken, I'd show you the photos.
    Were/weren't with 'be' in the negative.
  19. If they trained every day, they would win more games.
    An unlikely habit and its result.
  20. I would move to the coast if houses were cheaper.
    Main clause first; were for the plural subject.
  21. If I were rich, I wouldn't stop working.
    Imaginary self, negative result.
  22. If we left now, we would get there by six.
    An unlikely or hypothetical plan for the near future.

Common mistakes

  • ❌ If I would have more time, I would read more. → ✅ If I had more time, I would read more. Never put would in the if-clause; use the past simple.
  • ❌ If I would be you, I’d wait. → ✅ If I were you, I’d wait. The if-clause takes were, not would be.
  • ❌ If she studies harder, she would pass. → ✅ If she studied harder, she would pass. Use the past simple after if for an unreal situation, not the present.
  • ❌ If I had a dog, I will walk it every day. → ✅ If I had a dog, I would walk it every day. The result uses would, not will (that is the first conditional).
  • ❌ If I was you, I’d go. → ✅ If I were you, I’d go. In this advice phrase, standard English prefers were.
  • ❌ What you would do if you won? → ✅ What would you do if you won? In questions, would comes before the subject.

A short conversation

A: I’m so tired of this city. B: If I were you, I’d take a break and go somewhere green. A: If I had the money, I would. But I don’t. B: Well, if you saved a little each month, you could go next year.

Usage notes

  • ’d is would here, not had. In “I’d help” the ’d is would. Context tells you: before a base verb it is would (I’d go); before a past participle it is had (I’d gone).
  • could and might. Use could in the result for ability or possibility (“I could buy a car”) and might for a smaller chance (“I might say yes”). Keep would for a straightforward imagined result.
  • Second vs first conditional. The first conditional (if + present, will) is for real, likely situations: “If it rains, I’ll stay in.” The second is for unreal or unlikely ones: “If it rained in the desert, people would celebrate.” Your choice shows how real you think it is.
  • Polite suggestions. “If I were you” is a gentle, common way to give advice without sounding bossy.

Compared with…

  • First conditional is about real possibilities in the future: if + present simple, will + base verb. Compare “If I have time, I’ll call you” (a real plan) with “If I had time, I’d call you more often” (I don’t, so it’s unreal). See First Conditional (Real Future).
  • Third conditional is about the unreal past — things that did not happen: if + past perfect, would have + past participle. Compare “If I knew, I’d tell you” (now) with “If I had known, I’d have told you” (in the past). See Third Conditional (Unreal Past).
  • Mixed conditionals join an unreal past condition to an unreal present result, or the reverse: “If I had studied medicine, I would be a doctor now.” See Mixed Conditionals.

Recap card for the English second conditional lesson showing if plus past simple and would plus base verb

Quick recap before you practise.

Practice

Practice

Second conditional practice

Try each one, then press Check. No sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere — it all runs in your browser.

1 Choose the correct second conditional.
Show answer

If I had time, I would call. — Second conditional: if + past simple, would + base verb. No 'would' in the if-clause.

Hint: standard form for advice

Show answer

were — Standard English uses 'were' for all subjects: If I were you.

3 Put the words in order to make a correct question.

Show answer

What would you do if you won ? — Questions put 'would' before the subject: What would you do if...?

4 Match each half to build unreal sentences.

  • If I spoke French,
  • If she were here,
  • If we had a garden,
  • If I didn't work,
Show answer
  • If I spoke French, → I would live in Paris.
  • If she were here, → she would help us.
  • If we had a garden, → we would grow vegetables.
  • If I didn't work, → I would travel more.

Each if-clause uses the past simple (or were) and each result uses would + base verb.

5 Which sentence is correct?
Show answer

If he studied, he would pass. — Past simple in the if-clause, would + base verb in the result.

Hint: would + base verb

Show answer

would drive — The result clause uses would + the base verb: would drive.

Quiz

Check yourself

Second conditional quiz

12 questions · pick an answer and you'll see straight away if it's right.

0/12 0 answered
  1. 1Complete: 'If I ___ rich, I would travel more.'
    Show answer

    were — Use 'were' for all subjects with 'be' in the if-clause.

  2. 2Which is a correct second conditional?
    Show answer

    If I knew, I would tell you. — if + past simple, would + base verb; no 'would' in the if-clause.

  3. 3Complete: 'If she studied more, she ___ better marks.'
    Show answer

    would get — The result uses would + the base verb: would get.

  4. 4Choose the natural advice.
    Show answer

    If I were you, I'd wait. — Advice uses the fixed phrase 'If I were you' + would/'d.

  5. 5Which sentence is WRONG?
    Show answer

    If we would have time, we would help. — 'If we would have' is wrong — the if-clause takes the past simple: 'If we had'.

  6. 6Complete the question: '___ you do if you lost your keys?'
    Show answer

    What would — would comes before the subject in a hypothetical question.

  7. 7Which word shows a smaller chance in the result?
    Show answer

    might — 'might' + base verb signals a smaller possibility than 'would'.

  8. 8Make it negative: 'If I ___ work, I would sleep late.'
    Show answer

    didn't have to — The negative if-clause uses the past simple: didn't have to.

  9. 9Choose the correct sentence (main clause first).
    Show answer

    I would move if houses were cheaper. — Main clause first: would + base verb, then if + past simple; no comma needed.

  10. Show answer

    She'd — she would shortens to she'd.

  11. 11Which is the second conditional, not the first?
    Show answer

    If it rained on the moon, people would be amazed. — An unreal/unlikely situation (rain on the moon) takes the second conditional.

  12. 12Correct the error: 'If I would have a dog, I would walk it daily.'
    Show answer

    If I had a dog, I would walk it daily. — Replace 'would have' in the if-clause with the past simple 'had'.

Recap cheat-sheet

Part Form Example
if-clause if + past simple If I had time,
result would + base verb I would help.
with ‘be’ were (all subjects) If I were you,
meaning unreal / unlikely now not a real plan

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Grammar path

125 topics 125 ready now
A1 30 topics · 30 ready
  1. 01 Verb 'To Be' in the Present (am, is, are)
  2. 02 Subject Pronouns: I, You, He, She, It, We, They
  3. 03 Present Simple: Affirmative and the -s Ending
  4. 04 Present Simple: Negatives and Questions (do/does)
  5. 05 Articles: a / an and When to Use Each
  6. 06 The Definite Article 'The': When to Use It
  7. 07 Zero Article: When to Use No Article
  8. 08 Plural Nouns: Regular and Irregular Forms
  9. 09 This, That, These, Those (Demonstratives)
  10. 10 Possessive Adjectives: my, your, his, her
  11. 11 Possessive 's and s' (Showing Belonging)
  12. 12 There Is / There Are (Saying What Exists)
  13. 13 Have Got: Talking About Possession
  14. 14 Can and Can't for Ability
  15. 15 Present Continuous (am/is/are + -ing)
  16. 16 Imperatives: Giving Orders and Instructions
  17. 17 Adjectives: Position and Basic Use
  18. 18 Prepositions of Place: in, on, at
  19. 19 Prepositions of Time: in, on, at
  20. 20 Question Words: What, Where, When, Who, Why, How
  21. 21 How Much vs How Many
  22. 22 Countable and Uncountable Nouns
  23. 23 Some and Any: Which One to Use
  24. 24 Object Pronouns: me, you, him, her, us, them
  25. 25 Adverbs of Frequency and Their Position
  26. 26 Like, Love, Hate + -ing (Expressing Preferences)
  27. 27 Would Like: Polite Wants and Offers
  28. 28 Making Requests: Can, Could, May I
  29. 29 Past Simple of 'To Be' (was / were)
  30. 30 Let's and Shall We: Making Suggestions
A2 25 topics · 25 ready
  1. 31 Past Simple: Regular Verbs and -ed Spelling
  2. 32 Past Simple: Irregular Verbs (go, see, have)
  3. 33 Past Simple: Negatives and Questions (did)
  4. 34 Comparative Adjectives (bigger, more expensive)
  5. 35 Superlative Adjectives (the biggest, the most)
  6. 36 Going To: Plans and Predictions
  7. 37 Will: Predictions, Decisions and Offers
  8. 38 Present Continuous for Future Arrangements
  9. 39 Present Perfect for Experience (ever / never)
  10. 40 Present Perfect with just, already, yet
  11. 41 Present Perfect vs Past Simple
  12. 42 Have To and Don't Have To (Obligation)
  13. 43 Should and Shouldn't for Advice
  14. 44 Could: Past Ability and Polite Use
  15. 45 Much, Many, A Lot Of
  16. 46 A Few, A Little, Few, Little
  17. 47 Adverbs of Manner (quickly, well, hard)
  18. 48 Verb + -ing or Verb + to (Introduction)
  19. 49 Zero Conditional (Facts and Rules)
  20. 50 First Conditional (Real Future Possibility)
  21. 51 Prepositions of Movement (to, into, through)
  22. 52 Possessive Pronouns: mine, yours, hers
  23. 53 Past Continuous (was/were + -ing)
  24. 54 Too and Enough (Degree)
  25. 55 Order of Adjectives Before a Noun
B1 27 topics · 27 ready
  1. 56 Past Continuous vs Past Simple
  2. 57 Used To and Would for Past Habits
  3. 58 Present Perfect Continuous (have been -ing)
  4. 59 Present Perfect: Simple vs Continuous
  5. 60 Past Perfect (had + past participle)
  6. 61 Second Conditional (Unreal Present/Future) You are here
  7. 62 Third Conditional (Unreal Past)
  8. 63 Reported Speech: Statements (Backshift)
  9. 64 Reported Questions
  10. 65 Reported Commands and Requests
  11. 66 Passive Voice: Present and Past Simple
  12. 67 Must and Mustn't (Strong Obligation)
  13. 68 May, Might, Could for Possibility
  14. 69 Defining Relative Clauses (who, which, that)
  15. 70 Non-Defining Relative Clauses (with commas)
  16. 71 Gerunds and Infinitives: Full Verb Patterns
  17. 72 Verbs Where -ing vs to Changes Meaning
  18. 73 Future Continuous (will be -ing)
  19. 74 So and Such (Emphasis)
  20. 75 As...As Comparisons (equality)
  21. 76 Question Tags (isn't it? do you?)
  22. 77 Phrasal Verbs: Separable and Inseparable
  23. 78 Linking Words: because, so, although, but
  24. 79 Infinitive of Purpose (to / in order to)
  25. 80 Indirect Questions (Can you tell me...)
  26. 81 Make, Let, Allow, Help (Causatives Intro)
  27. 82 Be Used To and Get Used To (+ -ing)
B2 25 topics · 25 ready
  1. 83 Narrative Tenses for Storytelling
  2. 84 Past Perfect Continuous (had been -ing)
  3. 85 Mixed Conditionals
  4. 86 Wish and If Only (Regrets and Wishes)
  5. 87 Wish/If Only + would (Complaints)
  6. 88 Passive Voice: All Tenses and Modals
  7. 89 Reporting Passive (It is said that / is said to)
  8. 90 Causative: Have/Get Something Done
  9. 91 Reduced Relative Clauses (Participles)
  10. 92 Modals of Deduction: Present and Past
  11. 93 Needn't Have vs Didn't Need To
  12. 94 Future Perfect (will have done)
  13. 95 Participle Clauses (-ing / -ed / having done)
  14. 96 Advanced Comparatives (far/much + er, the more)
  15. 97 Conditional Alternatives: unless, as long as, provided
  16. 98 Advanced Determiners: each, every, either, neither
  17. 99 Intensifiers and Adverbs of Degree
  18. 100 Advanced Contrast: despite, in spite of, however
  19. 101 Advanced Linkers: therefore, moreover, consequently
  20. 102 Advanced Article Use (generalisations, names)
  21. 103 Verb + Preposition and Adjective + Preposition
  22. 104 Relative Clauses: whose, where, when, quantifier + whom
  23. 105 Subject-Verb Agreement: Tricky Cases
  24. 106 Emphatic Do (I do like it)
  25. 107 Would for Past Habits (Formal Narrative)
C1 18 topics · 18 ready
  1. 108 Inversion with Negative Adverbials
  2. 109 Inversion in Conditionals (Had I known)
  3. 110 Cleft Sentences (It was... / What I need is...)
  4. 111 Fronting and Emphasis (Word Order)
  5. 112 Subjunctive and Mandative (I suggest he be)
  6. 113 Ellipsis and Substitution (so, do, one)
  7. 114 Hedging and Cautious Language
  8. 115 Nominalisation (Academic Noun Style)
  9. 116 Advanced Discourse Markers (Spoken & Written)
  10. 117 Advanced Passive (passive + infinitive, get-passive)
  11. 118 Advanced Comparative Structures (no sooner...than)
  12. 119 Future in the Past (was going to / would)
  13. 120 Advanced Modals (may well, might as well, would rather)
  14. 121 Advanced Reported Speech (Reporting Verbs + Patterns)
  15. 122 Advanced and Idiomatic Phrasal Verbs
  16. 123 Collocation and Colligation (Natural Combinations)
  17. 124 Advanced Concession (much as, whatever, however + adj)
  18. 125 Absolute and Non-Finite Clauses (Formal)