The Second Conditional (If I were…)
Talk about imaginary and unlikely situations with if + past simple, would + base verb — and give advice with “If I were you...”. B1 grammar with 20 questions.
In A2 you learned the first conditional for real future possibilities. The second conditional is for imaginary or unlikely situations — dreams, hypotheses, and advice. “If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.” (I probably won’t, but I imagine it.)
The structure
| If-part (imaginary condition) | Result-part |
|---|---|
| If + past simple | would + base verb |
| If I had more time, | I would learn the piano. |
| If she studied harder, | she would pass easily. |
It’s not really past!We use the past simple after “if,” but we are talking about now or the future — just imagining. “If I were rich…” means “I’m not rich, but imagine.”
First vs second conditional
| First conditional (real/possible) | Second conditional (imaginary/unlikely) |
|---|---|
| If I have time, I will help. (maybe I will) | If I had time, I would help. (but I don’t) |
| If it rains, we’ll stay home. | If it rained in the desert, people would celebrate. |
“were” for everybody
In the second conditional, we traditionally use were for all subjects with the verb “be” — even “I” and “he.”
- If I were you, I would book a lesson. (a classic way to give advice!)
- If she were here, she would help us.
Giving advice with “If I were you…”
A very common, natural use: “If I were you, I would practise speaking every day.” It’s a polite, friendly way to suggest what someone should do.
Tutor tip for Arabic speakersTwo key points: (1) after “if,” use the past simple even though you mean the present/future (“If I had money…”), and (2) the result uses would + base verb (“I would buy…”), never “would to buy” or “would bought.” Don’t put “would” in the if-part.
Common mistakes
- If I would have time, I would help. → If I had time, I would help.
- If I was you… → If I were you… (standard form)
- She would to travel. → She would travel.
Practise the second conditional with the 20 questions below.
Check your understanding
Answer the questions below. You will see instantly if you are right.
1."If I won the lottery, I ___ travel the world."
result → would + base verb.
2."If I ___ more time, I would learn the piano."
after if → past simple: had.
3.The second conditional is for ___ situations.
imaginary or unlikely.
4."If she studied harder, she ___ pass easily."
would pass.
5.After "if" in the second conditional, use:
past simple after if.
6.The result part uses:
would + base verb.
7."If I ___ you, I would book a lesson." (advice)
If I were you (standard form).
8."If she ___ here, she would help us."
were (second conditional be).
9.Which is correct?
if + past simple, would in result.
10.Which is correct?
would + base verb.
11.First or second conditional? "If I had time, I would help (but I don't)."
imaginary → second.
12.First or second? "If I have time, I'll help (maybe I will)."
real possibility → first.
13."If we ___ a bigger classroom, we could take more students."
if + past simple: had.
14."What would you do if you ___ a million dollars?"
if + past simple: had.
15."If I ___ how to drive, I would buy a car."
if + past simple: knew.
16."If he were taller, he ___ play basketball."
would play.
17.A polite way to give advice:
If I were you, I would...
18."If they ___ harder, they would succeed."
if + past simple: worked.
19."I ___ buy that house if I had enough money."
would buy.
20.Choose the full correct sentence:
If I were rich, I would travel.
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