Second Conditional
Learn how the second conditional pairs the past simple with “would” to describe unlikely or imaginary situations in the present or future.
Not real, right now
The second conditional imagines a situation that is not currently true.
The second conditional is used for situations that are unlikely or purely imaginary, in the present or future. It follows the pattern if + past simple, would + base verb.
In the sentence If I won the lottery, I would travel the world., the verb is in the past simple, but the sentence is not about the past. It describes something imagined or considered unlikely right now.
This is what separates the second conditional from the first, where the condition is a realistic possibility, and from the third, where the condition belongs to the past.
Before you begin
The second conditional is one pattern within conditionals.
This lesson focuses on the second conditional specifically. For an introduction to conditional sentences as a whole, and how the parts of a conditional sentence are identified, begin with Understanding Conditionals.
The pattern
The if-clause uses the past simple; the main clause uses “would.”
Compare the two parts of a second conditional sentence.
01
The If-Clause
If + past simple.
If I won the lottery,
02
The Main Clause
Would + base verb.
I would travel the world.
The past simple in the if-clause does not refer to the past.
The past simple form signals distance from reality, not distance in time. It marks the condition as unlikely or imaginary, rather than placing it in a previous time period.
Were instead of was
“Were” is often used for all subjects in the second conditional.
Were for every subject
If I were you, I would apologise.
In more careful or formal English, were is used with every subject in the second conditional, including I, he and she.
Was is also common
If I was you, I would apologise.
In everyday speech, was is also widely used with I, he and she, without changing the meaning of the sentence.
If I were you, as advice
If I were you, I would take the job.
This particular phrase is a common way of giving advice, imagining oneself in another person’s situation.
What the second conditional describes
Unlikely possibilities, imaginary situations and hypothetical advice.
An unlikely future possibility
If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.
Winning the lottery is possible, but considered unlikely.
A purely imaginary situation
If pigs could fly, the sky would be a busy place.
Some second conditional sentences describe situations that could never actually happen.
Hypothetical advice
If I were you, I would apologise.
Imagining another person’s situation is a common use of the second conditional.
A useful decision guide
Ask how unlikely or imaginary the situation is.
01
Is this unlikely, or purely imaginary, right now?
Use the second conditional: past simple, would plus base verb.
02
Is this a genuine possibility for the future?
Use the first conditional instead, with the present simple and will.
03
Does the condition belong to the past instead?
Use the third conditional instead, with the past perfect and would have.
Common mistakes
Do not use “would” in the if-clause.
Using would in the if-clause.
Not: If I would win the lottery, I would travel the world.
Correct: If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.
Would belongs in the main clause, not the if-clause, in the second conditional.
Mixing second and first conditional forms.
Not: If I win the lottery, I would travel the world.
Correct: If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.
The past simple if-clause pairs with would, not the present simple.
Treating the past simple as a reference to the past.
If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.
This describes an imagined situation now, not something that happened before.
The past simple in a second conditional if-clause marks distance from reality, not a past event.
Check your understanding
Is the second conditional used correctly?
Choose the correct answer for each sentence.
Which sentence correctly uses the second conditional?
✅ Exactly! The if-clause uses the past simple, not “would.”
❎ Not quite. Check where “would” belongs in this pattern.
“Would” only appears once, in the main clause.
“If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.” Does this describe something that already happened?
✅ Exactly! The past simple here marks distance from reality, not distance in time.
❎ Not quite. In the second conditional, the past simple form does not refer to the past.
Which sentence correctly uses the second conditional?
✅ Exactly! The past simple if-clause pairs with “would,” not the present simple.
❎ Not quite. “If I win” belongs to a different conditional pattern.
Which sentence is acceptable in careful or formal English?
✅ Exactly! “Were” is used for all subjects in careful second conditional English.
❎ Not quite. “Would” does not belong in the if-clause.
Choose the best explanation
Select the sentence that explains the second conditional correctly.
Why is “If I were you, I would apologise” correct rather than “If I would be you, I would apologise”?
✅ Exactly! The if-clause keeps the past simple form, and “would” stays in the main clause only.
❎ Not quite. Think about where “would” is allowed to appear in this pattern.
Why does the second conditional use the past simple for a present or future situation?
✅ Exactly! The past tense marks how unlikely or imaginary the condition is, not when it happens.
❎ Not quite. Think about what “won” is doing in “If I won the lottery.”
Why does “If I won the lottery” differ from “If I win the lottery”?
✅ Exactly! This is the difference between the second conditional and the first conditional.
❎ Not quite. Compare how likely each version makes winning the lottery sound.
Try it another way
Complete each second conditional sentence.
Type the correct form of the verb shown in brackets.
✅ Exactly! “Would” plus the base verb forms the main clause of the second conditional.
❎ Not quite. Use “would” plus the base form of “travel.”
✅ Exactly! “Were” is used for all subjects in careful second conditional English.
❎ Not quite. Use the form of “be” reserved for the second conditional.
✅ Exactly! “Would be” completes the main clause of this imaginary situation.
❎ Not quite. Use “would” plus the base form of “be.”
Edit the sentence
Rewrite each sentence with the correct second conditional form.
Use the note in brackets to decide what needs to change.
If I would win the lottery, I would travel the world. (correct the if-clause)
✅ Exactly! The if-clause uses the past simple, not “would.”
❎ Not quite. Replace “would win” with the past simple “won.”
If I win the lottery, I would travel the world. (correct the if-clause)
✅ Exactly! The past simple if-clause matches the “would” already in the main clause.
❎ Not quite. Replace “win” with the past simple “won.”
If I was you, I would take the job. (rewrite in more formal English)
✅ Exactly! “Were” replaces “was” in more careful or formal English.
❎ Not quite. Replace “was” with “were.”
Quick review
The second conditional pairs the past simple with “would.”
The second conditional follows the pattern if + past simple, would plus base verb.
It describes unlikely or imaginary situations in the present or future.
The past simple form marks distance from reality, not distance in time.
Were is used for all subjects in careful second conditional English; was is also common in everyday speech.
The if-clause never uses “would”; it stays in the past simple.
Remember
Ask whether the situation is unlikely or purely imaginary, right now.
The second conditional is reserved for conditions that are far from reality in the present or future. Once that distance is confirmed, the past simple belongs in the if-clause, and “would” belongs in the main clause.