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Conditionals - if Clauses -  Type Two

Type 2 - Second Conditional

The second conditional (also  conditional type 2) is a structure used for talking about unreal situations in the present or in the future. This conditional is usually based on unreal - imaginary events. These situations are most probably imposible to realize. 
There is not a real possibility that this condition will happen.
For example,
You dream of having a million Dollars. Normally, You don't have that much money.  it is imposible for you.
but you just imagine having a million Dollars and say: (by using this type of conditionals)

• If  I had a  million Dollars, I would buy a house in Hawaii.
• If  I had a  million Dollars, I would drive a Ferrari car.

You just imagine what you can do with such amount of money.

Situation:        

I am ill now, so I won’t come with you. (this is reality in present and future)

Conditional:  
 If I weren’t ill, I would come with you. ( we use past time here, but the meaning is present.)

Situation:

They live in London so we can’t see each other very often (reality in present time)

Conditional:

If they didn’t live in London, we could see each other very often

Situation:

She can’t buy that car, because she doesn’t have enough money. (reality in present time)

Conditional:

She could buy the car if she had enough money.

Situation:

I don't have any money, so I cannot lend you any.

Conditional:

If I had some money, I could give you some.

Situation:

We won't go there because we don't like there.
Conditional:
We would go there if we liked there.

How to form Second Conditional sentence:

Rule and Form: 

In second conditional sentences, we usually use the following structure: 

if + simple past  ,           would/could/might

• If I lived near my office, I’d (would) be in time for work.

• If I won a million Dollars, I would buy a Ferrari car.

• If I were younger than you, I could faster.

• If the prices weren’t very high, we might buy a car.

• If I dyed my hair blue, everyone would laugh at me.

• If I had a map, I would lend it to you.

• If he studied more, he could pass the exam.

• I would lower taxes if I were the President.

• If I were a carpenter, I would build my own table.

• If I were you, I wouldn't drive so fast.

IF CLAUSE (CONDITION)	MAIN CLAUSE (RESULT)
Simple Past Past Continuous could / had to should	would might could

If Clause (condition part)

We can use Simple past ,Past Continuous, Could / had to, should in the if clause part of a second conditional.

Simple past

• If I lived near my office I’d be in time for work.

• If I were you, I wouldn’t go there. 

Past Continuous

• If he weren’t working now, he could come to our party. (but he is working now)

• If the baby weren’t sleeping, I would go out. (but he is sleeping)

Could / Had to

• If she could use computer, they would accept her for the job (but she can’t use computer)

• If they had to get up early, they would go to bed early. (but they don’t have to get up early)

Should (probability)

• If there should be draught, we would have many problems.

Use of a comma

When we use if clause at the the beginning of the sentence we use a comma (,) :

• If I won a million Dollars, I would buy a Ferrari car.

but when we use if clause at the end of the sentence we don't use a comma:

• I would buy a Ferrari car if I won a million Dollars.

Example Sentences

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