The second conditional describes an imaginary, impossible or unlikely situation in the present or future. The situation is hypothetical. It is not real.
Example:
If I had a lot of money, I would buy an expensive car.
“If I had a lot of money” is an “if clause”. It is the condition.
“I would buy an expensive car.” is the result or consequence.
Meaning:
In reality, I do not have a lot of money. We use the second conditional to imagine having a lot of money.
Form
As for all types of conditionals, we have 2 choices for the form. The difference is the order of the condition and result:
If + condition + result
Example:
If he knew her telephone number, he would call her.
When we write the if clause (condition) before the result, we always write a comma (,) after the condition and before the result to indicate a pause in the speech.
OR
result + if + condition
Example:
He would call her if he knew her telephone number.
We do NOT use a comma when the result is before the condition.
Meaning of the above examples:
In the present, he does not have her telephone number. It is impossible for him to call her. By using the second conditional, we are describing a hypothetical situation.
Verb tense of the condition
Let’s look at our 2 examples again. I have underlined the verb of the condition. What tense is it?
If I had a lot of money, I would buy an expensive car.
If he knew her telephone number, he would call her.
Answer: The past simple.
Explanation:
Why the past? Well we use the past tense but the situation in the condition is in the present. More specifically it is an unreal situation in the present. The past tense is indicating a distance from reality. It is not indicating past time.
In fact, to be even more precise, the condition is in the past simple tense, subjunctive mood (not the usual indicative mood).
The past simple subjunctive mood is spelt and pronounced the same as the more common past simple indicative mood for all verbs except the verb “to be”. Therefore, it’s important to know the form of the verb “to be” in the past simple subjunctive mood (see below).
The verb “to be”
| Past simple indicative | Past simple subjunctive |
|---|---|
| I was | I were |
| you were | you were |
| he was | he were |
| she was | she were |
| it was | it were |
| we were | we were |
| you were | you were |
| they were | they were |
Remember, in the second conditional, the condition takes the past simple subjunctive form.
Examples:
If he were rich, he would buy an expensive car. 
If he was rich, he would buy an expensive car. 
If I were you, I would go to London.
If I was you, I would go to London.
More information about “would”
“would” is a modal verb. It is always followed by the base form of the verb.
The form of the result is therefore:
subject + “would” + base form of verb
| Full form | Contracted form |
|---|---|
| I would go | I’d go |
| you would go | you’d go |
| he would go | he’d go |
| she would go | she’d go |
| it would go | it’d go |
| we would go | we’d go |
| you would go | you’d go |
| they would go | they’d go |
Example:
If I had time, I would go to London.
Second conditional vs first conditional
Let’s look at the subtle difference in meaning between the first and second conditionals.
Second conditional
Example:
If I became President, I would reduce taxes.
We are using the second conditional. Therefore, this situation is imaginary, unlikely or impossible. It is hypothetical.
The speaker is perhaps a young student, dreaming about the future but not really believing that they will become president.
First conditional
Example:
If I become President, I will reduce taxes.
We are using the first conditional. Therefore, this situation is more real. It is a realistic promise. The speaker is perhaps a real candidate for the next election.
The difference in meaning is not the time. “If I become” (first conditional) and “If I became” (second conditional) both refer to the present or future.
Modals in the second conditional
For the result, we can also use certain modals. We have already seen “would” but we can use other modals like “may“, “could” and “might“.
“may“, “could” and “might” express different (decreasing) degrees of possibility.
Modals are always followed by the base form of the form.
modal + base form of verb
would
If you played tennis together, he would win.
Meaning:
It is certain that he would win.
may
If you played tennis together, he may win.
Meaning:
It is likely that he would win.
could
If you played tennis together, he could win.
Meaning:
It is less likely that he would win.
might
If you played tennis together, he might win.
Meaning:
There is only a slight possibility that he would win. Nobody is really sure.
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Zero conditionals
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Modal verb WOULD
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