Unit 1 - Digital Age
Second Conditional
Use Type 2 conditionals to explore unreal, hypothetical, or advisory situations with sophistication.
1. Quick Reminder (from B1)
- If I had money, I would buy a car.
- If she studied harder, she would pass the exam.
- If they were here, they would help us.
2. Flexible Structures
| Pattern | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| If + Past Simple, would + base verb | Standard hypothetical | If we were more organised, we would meet every target. |
| If + Past Simple, could/might + base verb | Ability or possibility | If she spoke French, she could apply for the post. |
| Were + subject + to + base verb, … | Formal alternative | Were we to launch earlier, we would risk quality. |
| Even if + Past Simple, … | Extreme contrast | Even if they offered more money, I wouldn’t accept. |
3. Communicative Purposes
- Advice: If I were you, I would review the figures again.
- Dreaming / Imagining: If we lived by the sea, we would swim every morning.
- Criticism or Regret: If he paid attention, he wouldn’t make the same mistake.
- Strategic planning: If the market collapsed, we would shift to services.
4. Grammar Notes
- Use were with all subjects in formal contexts: If I were you…
- Swap clause order freely: We would hire more staff if the budget allowed.
- In spoken English, contractions create a smoother rhythm: I’d, she’d, we’d.
Avoid will in the if-clause
Keep the condition in the Past Simple. Say If it snowed, not If it will snow.
5. Practice
- List three ambitious goals and describe what would happen if key conditions were different.
- Rewrite formal sentences using inversion: Were I, Had we, Were they to.
- Turn pieces of advice into second conditional sentences.
Quick Review
- Base form: If + Past Simple, would + base verb.
- Switch to could or might to stress ability or possibility.
- Use it for imaginary scenarios, polite advice, and strategic thinking.