The second conditional

• We use the second conditional to talk about imaginary or impossible situations in the present. To form second conditional sentences, we use if+ past simple + would/ could/might: If I had more money, I’ d be happy. (= I don’t have much money and I’m not happy.) If it was warm, we could eat outside. (= It isn’t warm and we can’t eat outside.)

• We also use the second conditional for unlikely future events or situations. Compare these sentences: If I get the job, I’ ll move to London. (This is possible and likely.) If I got the job, I’d move to London. (This is not very likely.)

• We use the past simple (not would) in the if clause: If I had a car, I’d drive to work. (Not If I would have a car, I’d drive to work.)

• We can use were instead of was in the if clause: If he were more powerful, he’d be able to do more.

• We can use if I were you to give advice: If I were you, I’d take the job.

Complete the conversation. Use the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

A: If somebody (0)...... gave......(give) you a lot of money, what (1)........................... (you / do)?

B: I’d buy a motorbike and go travelling for a few months.

A: On your own?

B: No, with a friend. I (2)........................... (get) lonely if I(3)........................... (go) on my own. I’d ask Rob to come with me. He likes travelling.

A: He does, and he’s good with bikes. If your bikes (4)........................... (break down), he (5)........................... (be) able to fix them.

B: That’s true. And he’s very calm. He (6)........................... (not panic) if we (7)........................... (have) a problem.

A: Would you stay in hotels all the time?

B: I don’t know. If it (8)........................... (not be) cold, it (9)........................... (be) nicer to camp.

A: And cheaper. Your money (10)........................... (last) longer if you camped.

Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first. Use the verbs in brackets.

0 We can’t have a party here because our flat’s too small. (could)

If our flat...... was...... bigger, we...... could have...... a party here.

1 I’d like to invite her, but I haven’t got her phone number. (would)

If I........................... her phone number, I........................... her.

2 They can’t stay with us because we don’t have a spare room. (could)

If we........................... a spare room, they........................... with us.

3 He’d like to tell them his plans, but it’s possible that they’ll disagree with them. (might)

If he........................... them his plans, they........................... with them.

4 We have a lot of exams this year, so we feel stressed, (wouldn’t)

If we........................... a lot of exams this year, we........................... stressed.

5 I’m afraid 1 don’t speak Italian, so I can’t join in the conversation. (could)

If I........................... Italian, I........................... in the conversation.

6 I’ve thought of going to a festival, but it’s possible that I won’t like it. (might)

If I........................... to a festival, I........................... it.