Second conditionals sentences: if + past simple, would/ wouldn’t + infinitive
We
use the second conditional to talk about a hypothetical/ imaginary present or
future situation and its consequence.
If
I had a job…. (= I don’t have a job, I’m imagining it)
·
We use the past
simple after if and would/ wouldn’t + infinitive in the other clause.
·
We can also use could instead of would in the other clause.
If
I had a job, I’d get my own flat.
If
David spoke good English, he could get a job in that new hotel.
I
would get on better with my parents if I didn’t live with them.
I
wouldn’t do that job unless they paid me a really good salary.
·
After “if”,
we can use was or were with I, he and she.
If your sister were here, she’d know what to do.
If it was warmer, we could have a swim.
·
We often use second conditionals
beginning if I were you, I’d … to give advice. We don’t normally use if I was
you …
If I were
you, I’d buy a new computer.
Choosing
between the first or second conditional It usually
depends on how probable you think it is that something wil happen. If I have time,
I’ll help you. (= this a real situation, it’s possible that I’ll have
time – first conditional) If I had time,
I’d help you. (= this is a hypothetical/ imaninary situation, I don’t
have time – second conditional) Would/
wouldn’t + infinitive We also often use
it (without an if clause) when we talk about imaginary situations. My ideal holiday
would be a week in the Bahamas. I’d never buy a
car as big as yours. |
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