Second Conditional — Segundo Condicional
Estructura
| If clause | Result clause |
|---|---|
| If + past simple | would + base verb |
| If I had more money, | I would buy a house. |
| If she knew the answer, | she would tell us. |
Use: unreal, hypothetical or improbable situations
- Things that are NOT real now or are unlikely to happen.
- If I were rich, I would travel the world. (No soy rico)
- If I had wings, I would fly. (No tengo alas)
If I were… (NOT "was" in conditionals)
- ✅ If I were you, I would study more.
- ✅ If she were here, she would help us.
- (In informal English, "was" is sometimes used, but "were" is grammatically correct for all subjects.)
Contractions
- would → 'd: I**'d** buy, she**'d** tell, we**'d** go
- would not → wouldn't: I wouldn't do that.
Negative
- If I didn't have to work, I would sleep all day.
- If she weren't so busy, she would come to the party.
Zero, First vs. Second Conditional
| Zero (fact) | First (real future) | Second (unreal) |
|---|---|---|
| If it rains, the ground gets wet. | If it rains, I'll take an umbrella. | If it rained tomorrow, I**'d** stay home. |
| If I eat too much, I feel sick. | If I have time, I'll study. | If I had time, I**'d** travel. (I don't have time) |
Common phrases with Second Conditional
- If I were you, I would…
- If I had more time / money…
- What would you do if…?