ESL Blogs

What is the second conditional?

The second conditional is a structure used for talking about unreal situations in the present or in the future. That is the reason why sometimes it's also called as the present unreal conditional.

We use it to talk about a situation that is not real or is unlikely to occur and the imaginary consequences that follow such an unreal situation.

The structure of a second conditional sentence :-

A second conditional sentence consists of two clauses;

1. an if clause

2. a main clause

if + past................. would + infinitive (base form of verb)

For example;

I might say, if I had  a million dollars, I would buy a new car.

If the if clause comes first(as in the example above), a comma is usually used. However; if the if clause comes second, there is no need for a comma. For example; I would buy a new car if I had a million dollars.

We use different verb forms in each part(clause) of a second conditional sentence;

if clause = if + subject + simple verb form*

main clause = subject + would + verb

 *Note that this "simple past" form is slightly different from usual in the case of the verb BE. Whatever the subject, the verb form is "WERE" , not "WAS".

For example; If I were rich, I'd buy a new car.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

My EC friends, now we are going to have some fun!!!!!!!!!!!!

Enjoy this lovely song by The Barenaked Ladies, and practice your second conditional at the same time........... ^_^

If I had a million dollars
I'd build a tree fort in our yard
If I had million dollars
You could help, it wouldn't be that hard
If I had million dollars
Maybe we could put like a little tiny fridge in there somewhere
You know, we could just go up there and hang out
Like open the fridge and stuff
There would already be laid out foods for us
Like little pre-wrapped sausages and things

mmm, They have pre-wrapped sausages but
they don't have pre-wrapped bacon
Well, can you blame 'em
Uh, yeah

If I had a million dollars
If I had a million dollars
Well, I'd buy you a fur coat
But not a real fur coat that's cruel
And if I had a million dollars
If I had a million dollars
Well, I'd buy you an exotic pet
Yep, like a llama or an emu
And if I had a million dollars
If I had a million dollars
Well, I'd buy you John Merrick's remains
Ooh, all them crazy elephant bones
And If I had a million dollars I'd buy your love

If I had a million dollars
We wouldn't have to walk to the store
and If I had a million dollars
Now, we'd take a limousine 'cause it costs more
If I had a million dollars
We wouldn't have to eat Kraft Dinner
But we would eat Kraft Dinner
Of course we would, we’d just eat more
And buy really expensive ketchups with it
That’s right, all the fanciest ke... dijon ketchups!
Mmmmmm, Mmmm-Hmmm

If I had a million dollars
If I had a million dollars
Well, I'd buy you a green dress
But not a real green dress, that's cruel
And if I had a million dollars
If I had a million dollars
Well, I'd buy you some art
A Picasso or a Garfunkel
If I had a million dollars
If I had a million dollars
Well, I'd buy you a monkey
Haven't you always wanted a monkey

If I had a million dollars
I’d buy your love

If I had a million dollars, If I had a million dollars
If I had a million dollars, If I had a million dollars
If I had a million dollars
I'd be rich

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Don't worry friends, if you didn't like the above song! Here's a lovely conversation video to enjoy  and practice your second conditional! ^_^

Thanks a lot for reading the blog!