Second Conditional Grammar Guide mgr Anna Waligórska

Second Conditional Grammar Guide mgr Anna Waligórska – Kotfas PWSZ Konin

Introduction: Clauses Conditional sentences usually consist of two clauses: Ø a conditional clause (or IF CLAUSE) and a main clause (or RESULT CLAUSE). Ø The result in the main clause is dependent on the condition in the conditional clause.

Second Conditional: Verb Patterns Ø RESULT CLAUSE IF CLAUSE would/wouldn’t + infinitive if + past simple I would tell you her name if I knew it.

Second Conditional: Clause Order Ø You can reverse the two clauses of a seconditional sentence without changing the meaning: We would lend you a map if we had it. = If we had a map, we would lend it to you. REMEMBER ABOUT A COMMA WHEN YOU START A SENTENCE WITH IF CLAUSE!

Second Conditional: Variations of the main clause Ø MIGHT or COULD may be used instead of WOULD in the result clause with a slight change of meaning: If you tried again, you would succeed. (= certain result) If you tried again, you might succeed. (= possible result) If I knew her number, I could call her. (= ability) If he had a work permit, he could get a job. (= permission/ability)

Use: Unreal Present Situations Ø We use the seconditional to talk about improbable situations now, things that are untrue or imaginary. It is impossible to fulfil the condition: If lived near my office, I would be in time for work. (=But I don’t live near my office. ) If I dyed my hair blue, everyone would laugh at me. (=But I am not going to do it. )

If I were a rich man … Ø We often use WERE instead of WAS after IF. This is common in both formal and informal styles. However, it is possible to use WAS in colloquial English: If I were rich, I would spend all my time travelling. If my nose were a little shorter, I would be quite pretty. If Tom were here, he would know what to do.

If I were you, … Ø We often use the structure give advice: If I were you to If I were you, I would get this car serviced. If I were you, I would talk about it with a specialist. If I were you, I wouldn’t marry him. If I were you, I wouldn’t take her out of that school.

IF: Other words with the same meaning Ø Many words and expressions can be used with a similar meaning to IF, and often with similar structures: Supposing you fell in love with your boss, what would you do? Imagine that you won a million euros, would you help a local charity?

Example sentences If I had a car, I would drive to school. If I saw a tarantula, I would be terrified! If my sister were older, she would come with me to the party.

Example sentences My parents would buy a bigger house if they had more money. I wouldn’t know what to do if I found a mouse in my kitchen. What would you do if you lost your job?

1 st Conditional vs. 2 nd Conditional Ø 1 st: refers to future, conditions seems rather realistic – so we think it is likely to happen: If John has the money, he will buy a Ferrari. (= I know John very well and I know that he earns a lot of money and that he loves Ferraris. So I think it is very likely that sooner or later he will have the money to buy a Ferrari. )

1 st Conditional vs. 2 nd Conditional Ø 2 nd: refers to present. An action could happen if the present situation were different. I don't really expect the situation to change, I just imagine: If John had the money, he would buy a Ferrari. (= I know John very well and I know that he doesn't have much money, but he loves Ferraris. He would like to own a Ferrari in his dreams. But I think it is very unlikely that he will have the money to buy one in the near future. )

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