Second Conditional

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 2

What was the first conditional again?

1. If + would
2. Will + would
3. If + was
4. If + will

A correct example of the first conditional is..

1. If I started eating healthy, I would lose weight.
2. If he doesn't go to bed early, he won't be well rested tomorrow.
3. I could start playing the guitar if I had a guitar.
4. If it rains, he goes to work by car.

We use the zero conditional to talk about..

1. rules, facts , habits, scientific laws
2. possible future condition and probable result
3. habits , facts, rules, scientific laws and instructions
4. action + consequences

We use the second conditional to talk about..

1. Facts and habits
2. Hypothetical present/future situations
3. Realistic future situations
4. Realistic present situations

A correct example of the second conditional is..

1. If she went to the police sooner, the thief had been caught.
2. The house smells good if my mom bakes a cake.
3. If I had a dog, I would walk in the park every day.
4. The house would smell good if my mom bakes a cake.

Second conditional

We use the second conditional to talk about hypothetical present/future situations.

We use the structure: If + subject + past verb, subject + would + base verb

E.g.: If Tim watered his plants more often, they wouldn't die. 

              If    S        PV                                            ,   S     would   BV             

If we _____ (use) our cars less, the air _____ (be) cleaner.

If everybody ___ (take) showers instead of baths, they ___ (use) less water.

I ___ (walk) to school if I ___ (live) closer.

If shoppers ___ (pay) for plastic bags, they ___ (reuse) more of them.

Now think of a second conditional yourselves!