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Second conditional: If I had more time, I would…
B1 B1 grammar · lesson 6 of 23
The second conditional lets you imagine situations that are not real now or are unlikely in the future. We use it to dream, to give advice and to talk about what is possible.
Form
The second conditional has two parts: the if part and the result part.
| If part | Result part |
|---|---|
| if + past simple | would / could / might + verb |
| If I had more money, | I would buy a house by the sea. |
| If she didn’t live so far away, | we could meet more often. |
The past tense here does not mean past time. It shows that the situation is imaginary. The short form of would is ‘d, and the negative is wouldn’t.
You can change the order of the two parts. When the if part comes first, use a comma: If I won, I’d be happy. / I’d be happy if I won.
Uses
- Situations that are not true now: If I knew his number, I’d call him. (I don’t know it.)
- Future situations that are unlikely: If I won the lottery, I’d travel the world.
- Advice with If I were you: If I were you, I’d take the job.
If I had more free time, I would learn to paint.
If Tom spoke Spanish, he could work in Madrid.
What would you do if you found a wallet in the street?
I wouldn’t eat that if I were you.
If we didn’t have a car, we might move to the city.
If it wasn’t so expensive, more people would visit the island.
She‘d be happier if she slept more.
First or second conditional?
Use the first conditional for things that are possible and real. Use the second for things that are imaginary or unlikely.
If it rains tomorrow, I‘ll stay at home. (Rain is quite possible.)
If I lived on the moon, I‘d never see rain. (Imaginary.)
Common mistakes
✗ If I would have a car, I would drive to work.
✓ If I had a car, I would drive to work.
✗ If I won the prize, I will buy a boat.
✓ If I won the prize, I would buy a boat.
✗ If I am you, I would ask for help.
✓ If I were you, I would ask for help.