Second Second ConditionalConditional

GrammarGrammar Guide Guide

mgr Anna Waligórska – Kotfas mgr Anna Waligórska – Kotfas PWSZ KoninPWSZ Konin

Introduction: ClausesIntroduction: Clauses

Conditional sentences usually consist of two Conditional sentences usually consist of two clauses: clauses:

a conditional clause (or IF CLAUSE) and a a conditional clause (or IF CLAUSE) and a main clause (or RESULT CLAUSE). main clause (or RESULT CLAUSE).

The result in the main clause is dependent The result in the main clause is dependent on the condition in the conditional clause. on the condition in the conditional clause.

Second Conditional: Verb PatternsSecond Conditional: Verb Patterns

RESULT CLAUSE IF CLAUSERESULT CLAUSE IF CLAUSE

would/wouldn’t + infinitive if + past simplewould/wouldn’t + infinitive if + past simple

I would tell you her name if I knew it.I would tell you her name if I knew it.

Second Conditional: Clause OrderSecond Conditional: Clause Order

You can reverse the two clauses of a You can reverse the two clauses of a second conditional sentence without second conditional sentence without changing the meaning:changing the meaning:

We would lend you a map if we had it. We would lend you a map if we had it. == If we had a mapIf we had a map,, we would lend it to you. we would lend it to you.

REMEMBER ABOUT A COMMA WHEN YOU START A SENTENCE REMEMBER ABOUT A COMMA WHEN YOU START A SENTENCE WITH IF CLAUSE!WITH IF CLAUSE!

Second Conditional: Variations of Second Conditional: Variations of thethe main clausemain clause

MIGHTMIGHT or or COULDCOULD may be used instead of may be used instead of WOULDWOULD in in the result clause with a slight change of meaning:the result clause with a slight change of meaning:

If you tried again, you If you tried again, you wouldwould succeed. succeed. (=(= certain result)certain result)

If you tried again, you If you tried again, you mightmight succeed. succeed. (=(= possible result)possible result)

If I knew her number, I If I knew her number, I couldcould call her. call her. (=(= ability)ability)

If he had a work permit, he If he had a work permit, he couldcould get a job. get a job. (=(= permission/ability)permission/ability)

Use: Unreal Present SituationsUse: Unreal Present Situations

We use the second conditional to talk We use the second conditional to talk about about improbable situations nowimprobable situations now, things , things that are that are untrue or imaginaryuntrue or imaginary. It is . It is impossible to impossible to fulfilfulfil the condition: the condition:

If lived near my office, I would be in time If lived near my office, I would be in time for work.for work. (=But I don’t live near my office.)(=But I don’t live near my office.)

If I dyed my hair blue, everyone would If I dyed my hair blue, everyone would laugh at me.laugh at me. (=But I am not going to do it.)(=But I am not going to do it.)

If I were a richIf I were a rich man … man …

We often use We often use WEREWERE instead of instead of WASWAS after after IFIF. .

This is common in both formal and informal styles. This is common in both formal and informal styles. However, it is possible to use However, it is possible to use WASWAS in colloquial in colloquial EnglishEnglish::

If I If I werewere rich, I would spend all my time travelling. rich, I would spend all my time travelling.

If my nose If my nose werewere a little shorter, I would be quite a little shorter, I would be quite pretty.pretty.

If Tom If Tom werewere here, he would know what to do. here, he would know what to do.

If I were you, …If I were you, …

We often use the structureWe often use the structure If I were youIf I were you toto give advice:give advice:

If I were you, I would get this car serviced.If I were you, I would get this car serviced.If I were you, I would talk about it with a If I were you, I would talk about it with a specialist. specialist. If I were you, I wouldn’t marry him.If I were you, I wouldn’t marry him.If I were you, I wouldn’t take her out of that If I were you, I wouldn’t take her out of that school.school.

IFIF:: Other words with the sameOther words with the same meaningmeaning Many words and expressions can be used Many words and expressions can be used

with a similar meaning to with a similar meaning to IFIF, and often with , and often with similar structures:similar structures:

SupposingSupposing you fell in love with your boss, you fell in love with your boss, what would you do?what would you do?

Imagine thatImagine that you won a million euro you won a million euross, , would you help a local charity?would you help a local charity?

Example sentencesExample sentences

If I had a car, I would drive to school.If I had a car, I would drive to school.

If I saw a tarantula, I would be terrified! If I saw a tarantula, I would be terrified!

If my sister were older, she would come If my sister were older, she would come with me to the party.with me to the party.

Example sentencesExample sentences

My parents would buy a bigger house if My parents would buy a bigger house if they had more money. they had more money.

I wouldn’t know what to do if I found a I wouldn’t know what to do if I found a mouse in my kitchen. mouse in my kitchen.

What would you do if you lost your job?What would you do if you lost your job?

1st Conditional vs. 2nd Conditional1st Conditional vs. 2nd Conditional

1st: refers to future1st: refers to future, , conditions seems conditions seems rather rather realisticrealistic – so we think it is likely to  – so we think it is likely to happenhappen::

If John has the money, he will buy a If John has the money, he will buy a Ferrari.Ferrari.(= (= I know John very well and I know that he earns a lot of 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 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 likely that sooner or later he will have the money to buy a FerrariFerrari.).)

1st Conditional vs. 2nd Conditional1st Conditional vs. 2nd Conditional

2nd: refers to present2nd: refers to present. An action could . An action could happen if the present situation were happen if the present situation were different. different. I don't really expect the situation I don't really expect the situation to change, I just imagineto change, I just imagine::

If John had the money, he would buy a If John had the money, he would buy a Ferrari.Ferrari.(=(= I know John very well and I know that he doesn't have I know John very well and I know that he doesn't have much money, but he loves Ferraris. He would like to own much money, but he loves Ferraris. He would like to own a Ferrari in his dreams. But I think it is very unlikely that 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.)he will have the money to buy one in the near future.)

BibliographyBibliography

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