B1 Intermediate Conditionals and reported speech
Second conditional
Lesson goal. After this lesson you can talk about situations that are contrary to present fact with the second conditional.
When to use it
- Unreal situations: If I were rich, I would travel the world. (I am not rich)
- Giving advice: If I were you, I would apologise.
- Unlikely events: If I won the lottery, I would buy a house.
Form
| Clause | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| The if clause | past simple | If I had more time, |
| Main clause | would + base verb | I would learn the guitar. |
| With to be | use were for every subject | If I were you… |
| Thay would | could and might are also possible | I could travel more. |
Step by step
- Ask: is this true now? If not → second conditional.
- The if-clause takes the past simple — but the meaning is present, not past.
- The main clause takes would + base verb.
- With to be, use were for I, he, she and it.
First and second conditional
| Type | Form |
|---|---|
| Type 1 | If + present simple, will + V |
| Type 2 | If + past simple, would + V |
Examples
If I were rich, I would travel the world.
If I were you, I would tell the truth.
If we lived by the sea, we would swim every day.
If she had a car, she would drive to work.
What would you do if you won a million dollars?
If my school were nearer, I would walk there.
Common mistakes
If I would have money, I would buy a house. → If I had money, I would buy a house.
Never use would after if — just as the first conditional never uses will there.
If I was you, I would go. → If I were you, I would go.
In unreal conditionals the standard form is were for every subject. was is informal; in exams use were.
If she studied more, she will pass. → If she studied more, she would pass.
With a past simple in the if-clause the main clause needs would, not will.
Memory tip
The past simple here is not about the past — it simply signals that the situation is unreal. Once you see that, the form stops feeling strange.
Summary
- If + past simple, + would + base verb.
- For unreal or unlikely present situations.
- With to be use were; never put would after if.
Practise this lesson
Do exercises with an explanation for every question, take mini tests and track your progress on GrammUp.