English grammar: Second conditional

What this grammar point covers

The second conditional is a grammar structure in English used to talk about imaginary or unreal situations in the present or future.

When to use it

Use the second conditional to talk about things that are not real now, or things that probably will not happen in the future.

Key forms

• If + past simple, ... would + base verb
• Example: If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.

Examples

Tips

• Use 'were' for all subjects after 'if' (If I were, If he were, etc.), but 'was' is sometimes used in informal speech.
• Do not use 'would' in the 'if' part of the sentence.
• Remember: The second conditional talks about unreal or hypothetical situations, not real facts.

Exceptions and edge cases

• In informal English, some people use 'was' instead of 'were' after 'if' (If I was you...), but 'were' is more correct in formal writing.