When to use the ‘second’ conditional
We use the second conditional to describe events that are less likely or have a very low probability of happening.
Form of the ‘second’ conditional
We make the second conditional as follows:
IF + PAST SIMPLE , SUBJECT + WOULD(N’T)/COULD (N’T)/MIGHT(N’T)/SHOULD(N’T) + BASE VERB (INFINITIVE)
Examples
- If I won the lotto, I would travel the world.
- If I were you I wouldn’t buy the car.
- If we were to go out, we shouldn’t go to that club again!