2nd CONDITIONAL 

We use second conditional to talk about imagined events or 

states. They can be unlikely or impossible: 
 
- If I were an astronaut, I would go to the moon → unlikely. 
- If I were a bird, I would fly through the clouds → impossible. 
 
 

STRUCTURE: 

IF + SUBJ. + PAST SIMPLE, SUBJ. + WOULD + INFINITIVE WITHOUT TO 

 
The first clause is the condition (if-clause) and you have to 
put a comma after this clause. The second part is the 
consequence. You can write the consequence before the if 
clause, but if you do this, DO NOT WRITE THE COMMA: 
 
- If I were rich, I would buy a big house. 
- I would buy a big house if I were rich. 
 
Notice that you can use ​were ​instead of was with I, he, she, it. 
 
You can contract Would= ‘d: 
- If I were rich, I’d buy a big house.