Second conditional

• Like the first conditional, the second conditional has a condition and a
consequence, and either part can come first.
• In second conditionals, we express the condition using if+ past simple.
And the consequence using would / wouldn´t + infinitive.
• We use the second conditional to talk about situations or events that
are imaginary or not likely.
e.g.
If we couldn´t speak, we would have other ways of communicating.
What would you do if you found some money on the street?
• We can use could / couldn´t in both parts of second conditional
sentences.
e.g.
If you could be anyone you wanted to be, who would you be?
If we stayed over at your house, where could we sleep?
• We often use were instead of was in the condition or if part,
especially in giving advice.
e.g.
I wouldn´t touch that button if I were you!
• As with first conditionals, we can also use adverbs and might to show
that we think the consequences are not certain.
e.g.
If I could learn another language, I´d probably choose German.
You might find it easier to read if you had glasses.