Post on 03-Jul-2015
Second Conditional: Imaginary Present or Unlike ly Future
the Second Conditional can be used used to talk about imaginary present situations, where we are imagining something different from what is really the case. We can also use it to talk about things in the future that are unlikely to happen, as the condition is unlikely to be met. We use the past tense in the condition part and would for the
result.
There's a very small chance of winning the lottery, so the trip is unlikely
I would travel around the world.
I won the lotteryIf
unlikelyWOULD + base verbfuturepast
simple
I don't have the time, so I'm not going to learn Italian.
I would learn Italian. I had the
time, If
impossible WOULD + base verb
presentpast simple
Possibility Result TimeCondition IF
With the verb to be, there are two forms that can be used with I, he, she & it:
I'd marry her.I was you,If
Was I, he, she, it
I'd marry her. I were you, If
Were I, he, she, it
ResultConditionIF
Third Conditional: Imaginary PastThe third conditional is used when we are talking about the past and imagining something different from what actually
happened:
I didn't know and didn't help.I would have helped.
I had known, If
WOULD HAVE + Past Participle
Past Perfect
What actually happenedResult Condition
Although this didn't happen, it is only a good suggestion or piece of advice.
you should have helped.
you had known,If
Although this didn't happen, the result is only a possibility.
I might have helped.
I had known, If
Although this didn't happen, the result is only a possibility.
I could have helped.
I had known, If
Although this didn't happen, the speaker is sure about the result.
I would have helped.
I had known, If
WOULD HAVE+ past participle
past perfect
CertaintyResultConditionIF