Learn about using second conditionals.

If I were you, I'd go to bed (second conditional).

Practice 1: making second conditionals

Complete these sentences with the past simple or would + verb.

  1. What if you lost your job? (you, do)
  2. If a wallet, would you keep it? (you, find)
  3. If you, he wouldn't keep buying you presents. (he, not, love)
  4. In what situation someone? (you, kill)
  5. that coat if I had more money. (I, buy)
  6. If we bought her a pet dog, do you think after it? (she, look)
  7. If on the moon, I don't know what I would eat. (I, live)
  8. He's vegetarian, so if I made him lasagne, it. (he, not, eat)

Practice 2: first or second conditional?

For each pair of sentences below, one could be a future possibility, and the other a present/future imaginary situation. Use the words given in the correct tense to complete the sentences.

he, become, earn

  1. He loves being a teacher, but if a doctor, more money.
  2. He's studying medicine. If a doctor, a lot of money.

they, live, buy

  1. They want a dog, but they live in a little house in London. If in the country, a dog.
  2. They are hoping to move to the country. If in the country, a dog.

she, not go, not be

  1. She's really tired. If out tonight, so tired tomorrow.
  2. She's really tired. If out every night, so tired all the time.

you, sell, make

  1. You're going to open a cake shop? Well, if these cakes, a fortune!
  2. Your home-made cakes are delicious. If them, a fortune!