The 2nd conditional is used to express unreal situations in the present or future. Often used to express a wish.
Uses the simple past tense:-
Formation
| (IF Clause) | (Main Clause) |
|---|---|
| If I won the lottery, | I would buy a new house. |
or...
| (Main Clause) | (IF Clause) |
|---|---|
| I would buy a new house | if I won the lottery. |
Note! We never use would, or wouldn't in the if clause.
For example:
-
If I were you, I wouldn't do that. = I wouldn't do that, if I were you. (I am not you - therefore the condition is unreal).
-
If I had more time, I would do more on my websites. = I would do more on my websites, if I had more time. (I don't have more time - therefore the condition is unreal).