Conditional Type 2

Notes about conditional type 2

As mentioned in conditional type 0 lesson, a conditional sentence consists of two clauses: the if-clause, which contains the condition, and the main clause which contains the result. In a conditional type 2 sentence, it is important to remember that the verb in the if-clause is in the past simple, and the verb in the main clause in the infinitive without “to” preceded by an auxiliary (would or could), as if you reverse the tenses in the two clauses the meaning will be distorted.

Form	Use/Function
If+past simple (If-clause) + would/could+verb (main clause)	Conditional type 2 is used to talk about imaginary/ untrue/unreal situations in the present time; i.e. things that are unlikely to happen.

Examples:

If I were him, I would take that job.
If I were your mother, I would not let you go.
The classroom would be empty if the teacher was not there.

Remarks

If the “if” clause comes first, a comma is usually used. If the “if” clause comes second, there is no need for a comma: If it was sunny, we would go to the park. = We would go to the park If it was sunny.
In most conditional sentences,’’ when’’ means the same thing as ‘’if’’: if/when it was sunny, we would go to the park.
It is very common and correct to say “if I were” instead of “if I was”.